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Edgerton prepares eminent-domain step after approving easement surveys and securing $1M KDOT grant for 2nd Street reconstruction
Summary
Council approved Ordinance No. 2172 to prepare legal descriptions and surveys for easements needed for the East 2nd Street reconstruction, and staff announced a $1 million KDOT cost-share grant for the project; council authorized continuing negotiations and signaled initiation of condemnation after notices expire if needed.
The City of Edgerton on Nov. 14 advanced plans for a comprehensive reconstruction of East 2nd Street and Edgewood Road, approving an ordinance to prepare legal descriptions and survey work for required temporary and permanent easements and announcing a $1 million Kansas Department of Transportation cost-share grant for the project.
CIP Project Manager Holly Robertson told the City Council the project will reconstruct pavement to subgrade, install new sidewalks and streetlights, upgrade stormwater infrastructure and make utility and drainage improvements along East 2nd Street/COOP Road and East/West Edgewood Road. She said staff has provided official easement offers to affected property owners with a 30-day response window that expires Dec. 4, 2024; if negotiations do not succeed, the City intends to initiate the condemnation process after that date while continuing negotiations where possible.
"We have provided easement offers and will continue to negotiate, but if a property owner does not accept the offer by the notice expiration, staff would proceed with the next step in the condemnation process," Robertson said.
Robertson also announced the City had been awarded a KDOT cost-share grant worth $1,000,000 for the 2nd Street Reconstruction project and noted the municipality has secured roughly $2.5 million in grants for projects over the past several years. The grant reduces the local funding burden for the reconstruction, which Robertson said includes significant right-of-way and utility work that requires easements from adjoining property owners.
Council adopted Ordinance No. 2172 to authorize preparation of the descriptions and surveys needed for easement acquisition. Robertson described the city’s approach as continuing to pursue negotiated easements while preparing the legal record needed to move forward if condemnation becomes necessary.
Mayor Roberts and councilmembers stressed the project’s potential to open land for future use and improve infrastructure; no council member voted against the ordinance. The council also discussed timelines for publication of notices and the city’s efforts to keep property owners informed of offers and next steps.
The City will publish any remaining resolutions and notices after the notice period expires. The next procedural step for affected properties is either executed easement agreements or, for those unresolved, initiation of condemnation proceedings after Dec. 4. The council did not set a construction start date during the meeting.
