Douglas County approves amended eminent domain resolution to advance Mueller Parkway; Park Ranch objects

The Douglas County Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday approved an amended resolution to clarify and expand the county’s eminent domain filing for the Mueller Parkway project, a move county staff said is necessary to complete two lanes of the planned roadway and preserve options for future drainage work.

The 5-0 vote (moved by Commissioner Tolbert, seconded by Commissioner Tarkanian) approved Resolution 2025 R-043a, which updates meets-and-bounds descriptions and increases the acreage and associated appraisal offers the county says it needs to acquire for road construction, fill slopes and nonexclusive drainage easements. County staff presented an appraisal-based estimate of roughly $635,000 to acquire approximately 3.54 acres of fee title and 6.77 acres of drainage easements tied to the project.

“Earlier this year in April, the board authorized the use of eminent domain for a legitimate public purpose — the Mueller Parkway Project,” County Manager Jennifer Davidson told the commission during the staff presentation. Davidson and county counsel framed the amended resolution as a technical and legal clarification the court requested during ongoing litigation and said it preserves the county’s ability to pursue a voluntary settlement with Park Ranch.

Deputy District Attorney A.J. Hames said the amendment responds to a court observation that the county’s original complaint did not clearly describe all of the parcels that could be impacted. Hames also reiterated the county’s position that the development agreement with Park Ranch required the county to build two lanes within a six-year timetable and that staff has sought access and negotiated in good faith.

Park Ranch’s legal…