County takes small portion of private property in West Lampeter Township
“Saying they had no choice and that replacing the Eckman Road bridge is a safety issue, county commissioners Wednesday used eminent domain to take a small portion of private property in West Lampeter Township.
Commissioner Scott Martin said the county wasn’t acting lightly. He said that in every other instance in which the county needed property for a bridge project, it was able to reach agreements with the affected owners.
Such was mostly the case with the Eckman Road bridge project, in which the county reached deals with four property owners.
But the county was unable to reach a compromise with Randal Hayes Brown, who owns the 150 Eckman Road property, Martin said at Wednesday’s meeting.
Martin and Commissioner Craig Lehman said Brown is getting just compensation, as required by law.
“We’re talking about a very small parcel of land … . And, given the importance of this bridge, I see no other course,” Lehman said.”
Nephin, Dan. Lancaster Online 4 September 2013.