Efforts to seize land proving costly (Eminent domain debacle)

modbee ^ | 3-18-06 | adam ashton

[LouAvul]

(Waterford, California)

The City Council has voted to seize property for public projects three times since 2004, and it's still paying for those decisions.

Waterford pursued eminent domain — its right to take land for the public good — to acquire land for a planned government center, a river park and its second stoplight.

Each decision landed the city in court because property owners wanted more money than the city offered.

One businessman, Ron Coleman, forced the city to pay more than double what it originally offered to buy his used car lot on Highway 132.

The city paid $300,000 instead of $120,000, Coleman said.

He says he isn't through with the city yet, though Waterford made its last payment to a trust in January. Now he wants attorney's fees.

"They can't get out of it," said Coleman, 64.

City Administrator Chuck Deschenes confirmed the final cost of getting Coleman's lot as part of the government center project.

Coleman's was the first of the city's recent attempts to use eminent domain. It filed a lawsuit seeking to enforce a council vote to take the land in April 2004.

Most recently, the council voted in July to take a portion of the Waterford Farm Supply parking lot on Highway 132 as part of a stoplight project.

Waterford filed a lawsuit to enforce the vote in January, and it has acquired a judge's OK to take the property.

[TexasTransplant]

"The City Council has voted to seize property for public projects three times since 2004, and it's still paying for those decisions"


I hope every individual on that City Council ends up paying for their Greed until the day that they DIE.

TT

[Sloth]

Good. ED being used for *public* projects as intended, and the city on the defensive. Just as it ought to be.

[TexasTransplant]

correction Greed = Arrogance

[TheSpottedOwl]

Good for Mr. Coleman. Why does some backwater town need a "government center in the first place?

[RedMonqey]

Why does some backwater town need a "government center in the first place?

The same reason every small town needs a "convention center" For city officials to brag about to one another when they to national conventions on taxpayers money.

Otherwise, there is none.