The Right-of-Way Agent performs a wide variety of work involving property rights associated with the County's existing and planned real property interests for roads and drainage.
These activities include providing property rights information to County staff and the public; researching and resolving property rights matters;
negotiating property acquisitions, easements, and agreements for the County; and right-of-way dedications associated with development applications.
This position reports to the Right-of-Way Supervisor in the Engineering Division of Public Works.
Examples of Duties for Success
- Plan, review, coordinate, and negotiate the acquisition of real property for County Capital Improvement Programs (CIP) Project in order to meet the County's land right entitlement process.
- Present and inform the public, County employees, County departments, Planning Commission, Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), other municipalities, community groups, and organizations regarding the County's need for required rights-of-way and / or easements based on master transportation and drainage plans, County development, and CIP projects.
- Prepare and execute a variety of documents associated with the acquisition of real property, to include agreements, deeds, easements, encroachment agreements, right-of-way licenses, memos, BOCC paperwork including resolutions, contracts, reports, correspondence, legal descriptions, subdivision plats, value findings, appraisals, title reports, and other necessary instruments for County action;
file or record all necessary instruments with the proper entities.
- Supervise contract execution with title companies, as needed.
- Coordinate projects with a variety of individuals / entities, including private owners, County staff / officials, attorneys, engineers, and various real estate personnel and appraisers;
inform property owners of right-of-way activities to promote understanding of property acquisition and disposition. Assist in the development of right-of-way plans that show new and existing right-of-way boundaries for individual products to accommodate construction of the transportation project.
- Process payments for the acquisition of real property rights and consultant contracts.
- Review appraisal reports for compliance with Federal and state requirements and industry standards.
- Review right-of-way plans and roadway construction plans to insure all necessary property interests are acquired for the County’s capital improvement projects.
Prepare real property valuations as required for right-of-way acquisitions in consultation with consultants on non-federally funded projects.
- Conduct field inspections of sites being acquired for the need of roadways or drainage facilities.
- Provide testimony in court for right-of-way litigation proceedings when requested.
- Review reports, maps, legal descriptions and right-of-way documents prepared by staff and outside sources for accuracy.
- Research deeds, gathers data, and produces right-of-way documents for development review applications.
- Reviews and evaluates development review application to ensure consistency with Adams County Development policies and regulations.
- Reviews and evaluates subdivision plats to ensure consistency with County, state and federal regulations.
- Reviews building permits and related right-of-way dedication and requirements associated with the permits.
- Secures new deeds, easements, and agreements necessary for the acquisition of or use of property by the County in conjunction with any land use or building permit case wherein such acquisition is appropriate.
- Reviews and prepares documents for the County's right-of-way acquisitions and obtains rights to use property.
- Processes the dedication of right-of-way, easements, and miscellaneous related documents for consideration by the Adams County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners.
- Research historical records for parties that may have an interest in a particular site.
- Perform other related duties and responsibilities as required.
Qualifications for Success
- Knowledge of principles, practices and procedures of real estate transactions.
- Knowledge of legal and real estate terminology and conditions of title; knowledge of real estate laws and principles; knowledge of real estate appraisal techniques.
- Knowledge of procedures and techniques for correct legal document preparation.
- Knowledge of the process and preparation of documents and legal procedures necessary to obtain property and easements, including how to write resolutions and concise historical facts for action by the Board of County Commissioners.
- Ability to review, write, and interpret deeds, easements, legal descriptions, and other related documents; able to read and interpret land survey and subdivision maps, development and engineering plans.
- Knowledge of record keeping and preparation of clear, concise and complete written and oral reports.
- Familiarity with applicable Colorado laws related to the practice of land surveying and the division of or the development of property.
- Knowledge of civil engineering and surveying principles.
- Ability to perform title searches; prepare waiver valuations and review the work of contracted appraisers.
- Ability to interpret and apply the Federal Relocation Act, Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
- Computer skills : Knowledge of MS Office Suite, ability to use GIS platforms, and workflow management software.
- Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
- Establish, maintain and foster positive and harmonious working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
More Qualifications for Success
Education and Training : High school diploma or GED equivalent required.Supplemental training held in a professional technical institute and organizations and / or college with course work in real estate law, engineering, surveying and other related fields.
Education towards a Right of Way Agent certification obtained through the International Right of Way Association is highly desirableA Bachelor's Degree may be substituted for required experience on a year-for-year basis
- Experience : Four (4) years of responsible experience in the right-of-way field including : property acquisition, title search and examination;
- legal document preparation, including but not limited to : deeds, easements, agreements and legal descriptions; real estate appraisals;
engineering plan examinations; technical report writing or related technical real estate and right-of-way work experience.
- License or Certificate : A valid Colorado Class "R" Driver's License is required.Possession of or the ability to obtain a Right-of-Way Agent or higher certification obtained from the International Right-of-Way Association within 18 months of hire is highly desirable.
- Background Check : Must pass a criminal background check.
- Other : Ability to travel to various destinations within the County.Ability to work in a standard office environment. Skills to research property ownership information from various sources.
Broad knowledge of the public land survey system and land boundary principles.
Last updated : 2024-03-02