Curtis Drive vacation in Othello denied

May prohibit future development

OTHELLO — Othello City Council denied a request to vacate a portion of Curtis Drive Monday.

None of the council made a motion to vacate the street. The request died due to lack of action.

Lad Irrigation requested the vacation to expand their facilities across the street.

"We are not recommending this be vacated," Municipal Services Coordinator Jay Van Ness said. "It will be an access point for the future."

The request was denied because a permanent vacation could prohibit future development in the area, according to the city. Curtis Drive is one of two access points to the undeveloped area.

"We have to look at it as a road to the future," councilmember Marc Spohr said.

Although the request failed, council agreed to set up a meeting with Arlie Updegrave of Lad Irrigation to find a compromise.

It is most likely council will allow Updegrave to temporarily use the roadway until the area begins to develop, according to council consensus.

Council discussed allowing Updegrave to fence in the roadway to protect their equipment. The fence around the roadway would be opened during daytime business hours and closed at night. The portion of Curtis Drive discussed leads only to the irrigation company.

At a previous council meeting, council was initially against holding a public hearing for the vacation but later decided to hold the hearing to hear all sides of the request.