SUBJECT
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Approve Right-of-Way Agreement between Polk County and L. Creig Blackburn and Teresa P. Blackburn, his wife and a Right-of-Way Agreement between Polk County and Leon Creig Blackburn, II et ux, all in conjunction with the Thompson Nursery Road Phase 1 (Segment 2) Project. ($3,570,000 one-time expense)
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DESCRIPTION
The County has a project to improve and realign Thompson Nursery Road from West Lake Ruby Drive to U.S. Highway 17. The project consists of primarily new alignment from US Highway 17 to a point on Eloise Loop Road to the west of West Lake Ruby. The project has been separated into four segments of the corridor due to the nature, and associated challenges, of certain portions of the alignment. The County has hired an engineering firm to evaluate, and if necessary, redesign, the designated segments of the planned roadway based on previous engineering plans completed for the corridor. Due to new residential development along the previous alignment a portion of the corridor from Rifle Range Road near its intersection with Eloise Loop Road to the planned railroad crossing, which is identified as Segment 2, will need to be realigned and an alignment study is nearly complete with alternatives and a recommended alignment already developed.
The County was contacted by the owners of two contiguous properties containing a total of approximately 25-acres, located along the west side of Pollard Road in the Winter Haven area who offered the County the opportunity to purchase the properties for the project. The property identified as Parcel ID Number 262916-000000-021020, owned by L. Creig Blackburn and Teresa P. Blackburn is a rectangular shaped parcel containing approximately 20-acres which is improved with a single family residence and steel frame metal building. The property identified as Parcel ID Number 262916-000000-021040, owned by Leon Creig Blackburn II is a rectangular shaped parcel containing approximately 5-acres which is improved with a single family residence as well as a mobile home. The County reviewed the properties and confirmed that they are located at what is anticipated to be a pivotal point in the project as they are situated between Lake Gwyn and Pollard Road and directly in the path of the recommended alignment for the project. A purchase the parcels, in their entireties, could allow them to be utilized for mainline right-of-way, storm water retention, wetlands mitigation, flood plain compensation or a combination thereof for the project. Additionally, remainder portions of the parcels could be utilized in conjunction with the management of the Lake Gwyn area.
The County hired an independent appraiser to establish values for the subject properties. The owners have rejected the County’s offer for the purchase of the properties and subsequent negations have resulted in a proposed purchase price of $2,600,000 for the property owned by L. Creig and Teresa P. Blackburn and a proposed purchase price of $970,000 for the property owned by Leon Creig Blackburn II. The owners have not incurred any attorney fees or expert costs in conjunction with this acquisition. The County Attorney’s Office and the Real Estate Services Director have reviewed the agreement and recommend approval. The alternative of acquiring these parcels in the future through condemnation litigation would result in substantial cost to the County. Approving the Right-of-Way Agreements, authorizing the issuance of funds for the purchases along with closing costs and hiring American Government Services Corporation to close the acquisition of the properties will allow the County to close the transactions and take ownership of the parcels.
RECOMMENDATION
Request Board approve the aforementioned Right-of-Way Agreement and authorize the issuance of funds in the amount of $3,570,000 for the purchases. Also, request Board approve hiring American Government Services Corporation to close the acquisitions of the properties and approve paying closing costs in the estimated amount of $20,000 for a total amount of $3,590,000.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are budgeted and available in Roads and Drainage 5-year CIP in the Impact Fee Zone A Fund.
CONTACT INFORMATION
R. Wade Allen, Director
Real Estate Services
863-534-2577