Water authority may use eminent domain in Roanoke sewer line project
“The Western Virginia Water Authority may have to invoke its power of eminent domain to compel a landowner to sell it an easement for only the second time since its founding nearly a decade ago.
The authority on Wednesday mailed the last piece of paper required before going to court for permission to compel a sale, its general counsel Sam Darby said.
That paperwork was a bona fide offer to buy an easement across a back yard on the 3000 block of Lombardy Avenue in northwest Roanoke.
The authority needs to dig a new sewer line to serve homes on that block, as well as Hermitage in Roanoke retirement community, because of chronic problems with sewage backups on the current line. The current line runs through back yards of homes on Lorraine Avenue, just a few yards away from where the new line would go.”
Ress, David. Roanoke Times 22 May 2013.