Commissioners discuss potential eminent domain issues on construction projects
“Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth met with Highland County Commissioners Tom Horst, Shane Wilkin and Jeremy Shaffer at the Dec. 10 board meeting to discuss potential property appropriations (i.e. eminent domain) related to two different construction projects.
Otworth updated commissioners on a dual bridge project just west of Hillsboro on Holladay Road near Tolle Road in which seven of eight property easements have been obtained.
However, one easement, a property owned by Marilyn Hiestand of Ervin Road, remains in negotiation.
Commissioners passed a resolution by a 3-0 vote to begin appropriations on the Hiestand property.
“This is a $2 million project for two bridges that was sold as one complete project,” Otworth said. “We have seven of the eight properties negotiated out. Hopefully, we’ll get this eighth one through negotiations.”
Wilkin asked the engineer, “So, just to be clear, we are actively negotiating with Ms. Hiestand, it’s just the timeline of getting it done (with District 9 of the Ohio Department of Transportation)?””
Ryan, Rory. Highland County Press 10 December 2014.