Class Code: 04111
IOWA DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES -
HUMAN RESOURCES
RIGHT OF WAY AGENT 2
DEFINITION
Performs journey level public contact work
in appraisal, acquisition, condemnation, relocation assistance, property
management, or closing phases of right of way operations, or in the negotiation
of agreements with parties with facilities affected by highway construction
projects as to how these will be relocated/adjusted, or in the participation in
the highway beautification program; performs related work as required.
The Work
Examples and Competencies listed are for illustrative purposes only and not
intended to be the primary basis for position classification decisions.
WORK EXAMPLES
Establishes
present title status of subject properties in order to assure that existing is
accurate, complete and current by gathering title data through the examination
of county court house and city hall documents and interviews with such
appropriate people as abstractors, attorneys, and property managers.
Locates and gathers data
from printed and visual (e.g., photographs) sources in order to have
information to use in estimating the market value or in the acquisition of the
title of the property by reading, selecting, and recording the pertinent facts.
Aids property owners and/or
relocates during the right of way acquisition project in order to facilitate
the project’s completion by serving as liaison with lending institutions,
housing and welfare agencies, interpreting and explaining acquisition,
relocation, closing, and property management information.
Coordinates
closing transactions in order to complete the real estate title transfers by
contacting property owners or their agents, accepting title and taking
possession of the property and disbursing funds and returning abstracts of the
title.
Instructs
trainees in the principles and practices of right of way acquisition,
appraisal, property management, and relocation assistance by providing
technical assistance in the gathering and processing of data through on-the-job
training.
Determines eligibility,
moving cost options and amount of payment in order to accomplish relocation and
make payment in conformance with state and federal laws by gathering moving
cost option data, analyzing that data, selecting and comparing the pertinent
variables in each relocation case with state and federal eligibility criteria,
and selecting the appropriate individual payment option.
Applies the cost, market
and income approaches to subject property in order to estimate the market value
of subject properties both before and after acquisition by selecting relevant,
previously gathered information, considering factors involved in determining
the highest and best use of land, and using the methodology specific to each
approach.
Prepares and/or revises
contracts in order to purchase real and personal property and/or property
rights in conformance with the project’s plans by determining the title and
method of conveyance, and inserting and deleting appropriate conditions
necessary to describe fully all elements of the proposed acquisition.
Disposes land in order to
reduce the land inventory by obtaining approvals, utilizing plats,
descriptions, and appraisals, and employing the sealed bid, auction, direct sale, transfer of jurisdiction or abandonment
approaches.
Documents all phases of
right of way acquisition in order to indicate the status of the acquisitions,
property management, title and closing, and relocation aspects by recording all
conveyance and title instruments, writing various narrative reports, and filing
data and materials gathered into parcel and project files.
Gathers pertinent data
relating to railroads/utilities affected by proposed highway
construction/maintenance projects in order to inform companies involved and
solicit from them their plans for adjustment/relocation of their facilities.
Draws up and negotiates
agreements with railroads, utilities, counties, cities and municipalities in
order to insure that adjustments resulting from proposed highway construction/maintenance
projects are reasonable, adequate, and in compliance with associated standards
and policies.
Monitors progress of the
above-stated relocation/adjustment projects to insure that they are being
carried out in compliance with the negotiated agreements in a timely manner.
Inventories signs along
primary highways and obtains necessary information regarding sign location,
ownership, and content for Control Unit to issue removal notices where
necessary.
Evaluates
signs along primary highways that do not conform to the Highway Beautification
Act to determine amount of compensation due sign and site owners for
acquisition.
COMPETENCIES REQUIRED
Knowledge
of the English language including punctuation, grammar, spelling, and sentence
structure.
Knowledge of state and
federal laws, policies, and regulations relating generally to real estate and
specifically to the basic activities of right of way acquisition.
Ability to
comprehend/interpret narrative, visual and numerical information pertinent to
the appraisal process including property descriptions; road plans: cross-sections, topographic maps,
plans/profiles; technical studies prepared by Department of
Transportation: traffic counts; real
estate laws, and zoning ordinances.
Ability to calculate
mathematical solutions utilizing addition, subtraction, multiplication,
division, and percentages for such purposes as determining moving cost
estimations and housing payments.
Ability
to recognize/assess errors or incompleteness in narrative, graphic, and
pictorial information and material.
Ability
to communicate with others for purposes of gathering or explaining factual
information or estimates; narrative, pictorial or graphic material; rights and
courses of action; both orally and in writing.
Ability to recognize/assess
the significance of facts/data gathered by interviews and conversations, or by
review of narrative and graphic material, or by inspections.
Ability
to relate to people non-abrasively for purposes of obtaining and/or exchanging
factual information, ideas, and viewpoints.
Ability to follow oral and
written instructions and guidelines related to carrying out appraisal and right
of way acquisition assignments.
Displays high standards of ethical conduct. Refrains
from dishonest behavior.
Works and
communicates with all clients and customers providing polite, quality
professional service.
Displays a high level of initiative, effort, attention to detail and
commitment by completing assignments efficiently with minimal supervision.
Follows policy,
cooperates with supervisors and aligns behavior with the goals of the
organization.
Fosters and
facilitates cooperation, pride, trust, group identity and team spirit
throughout the organization.
Exchanges
information with individuals or groups effectively by listening and responding
appropriately.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SPECIAL
REQUIREMENTS
Graduation from an
accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree and two years of
Right of Way Agent experience in real estate appraisal, property acquisition,
real estate sales or management, relocation assistance, right of way
engineering, or other real estate or development support activity of comparable
level;
OR
an equivalent combination of experience
and education substituting of one year of the required full-time
experience in real estate appraisal, property acquisition, real estate sales or
management, relocation assistance, right of way engineering, or other real
estate or development support activity for one year (30 semester hours) of the
required education to a maximum substitution of four years;
OR
an equivalent combination of experience
and education substituting one year of the required full-time experience in field-commissioned sales work,
engineering survey, highway construction inspection, or as the manager of a
business for one year (30 semester hours) of the required education to a
maximum substitution of four years;
OR
an equivalent combination of experience
and education substituting satisfactory completion of any American Institute of
Real Estate Appraisers Course, Society of Real Estate Appraisers Course,
American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers Course, or American
Right of Way Association Course, or its equivalent for one year (30 semester
hours) of the required college education with a maximum substitution of four
years;
OR
Employees with current
continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes eighteen
months of full-time work as a Right-of-Way Agent 1.
SELECTIVE
CERTIFICATION
For certain designated
positions, the Appointing Authority, with Iowa Department of Administrative
Services–Human Resources Enterprise prior approval may request those applicants
possessing a specific certificate in the following area:
961 Iowa Certified Real
Estate Property Appraiser
NOTE
All positions in this
classification travel extensively throughout the State of
Effective Date:
04/10 DDF