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Kosciusko County commissioners approve start of eminent domain process for 225 North Buffalo Street
Summary
County attorney told commissioners the property owner declined the county's appraisal-based offer, and the board approved issuing a uniform land acquisition offer to begin eminent domain negotiations for a planned downtown parking garage.
Kosciusko County officials voted to authorize the start of eminent domain procedures for a downtown property the county seeks to buy for a planned parking garage.
County Attorney Ed said the county has been negotiating to buy the Meraprise building at 225 North Buffalo Street from Snapping Turtle LLC but that the owner would not accept an offer based on the average of two appraisals. "That necessitates us, proceeding under the imminent domain statute," Ed said. "To initiate that process, we need to do a uniform land acquisition offer. That is a letter that is specified by the statute, that requires us to give a good faith offer to the owner, and that will start the negotiation process."
The commissioners voted to authorize the county attorney to issue the required uniform acquisition offer and to proceed under the eminent domain statute. A commissioner moved to approve the action and another commissioner seconded; the board signaled approval by voice vote.
The item stems from the county's prior direction, given at an earlier meeting, to try negotiated purchase of the property at a price at or below the average of two appraisals. Ed said the owner declined that approach, leaving eminent domain as the county's next step.
No appraisal values, proposed purchase price or timetable for filing eminent domain litigation were disclosed during the meeting. The county attorney described the uniform acquisition offer as the statutorily required initial, good-faith offer to the owner. The board did not take additional, immediate actions beyond authorizing issuance of the acquisition offer.
Background: commissioners have discussed locating a county parking garage at the Meraprise building site; the county previously authorized negotiations with the owner conditioned on an appraisal-based price. The owner is identified in the meeting as Snapping Turtle LLC. The county did not provide an exact schedule for further steps in the eminent domain process during the public meeting.
