NOVEMBER 19, 2024|
Photo – Map of discussed BLM land – Bigfoot99 file image
In Rawlins, officials are continuing to negotiate with the Bureau of Land Management over federally owned land on the south side of the city.
In August, the Rawlins city government discovered that it does not own a 19-acre parcel of land, located along Donnel Street, north of Interstate 80. The land belongs to the Bureau of Land Management and was gifted to the city in the 1960’s specifically to build a streets department workshop.
During the September 17th Rawlins city council meeting, City Attorney Pinita Maberry-Nave explained that the 1967 patent states that the land can only be used for the original purpose. Any other use of the property must receive prior authorization from BLM.
The city did not build a new streets department workshop on the land. Over the decades, various other uses were proposed for the property, but none came to fruition. Eventually, city staff appear to have forgotten about the agreement.
After the BLM proposed building a new fire department on federally owned land along Donnel Street, Rawlins officials tried once again to develop the parcel. During the rezoning process, the current city government was informed about the 1967 patent by a resident.
The city is left with four options for the Bureau of Land Management parcel. First, it can abide by the original contract and build a new streets department workshop on the land, which would require money the city doesn’t have. Second, the city could seek authorization from the Department of the Interior to utilize the property for a different purpose. Third, the city can give the property back to the federal government. The fourth and final option is for the city to purchase the property from the Bureau of Land Management. Speaking at the October 15th Rawlins city council meeting, Attorney Maberry-Nave said the Department of the Interior will sell the land to the city for an appraised price. However, the federal government will still own any oil, gas, and mineral rights on the land.
At the October 15th meeting, the Rawlins city council instructed Attorney Maberry-Nave to have the Bureau of Land Management begin the formal appraisal process. Once the purchase price of the land is determined, the governing body will decide on its future use.
At the November 5th city council meeting, the city attorney provided more information about the purchase process. Attorney Maberry-Nave explained that BLM requires the city to pay up to $25,000 for a detailed appraisal of the property.
The city attorney informed the governing body that the city may still request to use the land for another purpose before starting the appraisal process. The city attorney said that she and Public Works Director Cody Dill will meet with Bureau of Land Management representatives and seek permission to use four and a half acres of the 19-acre property for storage of streets department equipment.
The Rawlins city council had no additional questions for Attorney Maberry-Nave.
