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Meridian General

Dec 02

Acquisition TIP #2

By Knowledge Base

 

Acquisition TIP #2: Upholding and Maintaining Public Confidence

Many local agencies have adopted their own set of processes for smaller projects that works in many ways. Although this practice benefits the project budget and schedule, it doesn’t necessarily protect property owners’ lawful right for uniform and equitable treatment while maintaining confidence in managing public funds.

A May 2021 Pew Research Center Study on Public Trust in Government: 1958-2021 found that America’s trust in government began to wane in the 1960s and remains low today. Approximately one-quarter of Americans say they can trust the government “just about always” (2%) or “most of the time” (22%). Since 2007, these figures have not surpassed 30%.

Keeping Utah on the Right Track.

Considering the sensitivity surrounding the compulsory sale of private property rights is significant in fostering trust within the community and creating a positive outlook and roadmap to project completion. The solution is hiring quality personnel with the proper knowledge of Right of Way Acquisition standards as it pertains to the consistency in applying state and federal code and, in addition, understanding the fundamental mediating factors required to manage and create trust. A single property owner’s dissatisfaction regarding the project can negatively influence the surrounding owners’ perception of fair and equitable treatment. It reverberates itself into added costs and delays in meditation and settlement efforts, resulting in significant delays and feeding into public distrust.

Ensure your agency contracts with a firm with a strong reputation of high ethical standards of conduct, honesty, integrity, and quality of work. Bestowing respect is vital in maintaining good public relations, and a qualified real estate professional with compassion and expertise in eminent domain law will ensure relationship growth and endurance with the community and each property owner.

-authored by,

Tammy Evans, MRP, SR/WA
Acquisition Manager

Meridian Engineering

 

 

 

Nov 17

Acquisition TIP #1

By Knowledge Base

Acquisition:

Here is our first Acquisition TIP #1: Dealing with difficult Property Owners

According to Maslow’s Theory of the Hierarchy of Human Needs, the second tier above the biological need for basic survival – food, water, shelter – is the need to feel safe and secure. If individuals believe they are being robbed of control, their sense of safety and security is compromised, thus manifesting itself in grievance actions innate to self-preservation.  

So what are some things you can do when dealing with a hostile or unpredictable property owner? Here are five strategies to help you promote a positive outcome:

1. Stay Calm: It’s normal to become defensive in situations when you’re feeling attacked; by staying calm and showing respect, you can better maintain control and steer the problem in a positive direction.

2. Apologize and Empathize: The quickest way to diffuse an escalating situation is to allow the person to have a voice. Acknowledge their grievances and be apologetic. This action goes a long way in reassuring individuals that their concerns are significant, thereby promoting a cooperative approach.

3. Listen Thoughtfully: Allow them to speak uninterrupted. It’s tempting to jump in with an immediate solution but save it for the end. Allowing the person to speak uninterrupted not only gives them a sense of taking back control, you will unwittingly develop a level of trust knowing they have your ear.

4. Problem Solve: After listening, write down all matters of concern and repeat back to them. Now that you understand the situation from the seller’s point of view, look for areas of compromise. In instances where it seems impossible to come to a resolution, ask them how they would like to see the problem fixed, then work towards arriving at a win-win solution.

5. More times than not, grievances are due to disagreements in value. Ask the seller to provide you with information supporting their point of view and take it to the agency for consideration. They could very well have valid information the appraiser may have missed, presenting itself in a fairer or more accurate determination value. Regardless of the outcome, if you can demonstrate that your efforts to be honest and equitable are in earnest, it will better support your endeavor to develop good faith negotiations. 

 

-authored by,

Tammy Evans, SR/WA
Acquisition Manager

Meridian Engineering

 

Stay tuned for TIP #2 …next week

 

 

 

Sep 21

An update on the extension of UTA Frontrunner commuter rail northward.

By Project Progress

UTA Frontrunner from 2nd Street in Ogden to Forest Street in Brigham City will be extending over 20 miles and required research on over 220 parcels impacted by right of way takes and easements.  Beginning in 2018 after a ridership study, the project’s design has progressed nicely, along with clearing the corridor for rail construction. This construction is forecasted to start approximately 2040.

 
Right of way status tracking web map of each parcel in the corridor.

The extension will serve those growing communities for commuting toward business activity without deteriorating air quality and while reducing heavy traffic on I-15. Once complete, it will greatly improve mobility to this area.

Meridian Engineering services include a survey control network expansion, supplemental topographic surveys, defining the existing right of way, GIS web mapping – which also won an IRWA award this year -and prepared plans and documents for right of way acquisition. Meridian is working on corridor preservation acquisitions for UTA and WSP is contracted to complete the acquisitions through November 2021.

As a beneficial part of this project scope, Meridian developed a right of way status tracking web map (as shown) to provide the project team with a way to coordinate the acquisition efforts. This map displayed the status of each parcel, ownership information, and direct access to project plan sheets. Meridian is thankful to the UTA team for having us on this project. We look forward to more similar opportunities in the future.

Check out this site for more detail about the study. https://media.rainpos.com/01276201111161158445077.pdf

Salt Lake County
Sep 01

Any serpents in there?

By Project Progress

Heather Butler, one of Meridian’s prize survey crew chiefs, ventures into this local jungle undertaking a topographic survey of a creek that runs right through the future site for Springville High School. Heather says, “We did see lots of snakes, turtles, and birds.” Not every site is a piece of cake to survey, especially those with poison sumac and live habitation!  Since the vegetation was so thick, assistance was required by our field tech to carefully cut a line to get accurate measurements with our equipment to complete the scoped work. 

 
Jul 29

DNR North East State Park projects awarded to Meridian Engineering by DFCM and DNR.

By Project Progress

As the prime consultant to DFCM, Meridian is working with subconsultants MGB+A, SPE Architecture, Colvin Engineering and WHW to design 4 separate projects cohesively. These projects consist of Jordanelle’s Rock Cliff campground expansion and Ross Creek day use area, Rockport Reservoir’s Cedar Point new day use area, and a new campground at Deer Creek Reservoir. Total construction value is approximately $16 million.

 
Jordanelle Reservoir State Park’s new proposed Rock Cliff campground site
Deer Creek Reservoir State Park proposed new campground

The projects have simultaneously kicked off early July 2021 for quick design execution, with the goal of completing construction documents this fall and starting construction in December 2021 to meet legislative funding requirements. Coordination with existing utility agencies, UAS flights and conventional topography surveys for each location along with schematic design is underway.

Look forward to getting out and enjoying some of these new planned recreational areas expected to be ready for Utah recreators in the summer of 2022.

Future site for Rockport Reservoir’s Cedar Point Day Use area