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Commission tables petition to vacate street; staff to confirm sewer easement and exact width
Summary
A petition to vacate a street segment was presented but tabled after staff reported a sewer main runs through the area. Commissioners required a recorded easement for utility access and asked staff to locate the sewer, confirm the street width and return with details.
A petition to vacate a segment of 2nd Avenue was brought before the Washburn City Commission, but commissioners tabled action pending additional utility mapping and an easement to protect a sewer line.
Why it mattered: Public works staff told the commission a sewer line serving nearby houses runs through the portion of roadway under consideration and that any vacation would need a recorded easement preserving the city’s right to repair or replace that sewer line.
What happened: Staff explained that the sewer serves houses on 3rd Street and ties into a lift station; engineers and works staff said the city does not need to retain ownership of the land but does need a recorded easement to maintain access. Commissioners discussed options including allowing fences over an easement (with removal at the owner’s expense if city work is needed), widening the easement, and verifying exact utility locations on an up-to-date map. Several commissioners expressed reluctance to permanently release a street if utilities could be harder to service later.
The commission voted to table the petition until the next meeting and directed staff to perform three tasks: locate the existing sewer line and other buried utilities, confirm the exact street width and map coordinates, and prepare recommended easement widths so the commission can review a contingency-based approval (vacation contingent on recorded easements) at the next meeting.
What’s next: Staff will attempt to locate the utilities and return with a recommendation at the next regular meeting. The petition remains on the agenda but no action will be taken until the easement and mapping work is complete.
