Committee approves quitclaim of any county interest in 2 Deer Trail strip to clear path for I-840 ramp

The Rutherford County Public Works and Planning Committee on July 7 approved a motion to quitclaim any county interest in a 50-foot strip at the end of 2 Deer Trail to the city so a Tennessee Department of Transportation-controlled access fence can be installed for an I‑840/Cherry Lane interchange.

County Attorney Nick Christiansen told the committee the county's recorded plat does not show that final strip as county right-of-way, so "there's nothing of record that shows that the county owns that portion of Tudor Trail," and the city has asked the county to convey whatever interest it may hold via a quitclaim deed. Christiansen explained that a quitclaim "simply [gives] them whatever interest we may or may not have without any warranties." He also said no compensation was expected.

The item came after Planning Director Doug DeMasi asked the county attorney to present SharePoint exhibits related to the parcel and the city's request. David Ives, deputy city attorney for Murfreesboro, said the city has deeds from adjoining property owners for the proposed fence line and that a substantial federal grant is supporting the interchange work; he urged the county to quitclaim any interest so the project can proceed.

Several commissioners raised questions about ownership and potential county liability. Christiansen said the quitclaim is a routine conveyance when record ownership is unclear: "If in fact I, for whatever reason, hold some sort of title or legal interest to this particular piece of property, I'm conveying that to [the city]." Commissioners asked that the quitclaim explicitly state the county will not be responsible for costs arising from the conveyance.

County and city counsel agreed to add language to the quitclaim documents clarifying that the county will not assume costs or liabilities related to the deed before those documents are forwarded to the full county commission. After that clarification was proposed and accepted, a commissioner moved to approve the request, another seconded, and the committee voted to pass the motion.

The committee's action gives the city and TDOT a clear path to finish engineering and permitting for the interchange, pending the final deed language and the full commission's review. The committee recorded no payment or transfer of funds as part of the quitclaim; the conveyance was described as a donation of any interest the county may hold.