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Council authorizes condemnation filings for temporary construction easements tied to sewer project
Summary
To keep a south-end sewer-line project on schedule, Warner Robins authorized filing condemnation orders for multiple temporary construction easements after months of nonresponsive owners; staff and the city attorney said owners will be compensated and the easements are temporary.
The Warner Robins City Council authorized staff to file condemnation orders to secure temporary construction easements needed for a sewer-line project in the city's south end.
City staff said the project requires access across several private parcels and that some property owners have been nonresponsive despite months of attempts to negotiate easements. City Administrator James Drinkwood and staff said filings are a last resort to keep the project on schedule. The fair-market value for the small easement interests shown in the assessments was cited as $6,850, and staff emphasized these are temporary construction easements, not permanent property acquisitions.
Attorney Mize and City staff said the city’s contracted representatives had offered above the appraised value for the temporary easements and that property owners will continue to own their land. Councilman Curtis moved to authorize filing condemnation orders for seven partials recorded in the names of listed property owners; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Council members stressed that the city will do its best to restore properties after construction. The council’s action was described as necessary to allow the sewer project to proceed; staff said they will continue outreach to property owners even after filing.
What happens next: staff will file condemnation orders as authorized while continuing contact with property owners; upon completion of the construction work, the city will attempt to restore properties and provide compensation for the temporary easements.
