Unused Sparta easements to be returned to property owners

In a move aimed at improving land use and updating long-outdated property records, the City of Sparta Board of Mayor and Aldermen voted unanimously Thursday night to abandon several unused rights-of-way and return those easements to adjoining property owners. The decision helps the city clear old utility corridors, unused sections of roadways, and other obsolete easements from its tax maps, allowing nearby residents the opportunity to assume ownership of the land. 

City Administrator Tonya Tindle described the resolution as a long-overdue cleanup effort that will simplify future planning and potentially bring added value to property owners.