Title:
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Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Purchase Agreement and a Holdover Agreement related to the Nebraska Avenue Bridge Replacement Project for the acquisition of Parcel 1 (16-19-30-5AB-0700-0010) between Daniel R. Beauchemin and Erica D. Mann-Beauchemin and Jorge Villalobos and Stephanie Beauchemin-Villalobos and Seminole County for $1,475,000.00, as full settlement of all claim for compensation from which Seminole County might be obligated to pay relating to the parcel; and approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Resolution implementing Budget Amendment Request (BAR) #25-015 in the 2014 infrastructure Sales Tax Fund to transfer $489,340.00 from reserves. District5 - Herr (John Slot, Public Works Director)
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Division:
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Public Works - Engineering
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Authorized By:
John Slot, Public Works Director
Contact/Phone Number:
Tricia Smith/407-665-5609
Background:
This acquisition began as a 10,695 square-foot easement to perform excavation work on the Lockhart Smith Canal (the “Canal”) near the Nebraska Avenue Bridge, a small area on the northeast corner of the subject property located at the southwest corner of Missouri Avenue and Nebraska Avenue, approximately 1,100 ± feet (0.21 miles) north of Orange Boulevard, in Sanford, Florida. However, the Canal crosses the property of the owners (Daniel R. Beauchemin, Erica D. Mann-Beauchemin, Jorge Villalobos, and Stephanie Beauchemin-Villalobos / Tax ID#16-19-30-5AB-0700-0010) for approximately 700 feet. During negotiations, the owners expressed a desire for the project to stabilize the entire Canal within their property, but the proximity of the residential home to the Canal would make it a significant challenge to preserve the home. After negotiation, the owners of the property, offered to sell and convey their entire 4.66-acre property to Seminole County for the sum of $1,475,000.00, inclusive of all fees and costs.
The County’s appraisal for the project valued the property as vacant at $980,100.00. However, since the appraisal had been prepared to value the easement area where no improvements are located, the appraisal did not include a value for the property as improved, which surely would have been higher.
The Canal is an 8.5-mile-long artificial waterway in northwest Seminole County, which was originally constructed by farmers in the 1930s. The primary canal system lying west of Interstate 4 provides drainage for more than twelve square miles within the Lake Monroe Watershed in northwest Seminole County. The County has acquired drainage easements, performed restoration work, and continues maintenance over most of the Canal. However, the County does not currently have any easement or other property rights over the Canal where it traverses the owners’ property, making this area essentially a “missing link” for the Canal. Moreover, this missing link is downstream of most of the remainder of the Canal and, therefore, has the potential to obstruct drainage for a wide area.
The proposed acquisition solves all these problems. The County will be able to restore and stabilize the Canal for its entire length without any concern for maintaining the house currently on the property. The County will be able to proceed promptly with this work and comply with the deadlines for the grant funding that the County has obtained. The owners will be able to relocate to another property. The agreement includes a 9-month holdover agreement to allow the owners a reasonable time to move to another location. During the nine months, the County will be able to focus on the original project around the Nebraska Avenue Bridge, which is expressly excluded from the holdover agreement. Upon completion of the Canal restoration project, the County has the potential to recover a substantial portion of the purchase price by selling the remainder property or the County may use the property for other purposes.
Attached to this agenda is BAR #25-015 which will transfer $489,340.00 from 2014 Infrastructure Sales Tax reserves to the project to adequately fund the purchase agreement. Current reserves are budgeted at $5.7M.
Requested Action:
Staff requests the Board approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Purchase Agreement and a Holdover Agreement related to Parcel 1 for acquisition for the Nebraska Avenue Bridge Replacement Project (4.66 acres) between Daniel R. Beauchemin and Erica D. Mann-Beauchemin and Jorge Villalobos and Stephanie Beauchemin-Villalobos and Seminole County for $1,475,000.00, as full settlement of all claims for compensation from which Seminole County might be obligated to pay relating to the parcel, and approve and authorize the Chairman to execute a Resolution implementing Budget Amendment Request (BAR) #25-015 in the 2014 infrastructure Sales Tax Fund to transfer $489,340.00 from reserves.