The county wants to build a school and needs land. Via Bubba, comes the KNS round up:

The Knox County Board of Education will discuss Tuesday condemning three pieces of undeveloped land to use as the site for a much anticipated new high school out west, said board Chairman Dan Murphy.

“It’s my intent to discuss it, to debate it, to consider the process of condemnation and then in roughly 30 days call for a vote – unless, of course, we can negotiate a sale before then,” Murphy said.

After an “exhaustive search” for about 40 acres of flat land, Murphy said, school officials have found the three neighboring sites they want. Negotiations with the three owners – two individuals and one estate – have failed, he said.

However, one of the owners reports that no negotiations have occurred. The county seems to be jumping the gun on this. If I had to guess why, I’d say it’s because they want to rig exactly how much just compensation they have to pay. I have no issue with legally pursuing the land as it is for a school (which constitutes public use in my book). However, they should tender an offer for the property before getting all government on somebody.

Update: Here is more info.

Posted in Eminent Domain on January 19th, 2005 by SayUncle | RSS 2.0 |