Family, Memorial Medical Center could face off in condemnation lawsuit
“Judy Ansell hasn’t lived there for at least a decade, but she and her seven siblings grew up in the 90-year-old house at 208 W. Miller St., and she doesn’t want to sell it to Memorial Medical Center — at any price.
Memorial’s interest in the one-story structure immediately south of the hospital apparently is why hospital officials plan to ask the Mid-Illinois Medical District Commission today if the panel would be willing to force the sale of land through eminent domain.
Memorial has informed the commission that the land would become part of a $145 million construction project that the 500-bed hospital plans to begin this spring.
he commission, which promotes development of the medical industry in Springfield’s 10-year-old medical district, has never s tried to use its eminent-domain powers.
Even if the board were to pursue a forced sale through a condemnation lawsuit on behalf of Memorial, it’s unclear where the commission would obtain legal representation, commission president Michael Boer said.
The commission, a quasi-governmental body with members appointed by Springfield’s mayor, the Sangamon County Board chairman and the governor, has tried unsuccessfully to secure ongoing state funding. The commission has only $147 in its general fund, money left over from administering a state grant, Boer said.”
Olsen, Dean. State Journal register 20 February 2013.