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Byron mayor, council direct staff to study easement maintenance after reports of fences blocking access
Summary
At a May 18 special session, City Administrator Tiffany Sandefur and Stormwater Manager April Cunard told Byron leaders that residents frequently call about clogged or obstructed easements (notably in Majestic Oaks). Council tasked Cunard to research other cities’ procedures with the city attorney and begin field surveys.
On May 18, 2022, the City of Byron mayor and council discussed ongoing problems maintaining municipal easements and directed staff to study other cities’ practices and begin field surveys.
City Administrator Tiffany Sandefur and Stormwater Manager April Cunard briefed the mayor and council on the issue, saying the city receives frequent requests to clean easements. Cunard said, "they get many calls on Majestic Oaks and other areas about cleaning the easements," and raised the specific problem of private fences that have been constructed over easement areas, which staff must contend with when trying to perform maintenance.
Mayor Michael Chidester said the city needs to take a firmer approach. "At some point the city needs to get serious about the easements so they can be properly maintained," he stated.
City Attorney Brian Causey had provided a checklist to guide how the city handles easements, and the council was told that Burke Murph had sent an Easement Acquisition Policy used by another city and referenced in that city's ordinance. The council formally tasked April Cunard to research procedures used by other municipalities in consultation with the city attorney, including how other cities address fences placed over easements. Council members directed staff to begin field surveys to identify problem locations.
The council did not adopt any ordinance or policy at the meeting; the action taken was a directive to staff to gather procedures and commence surveys for future consideration. No budget or timeline for the surveys was specified.
