Sedona City Council gave city staff permission to move forward with land acquisition — which could result in land condemnation — to improve a pump station on Hwy. 179.

Sedona City Council gave city staff permission to move forward with land acquisition — which could result in land condemnation — to improve a pump station on Hwy. 179.

Council unanimously ap-proved resolution 2007-01 at its regular meeting Jan. 9.

Resolution 2007-01 allows condemnation of land needed to improve the Hwy. 179 sewer lift station if a deal cannot be reached with property owners.

The pump station, which provides sewer service to the entire Hwy. 179 corridor, is located on the Morgan Wash bank in Oak Creek Mobile Lodge.

Property needed includes a 276.2-square-foot piece of the mobile lodge and two pieces totaling 389 square feet from 177 Copper Cliffs Lane.

The Copper Cliffs parcel encompasses a small portion of land on the mobile lodge side of the wash with the main property located across the wash from the pump station.

The city is mainly interested in property on the pump side of the wash.

The city estimates spending $15,000 to $18,000 on the property, City Manager Eric Levitt said.

According to Levitt, condemnation is the last resort. City staff will first try to negotiate with property owners.

City Engineer Charles Mosley said negotiations are already underway.

“I think we are reaching settlement points,” Mosley said.

One property owner is close to signing documents, according to Mosley, and city staff is currently dealing with issues relating to the second parcel.

An Army Corps of Engineers report issued April 2004 called attention to the need for pump station improvements.

According to the report, erosion of Morgan Wash banks had the potential to damage the station in two to three years following the study.

At council’s Jan. 11, 2005, meeting, the council approved redesign and possible relocation of the station to combat natural threats.

During the design process, the city determined improvements could be made to the station without relocation, but additional land around the site is needed.

City staff identified small sections of mobile lodge property and the Copper Cliffs parcel needed. Acquisition of this land gives the city additional property on both sides of Morgan Wash.

In order for the city to expand on the mobile park property, one mobile home has to be relocated.

Levitt said the property owner asked the city to pay to relocate the home, which Levitt agrees is reasonable. The city will use money allotted to purchase the property and to pay for relocation.

There is a home located on the main Copper Cliffs property, Levitt said, which would not be affected.

According to Levitt, there isn’t a specific timeline for the project at this point, meaning deal negotiation deadlines haven’t been set.

Once a deal is reached with both parties, the actual construction plan for the pump station comes back to council.