INDEPENDENTNews Rock Street compromise reached Nicky Boyette Rock Street got its first mention during Monday night’s city council Public Comments by commissioner Daniel Jackson of the Parks Commission. Jackson said Parks had put together a good plan for its trail system that has been supported by many around town. He mentioned the part of Rock Street that runs through the property of Rachel and Ryan Brix was a vital part of their plan, and was disappointed council did not refer even once to trails during its May 26 discussion of the proposed vacation of Rock Street. He said this oversight brings up the question of motives and alliances at the council table. Al Larson, Adam Biossat and Beau
Satori also spoke against approving the Brixes’ request, and Gloria Satterfield and Melissa Greene spoke in favor of the vacation. When council got its turn, alderman David Mitchell asked Rachel Brix for an update, and she announced she and Ryan had come to an agreement with Wade Williams, attorney for the owners of Marble Flats, the adjacent property whose owners have objected to the request for a vacation of the portion of Rock Street that intersects the Brixes’ property. Brix said after she and her husband had offered an easement for utilities for Marble Flats, the owners asked for five things in return which she and Ryan agreed to.
Marble Flats owners wanted the easement for underground utilities to be granted directly to them, not to the city. They also asked for the easement to be wider than 10 ft., so Brix said they agreed on 15 ft. Brix agreed to drop specific requirements for how the underground utilities would be encased, and the Brixes agreed not to build anything in the vicinity of the easement. They also agreed to pay up to $250 toward the cost of a survey. Brix told council the Marble Flats owners also wanted an easement from the city for the southern end of Marble Flats, which would have nothing to do with her family, although city attorney Tim Weaver thought this sounded like the agreement between Marble Flats and Brixes depended on the city granting an easement. He said council might ought to wait for attorneys to agree on an enforceable agreement. Alderman Terry McClung said he was glad to see progress, but the complication involving the city bothered him. Alderman James DeVito said this was not the time to
delay. It was only the second reading, and attorneys had time to meet before the next council meeting. Mitchell moved to amend the proposed ordinance to include the compromises Brix had mentioned and place it on its second reading. Alderman Mickey Schneider said it was silly to move forward. She spoke against cutting off potential access to nearby landowners. “We cannot give away access. It is illegal to cut off access,” she stated. She mentioned all the citizens who had spoken up against the vacation so Parks could put a trail through the property instead. Alderman Dee Purkeypile commented, “We have asked for and gotten a compromise, which is good positive movement. There were no other objectors except Parks. We have the authority to grant this vacation. Do we have the volition? We’ll see when we vote.” The vote to approve the second reading was 4-2, McClung and Schneider voting No.
Forward, ho! Anahí found her way to victory over the weekend, coming away with the Dave Durst Memorial Regatta trophy after running six races in fickle weather. On Sunny Saturday, the crew pictured above, comprised of Dan Bennett at the helm, John Foley and Bob King grinding wenches, and Deven Phillips on the foredeck, won two of three races to set the stage for Soggy Sunday, when only Bennett and Mark Francis donned foul weather gear to ward off steady rain and a strong challenge from Josh Hopkins and crew aboard Danger Zone. P hoto
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M oose F arnsworth
www.esINDEPENDENT.com | June 11, 2014 |
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