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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />The County's policy has long been that the formal process of right of way purchase is conducted <br />separately from project design and public process. The formal process of purchase is begun only <br />after the project is approved for construction. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />The following procedure has been prepared and adopted by Larimer County right of way <br />acquisition agents as a standard operating procedure for all County Road, Drainage, and Flood <br />Control Projects. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />After the project has been approved for construction, the Project Manager <br />advises the County Land Agent as to what properties (or road right-of-way) <br />must be acquired to accomplish the project. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />· The Land Agent (and often the Project Manager) schedules an initial <br />meeting with the affected property owners to discuss the acquisition issues, <br />and to get feedback from the property owners. It is not uncommon for the <br />design plans to change somewhat as a result of this meeting; however it is <br />unlikely that the p~oject will be abandoned or that large scale revisions will <br />occur. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />· The Land Agent will begin research to establish the "fair market value" <br />of the land to be acquired. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />--If the property to be acquired has an estimated value of $5,000 or more, <br />the County will have a formal appraisal completed by a qualified real estate <br />appraiser. In these cases the owner may also employ an appraiser of his/her <br />choice to appraise the property. The County will pay for this appraisal <br />providing it is made using sound, fair, and recognized appraisal practices <br />which are consistent with the law. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />--If the estimated property value is less than $5,000, the Land Agent will <br />utilize recent land sale data on similar properties to detennine the fair market <br />value of the acquisition parcel. This is accomplished by using standard <br />appraisal techniques and methodology. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />· The Land Agent will present his findings to the property owner, regarding <br />the proposed fair market value of the land to be acquired for the project. <br />This discussion also may include other issues which need to be resolved e.g. <br />driveway relocation, drainage, fencing, livestock control, revegetation, etc. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />17 <br /> <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />· If the County and the property owner cannot reach agreement because of <br />some important point connected with the acquisition offer and the County <br />has exhausted all its opportunities to reach a settlement, the County will <br />initiate condemnation proceedings. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />· Assuming that agreement has been reached between the owner and the <br />County, the Land Agent will prepare the necessary documents to formalize <br />the agreement, including a Deed for transfer of ownership of the affected <br />lands. The County will be responsible for paying or reimbursing incidental <br />expenses incurred by the owner (e.g. recording fees, surveys, title policy, <br />etc.). It is common in the formal agreement to include a provision which <br />allows work to begin on the project as soon as the agreement is signed by the <br />owner and the County. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />