Potthoff Appraisal has presented a report for review by the Carroll County Board of Supervisors, providing their estimation of the cost to purchase land needed to expand a section of county roadway. County Engineer, Dave Paulson, says that the market analysis on the shoulder project south of Manning on County Road M66 (Bluebird Avenue) includes some good comparable sales.
The report broke down the estimated cost by section, and it was based on the average Corn Sustainability Rating (CSR) land values per acre for the small parcels to be purchased.
An option, according to Paulson, is to use the average of all three, $10,586, and pay everyone the same amount. Supervisor, Neil Bock, asked about accommodations for the market value differences between crop land and acreages.
The need for additional compensation for removal of trees and windbreaks, and other similar types of what is deemed “damages” to the property owner, will also have to be considered in the purchases to expand the existing shoulder widths. Other options, if the property owners are in opposition to the offered prices, is to narrow the ditch, steepen the slope, narrow the shoulder or do nothing at all. Supervisors agreed it will be interesting to see if the project will be welcomed with open arms because of the value of the road improvement, or if it will meet resistance. Paulson says he won’t make any decisions on large amounts of money without coming back to the board for approval through this process. Initial contacts will be made with property owners soon.
