Agenda Item Name:
Title
Drainage Easement on a Portion of GRU Owned Right-of-Way North of NE 53rd Avenue
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Presenter:
Ramon Gavarrete, P.E. 352 548-1214; Charles Brecken 352 548-1224
Description:
Acceptance of a Drainage Easement donated by Gainesville Regional Utilities to accommodate existing County drainage facilities along the north side of NE 53rd Avenue (CR 232). This easement is required by the Florida Department of Transportation as part of the LAP Funding Agreement using funds from the Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) to construct an eastbound left turn lane for access to Alachua County’s Animal Services Department
Recommended Action:
Recommended Action
That the Board accept the donation of a Drainage Easement from Gainesville Regional Utilities to accommodate existing County drainage facilities.
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Prior Board Motions:
October 9, 2018 - The Board entered into a LAP agreement (Contract No. G1408) to oversee and direct the design and construction of the animal services driveway project which is fully funded by the HSIP Grant.
December 13, 2016 - The Board approved the HSIP Grant application for NE 53rd Avenue to construct an eastbound turn lane for access to Alachua County Animal Services.
Fiscal Consideration:
Fiscal Consideration
There could be recording fees associated with this easement which are accounted for and budgeted in account 149.79.7910.541.49.00
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Background:
In 1972 the City of Gainesville conveyed, via quit claim deed to the County, the property on which 53rd Avenue, between US 441 and SR 24, is constructed.
In 1980, the City of Gainesville granted an additional easement to the County to widen the 53rd Avenue corridor for transportation and drainage purposes from US 441 to NE 15th Street.
The County maintained the shoulders and ditches and constructed drainage facilities east of NE 15th Street to SR 24 even though no easement had been granted to the County to the east of 15th Street.
In 2018, the County entered into a LAP funding agreement with FDOT to construct an eastbound left turn lane serving the access for the County’s Animal Services Department.
The funding for this project was from the federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP). This funding source requires that all Land Rights issues/agreements be clearly documented before funding can be released for construction. At this time, County staff discovered that the County did not have an easement for its drainage facilities along the northern edge of the NE 53rd Avenue corridor from NE 15th Street to SR 24.
The design phase of the Animal Services driveway improvements is nearing completion and FDOT is requiring that the County have an easement that clearly documents what rights/responsibilities the County has along NE 53rd Avenue from NE 15th Street to SR 24.
GRU has agreed to grant the County a similar easement to the east of NE 15th Street as it did to the west of NE 15th Street in 1980.I