Madison County staff: title work done, landowner meetings planned as Yandell projects move into right‑of‑way phase

Madison County project staff provided a quarterly update on the Yandell West and Yandell East corridor projects, saying title work and appraisals are finished and that the work is moving from design into right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation.

The presenter said Yandell West has seen "a lot of progress" on right-of-way acquisitions: title work and appraisals are complete, landowner interviews have been conducted, and the team plans to present offers and establish just compensation to the board for about "0.5 the parcels" before following up with remaining owners. The presenter said acquisition plats and deeds for the E segment are "substantially complete."

Staff emphasized that utility coordination will shape the next phase. "Most of these utilities, other than Entergy, are waiting on us to buy the right of way because they want to relocate their facilities inside our right of way," the presenter said. The presenter added that Entergy "will start approaching the same landowners that we approached to get their easements for their poles" after county acquisitions are complete.

On Yandell East, staff said the project is in office review and has a Sept. 25 milestone linked to further steps. The presenter reported that staff discovered "large portions of Yandell East where there was no dedicated right of way to the county" (legal descriptions ran to the centerline of the road). After meeting with project staff 'Tim' and 'Mr. Espie,' the team intends to hold a minor public meeting for affected landowners to explain the approach and next steps.

During a follow-up exchange, Daniel asked whether the team had met or spoken with utilities. The presenter said they had shared plans and CAD files with affected utilities but had not yet done in‑field coordination. Daniel noted he had heard Entergy might try to purchase property; the presenter said Entergy typically pursues easements for pole placement and clearing rather than buying full parcels, adding that utilities often require 10 to 20 feet on each side of their lines for clearing and access.

Daniel said he would follow up with contacts (naming Neil Shaffer and Keith) to confirm whether existing easements might cover the planned pole locations. Staff said both Yandell projects are transitioning from design to right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation once necessary properties and easements are secured.

No formal motions or votes were recorded on this item. The next procedural steps named in the update were continued utility coordination, presenting offers/just-compensation to the board for a subset of parcels, and a minor public meeting for affected Yandell East landowners tied to the Sept. 25 milestone.