The City of Hermiston is completing the civil engineering design for the South Hermiston Industrial Park Local Improvement District (SHIP).  Civil design requires surveying and engineering design work.  The survey work for the improvements revealed that there is an existing well and cement improvement within the SE 10th Street right-of-way.  An easement is necessary from the city as the right-of-way holder to Louis and Larry Hanson as the well owners.

For the city council's reference, the well was originally located on private property owned by the Hansons.  However, in 2001 the Hansons made application to the city to vacate portions of E Airport Road and SE 10th Street to better improve the angle of approach of SE 10th Street to Highway 395 and to better market their property for future development.  The subsequent realignment of SE 10th Street then put the well within the right-of-way.  

The well is approximately three feet within the right-of-way.  A total easement of 20 feet in length and extending 11 feet into the right-of-way is proposed.  The easement has been designed by the city's engineers with Anderson Perry to be the minimum necessary to facilitate operation and maintenance of the well and to avoid interference with either traffic flow or construction of physical improvements.  For reference, the SE 10th Street right-of-way is 66 feet in width and will be improved with a 30 foot travel surface.  Therefore, there is approximately 7 feet from the edge of paving to the edge of the easement.  It is unlikely that the well will pose a traffic hazard nor will eventual traffic interfere with the well.

The easement has been drafted by the city attorney.  In the event the well is abandoned in the future, the easement will cease and the improvements shall be removed from the right-of-way.

The city council may choose to:

• Grant an easement for the existing well within the right-of-way
• Deny approval of an easement and require removal of the well