Submitted By: William E. Sexton, City Attorney
Presentation By: William E. Sexton, City Attorney
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Department: City Attorney
FORMAL TITLE:
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Approval of four grants of easement and an assignment of easement from the City of Ocala to Duke Energy Florida in connection with Duke's 230kV transmission line project
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BACKGROUND:
This agenda item includes the transfer of five easements. There are four new easements and one assignment of an existing easement, which are being granted/assigned by the City of Ocala to Duke Energy Florida (Duke) in connection with its larger 230kV transmission line project, which also provides a benefit to Ocala Electric Utility (OEU) and the City of Ocala (the City).
An aerial view/sketch prepared by the City's Real Estate Division accompanies this item and depicts the easement areas which are being transferred by this agenda item (Exhibit 1).
By way of additional background, as a part of the agreement approved by City Council on October 21, 2025 (Exhibit 2) for the sale of the 230kV transmission line from OEU's Shaw Substation to the Seminole Electric Cooperative's Silver Springs North Station, Duke agreed to construct a new 230kV transmission line interconnecting at OEU's Shaw Substation. The route for that transmission line requires Duke to acquire certain transmission easements along the west side of I-75, as well as an easement on the Shaw Substation property for the placement and maintenance of the new 230kV transmission line infrastructure. The City has an existing 230kV transmission easement that Duke needs to acquire, as well as the remaining four new easements on City-owned property.
The City has obtained independent appraisals of the value of these easements, and, through many months of cooperative discussion and negotiation, Duke's proposed compensation offer of $1,640,000.00 exceeds those appraised v...
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