In an effort to progress with the construction of a long-awaited wastewater connection into city sewer lines, the Council authorized the city manager to move ahead with eminent domain on three parcels of land in the southeastern border of the city.
Returning from executive session in the Feb. 4 meeting, the Council gave City Manager Anthony “Biff” Johnson the green light to pursue condemnation on two lots in the Valley View subdivision and a portion of a 25-acre lot located on CR 179.
Although no public comments were given by Council members after the unanimous vote was taken (Councilwoman Kirsten Lynch was absent), the vote extended the Dec. 17 decision by the Council approving the construction of a wastewater interceptor line along North Brushy Creek with an option to build an extension line to the Reagan/Parmer corridor.
In December, City Engineer Wayne Watts said the wastewater interceptor and the option to extend the wastewater connection lines along County Road 179 would benefit the area along the Reagan/Parmer corridor. Development along the eastern boundary of the city has been hampered without city water and wastewater services.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Watts said on Dec. 17.
In other news, the Council approved a curb change along the western portion of Crystal Falls Parkway.
The meandering road of Crystal Falls Parkway that winds westward through the Crystal Falls development toward the Crystal Falls Golf Club is full of vistas, medians of native grasses and landscape boulders and tire marks that cut deep treads through the grass.
In order to maintain the vistas and landscaping, the Council approved adding curbs along almost three miles of roadway on Feb. 4.
According to city staff, the cost of the project is about $54,000 and the city will bear an estimated $20,000 of the cost; developer Bill Hinckley of the Lookout Group will cover the remaining cost of the project.
Although the flat ribbon curbs of the Crystal Falls medians is considered visually appealing, it has become a recurring maintenance problem and safety concern.
Public Works Director Pat Womack said there had been several attempts to solve the problem.
Hinckley, who self-described himself as a perfectionist, especially with landscaping, said he expected to “have $90,000 in this before it’s done.”
The existing curbing will be removed and replaced with the standard 6-inch high standup concrete curbing. The existing landscaping will also have to be graded to meet the new curb line once the installation is complete.
“Let’s fix this right,” Hinckley said. “Let’s do it right, and fix it once and for all.”