Council advances easement closures tied to new Stillwater High School; ordinances moved to second reading

The council heard staff and applicant testimony about two easement-closure requests for property at 410 West Franklin Avenue, the site of the new Stillwater High School, and voted to advance related ordinances to a second reading.

Henry Biblheimer of Development Services described that one large blanket easement previously had a portion closed where a structure existed and that remaining easements now conflict with newly filed final plats and existing infrastructure. "A portion of this easement was closed previously," Biblheimer said, explaining the earlier closure and why staff waited until the final plat was filed before pursuing additional closings.

Applicant consultant Steven Gose of Gose and Associates told the council the original easement documents were old and partially illegible and that the requested action would replace the unclear records with a new, legible plat. "Henry covered everything. Just trying to get this cleaned up," Gose said.

Staff recommended approval of ordinance 3602 for the previously unclosed portion of the general utility, drainage and pedestrian easement and of ordinance 3601 for a 20-foot utility easement that is no longer needed after rerouting. The council discussed that the staff recommendation to pass an ordinance would be taken up in the ordinances section of the agenda rather than at the public-hearing moment; later in the meeting motions were made and both ordinances were advanced to second reading by unanimous 5-0 votes.

No members of the public registered opposition during the public hearings. The council did not take final ordinance action on the easements that evening; both items were advanced to second reading and will return for a subsequent vote.