To any person facing threat of Imminent Domain (ID) you should know that the agency has to offer fair market value (FMV) and relocation assistance. FMV is in the eye of the beholder. If it goes to court, both sides presents the judge their offer and counter-offer. In most cases the judge will split the 2 offers and go right down the middle unless compelling arguments can sway them one way or the other.
Even if the City uses it’s own funding and then after the fact decides to use some form of feral money, the feds will require a review of the acquisition process (softer way of saying ID)and they will not sign off if there was any slight of hand during the process.
It is imperative that people educate themselves about the process. Go to the city meetings and ask how they plan on paying for any improvements that the developer is requesting, ask to see any city ordinances they must adopt prior to using ID, ask if they are going to adhere to federal law for acquisition. The State’s Dept. of Transportation or the County are well versed in these processes because of the federal money they receive for their transportation projects.
Go acquire a few genuine indian trinkets and a few bones. “Discover” them in your yard.
Show up in the negotiation with a fake newspaper headline...”Sacred Indian burial ground discovered in Cranberry country”.
Shove the fake newspaper across the table and tell them this MIGHT become a real headline tomorrow. Ask them how much they think that kind of delay might cost them. Ask them if they have a very good relationship with the local indian tribes (they don’t)
THEN begin negotiations.