The city of Enid is making plans to prepare for construction this fall of its 70-mile Kaw Lake water pipeline.
It also means 240 pieces of land will have to be crossed when the line is built.
The Enid Eagle and News reported this week the big focus is acquiring the land as the city will have to acquire a permanent easement and a temporary easement for construction.
Garver Engineering Program Manager Michael Graves recently told the Enid city commission the easements will be 50-feet wide. The city is preparing to send notices to the landowners where they will be offered a reported estimate of fair market value.
Graves indicated it will be a typical acquisition process and if the landowner doesn’t like the offer, negotiations will get underway. If necessary, the legal department for the city will become involved according to city manager Jerald Gilbert.
“The commission will help establish fair market value for these folks to go out and talk to the people about, when the time comes,” Gilbert said. “The city’s intent is to get to a win-win with the landowners, working through this process.”
City officials do not believe eminent domain will be needed in the process, he said.
“The city’s not interested in doing that. The city’s interested in working fairly with landowners to pay fair market value and resolve issues. That’s what we’re interested in,” Gilbert said.