Casey City Council Secures Final Easements for I-70 Sewer Extension Project

Casey City Council Meeting | April 6, 2026

Article Summary: Following months of negotiations, the City of Casey has officially secured the final three land easements required to push the I-70 Sewer Extension project forward. The council approved the acquisitions, clearing the way for crews to bore utility lines beneath the interstate and open the northern corridor for commercial development.

I-70 Sewer Extension Key Points:

• Ordinance #612 authorized the acquisition of a 0.979-acre permanent utility easement from the Ryan Family Partnership L.P. for $10.00.

• Ordinance #613 authorized a $500 easement acquisition on the McDonald’s property.

• Ordinance #614 authorized a $4,000 acquisition for the critical Walker easement, the final parcel needed before boring under the interstate.

• The easements will allow trenching from the southern McDonald’s point northward to the core boring site.

The Casey City Council on Monday, April 6, cleared the final legal hurdles for the highly anticipated I-70 Sewer Extension project, unanimously passing three ordinances to acquire the necessary land easements.

Director of Public Works Ryan Staley presented the acquisition ordinances, confirming that all required property owners had agreed to the city’s terms, effectively neutralizing the need for a lengthy eminent domain legal battle.

The project is designed to extend municipal sewer utilities underneath Interstate 70, unlocking adjacent properties for heavy commercial and industrial development.

The council first approved Ordinance #612, which authorizes the acquisition of a 0.979-acre permanent utility easement from the Ryan Family Partnership L.P. According to the meeting packet, the transaction involves a token $10.00 sum. Staley noted the city will be “trenching all the way” across the Ryan property, which sits north of McDonald’s and extends up to the water property.

The board then passed Ordinance #613, agreeing to pay $500 to secure an easement on the McDonald’s property, which serves as the southernmost point of the utility line.

The final piece of the puzzle came via Ordinance #614, securing the Walker Easement acquisition for $4,000. The Walker property is the designated “core site” where crews will physically bore the sewer line underneath the interstate structure. Staley noted that while the property owners had not yet physically signed the paperwork as of Monday night, they had formally agreed to the $4,000 counteroffer previously established by the council.

“This will be the final piece, so it’s pretty exciting,” Staley said.

Mayor Mike Nichols praised the milestone, highlighting the long-term economic development potential the utility extension brings to the highway interchange.

“Now, with any luck, we get somebody up there in the next 18 months,” Nichols said.

All three land acquisition ordinances were approved by unanimous 5-0 roll call votes.