The Land Agent will support project-based requests from various utility company groups (Engineering, Construction, Sales, Real Estate, Rights & Survey, etc.) by researching and confirming land rights and/or obtaining new land rights, for the installation of utility facilities on private property. The agent will research existing property ownership and any current utility rights, and will work with the property owners, their agents or attorneys, municipalities, and other utility companies to obtain new land rights as necessary. The agent will organize and maintain those land rights documents and related project files as digital and physical records for future use and will keep a database of completed land rights records as well as a database for ongoing projects and tasks
Essential Functions:
- Supports Gas and/or Electric company projects involving new utility facility installation and/or existing utility facilities, by researching internal databases and public land records, and obtaining new land rights for those projects as needed.
- Communicates with project engineers, construction leaders, and utility sales representatives to obtain project information, customer contact information, design drawings, utility site plans, GIS Maps, and related project files.
- Research at Registry of Deeds, town/city Assessor’s Department, and town/city Engineering Department for property deeds, easements, plans, street layout plans, assessor’s maps, property cards, and other relevant documents.
- Investigates and interprets property ownership and existing land rights agreements.
- Requests title searches and/or appraisals when needed.
- Prepares legal documents for acquisition/disposition of utility company property and acquisition/disposition of land rights, including but not limited to easements, leases, license agreements, rights-of-way, and grants of location.
- Drafts easement exhibit plans with AutoCAD to depict land rights areas.
- Obtains additional accompanying documents such as Certificates, Consent from other utilities, and Mortgage Subordinations, as needed.
- Contacts property owners and/or their legal representatives to negotiate and obtain land rights.
- Disperses utility company funds for land rights and damage settlement to property owners.
- Submits legal documents to the appropriate county’s Registry of Deeds for recording and distributes the final recorded document to the land owner and utility engineer.
- Notifies land owners of planned utility company activity on their properties, as needed.
- Develops knowledge in acquisition of property, easements, leases, licenses, etc.
- Maintains and catalogs digital and physical land rights records for future reference.
- Coordinates with Merrill Survey/Engineering groups to request and schedule land surveys or project designs as needed to support various utility projects.
- Supports the Merrill Survey group in the field as needed to complete utility projects.
- Works independently to support a variety of projects.
- Assists project engineers in establishing construction routes and determines if land rights are existing or if they are needed for new or replacement construction on private property, public property or within public or private rights-of-way.
- Participate in project planning process and identify land rights needed for the successful completion of Gas and/or Electric projects.
- Protects the integrity of the company’s land rights by working with developers and third parties.
- Ensures compliance with all regulatory guidelines and company policies and procedures while keeping safety a priority.
SELECTION CRITERIA:
- Bachelor’s degree in Surveying/Civil Engineering or a related field is a plus, but appropriate work experience may be substituted.
- Basic ability to interpret land documents while developing more complex knowledge.
- Basic knowledge in reading project plans, maps, topographic maps, etc.
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Excel, Word, and general computer skills.
- Experience with GIS software, AutoCAD and/or other computer drafting programs is preferred.
- Effective communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Effective organization and time management skills.
- Good problem solving, analytical, and decision-making skills.
- Positive attitude and a team player willing to take initiative and strive for positive results and efficient project completion.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- Indoors 90%
- Outdoors 10%
- Sitting / Standing / Walking
- Bending / lifting / carrying for land survey related tasks
- Occasional overtime required
- Occasional regional travel required