Commission discusses temporary easement and legal route to cut hill for roadway alignment

The Duchesne County Commission on March 23 discussed plans to cut a hill as part of a road‑realignment project that would require a temporary easement and, staff said, likely the reestablishment of fence lines after construction.

Commissioner (Speaker 6) and road staff said the work would remove roughly 0.3 acres of material temporarily from a private parcel to straighten the roadway and create a safer intersection. "When they're cutting the hill away, so we got it," one commissioner said, noting the county would rebuild fences and that a survey would be required.

Staff (Speaker 10) outlined the next steps, including drafting easement language and, if discussions with the landowner do not resolve compensation or access issues, filing for a court order to proceed. "I could have it filed probably within a week... realistically, probably 6 weeks before we have an order," the staff member said, describing the sequence of filing, court scheduling and possible bond requirements.

Commissioners pressed for precise limits: where the temporary work would start and end, how wide the disturbed area would be, and whether additional right‑of‑way (an extra 12 feet near the intersection) should be included. Staff urged that a survey and clear mapping showing existing fence lines and the "second mailbox" reference point would be used to establish exact boundaries.

One commissioner raised concerns about setting precedents and criticized the tone of negotiations with the property owner. "He's not rational," the commissioner said of the landowner during the meeting, a remark offered as context for the possibility of court intervention if a negotiated settlement fails.

Next steps: staff will draft the right‑of‑way/easement paperwork and return it to the commission for review; they also said they would pursue survey work and coordinate fence reconstruction details with the landowner.

No formal vote on acquisition or condemnation authority appears in the transcript; commissioners instructed staff to prepare documents and explore the court option if necessary.