Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Presenter: Trey Vick

Action
Grant of Easement - Randall County
Radio Tower at Palo Duro Canyon State Park
August 24, 2017

I.      Executive Summary: Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) staff has been working with Randall County Sheriff’s Department and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) on a proposal to grant an easement for a radio tower located in Palo Duro Canyon State Park (PDCSP).

II.     Discussion: The 27,270-acre PDCSP is located in Randall and Armstrong Counties and includes the second largest canyon in the United States.  TPWD staff has been approached by Randall County Sheriff’s Department and Texas DPS for permission to erect a radio tower to expand the Statewide Trunked Radio System.  The expansion of the system will benefit operations within the park and benefit multiple law enforcement agencies and first responders across the entire panhandle of Texas.  An easement of approximately .20 acres will be needed for the proposed tower site and improvements consist of a tower not to exceed 200 feet, small operations building, and a generator with a 500 gallon propane tank.  In exchange for this proposed easement Randall County and Texas DPS will grant licenses free of charge to TPWD staff and Law Enforcement, saving the agency thousands of dollars a year.

III.   Recommendation:  The staff recommends the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department adopts the Resolution:

“The Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission adopts the Resolution attached as Exhibit A.”

Attachments – 5

  1. Exhibit A – Resolution
  2. Exhibit B – Location Map
  3. Exhibit C – Vicinity Map
  4. Exhibit D – Site Map
  5. Exhibit E – Site Map

Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit A

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the Granting of an Easement Covering Approximately .20 Acres of Real Property in Randall County for a Radio Tower in Palo Duro Canyon State Park

A Resolution by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Regarding the Granting of an Easement Covering Approximately .20 Acres of Real Property in Randall County for a Radio Tower in Palo Duro Canyon State Park

Resolution

Whereas, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) owns and operates Palo Duro Canyon State Park (PDCSP) for a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities and conservation values, including protection and interpretation of the park’s namesake and picturesque reach of the Palo Duro Canyon, and fine examples of  Texas Panhandle habitats; and,

Whereas, Randall County Sherriff’s Department (RCSD) and Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) wish to erect a free standing radio tower on the south rim of PDCSP; and,

Whereas, the proposed radio tower will improve radio coverage and communications for park staff including park police, law enforcement agencies, and first responders in and around PDCSP; and,

Whereas, TPWD, DPS, and RCSD agree that erecting this tower will benefit park staff including park police, law enforcement agencies, and first responders in and around PDCSP and surrounding counties; and,

Whereas, TPWD will be granted licensed access to the tower providing significant communication and operation benefits; and,

Whereas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission (the Commission) finds that as required by Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 26, notices of today’s hearing of this matter were published at least once a week for three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation which are published at least six days a week in the communities nearest to the State Park in which such newspapers are published (The Canyon News in Randall County), with the last day of publication being not less than one week or more than two weeks before the date of today’s hearing; and,

Whereas, TPWD staff have worked with RCSD and DPS to find a location, and utilize construction methodologies that minimize disturbance and result in improvement to radio coverage for the park and surrounding areas; and,

Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 26, that (1) there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the use or taking of such land (Easement);  (2) the program or project that requires the use or taking of land (Easement) includes all reasonable planning to minimize harm to the land; and,

Whereas, the Commission finds, in accordance with Section 13.009 of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Code that conveyance of the Easement subject to conditions that will minimize the overall impacts of the Easement on PDCSP is in the best interest of TPWD;

Now, therefore, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission authorizes the Executive Director to take all necessary steps to negotiate terms and conditions under which an Easement may be granted, and to grant an Easement for the purposes and subject to the conditions described herein and in the motion approved in this Resolution.

Further, the Commission directs the Executive Director to include in the terms of any easement granted under this Resolution a requirement that the radio tower and associated construction and maintenance comply with all applicable laws and regulations.

Adopted and approved this 24th day of August, 2017.

 

______________________________________          ______________________________________

T. Dan Friedkin, Chairman                                            Ralph H. Duggins, Vice-Chairman

______________________________________          ______________________________________

Anna B. Galo, Member                                                  Bill Jones, Member

______________________________________          ______________________________________

Jeanne W. Latimer, Member                                         James H. Lee, Member                  

______________________________________          ______________________________________

S. Reed Morian, Member                                              Dick Scott, Member

______________________________________

Kelcy L. Warren, Member

 


Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit B

Location Map of Palo Duro Canyon SP 20 miles Southeast of Amarillo

Location Map of Palo Duro Canyon SP 20 miles Southeast of Amarillo


Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit C

Vicinity Map of Palo Duro Canyon SP

Vicinity Map of Palo Duro Canyon SP


Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit D

Site Map Subject Area Outlined in Yellow

Site Map Subject Area Outlined in Yellow


Commission Agenda Item No. 7
Exhibit E

Site Map Approximate Tower Site Outlined in Yellow

Site Map Approximate Tower Site Outlined in Yellow

(Comment on this proposal)