Jury sets value of federal courthouse at $525,000
“In May, the Aberdeen City Council decided to begin the eminent domain process to claim the courthouse. Eminent domain allows government entities to take possession of private property if doing so is in the public good. The owner of the property is entitled to fair compensation.
Wells Fargo Bank National Association has a $731,250 mortgage on the building, but an attorney for the financial institution told the jury it agrees with the city’s appraisal.
Aberdeen Mayor Mike Levsen testified that losing federal court proceedings would be detrimental to the city and residents in the region. Without a federal courtroom in Aberdeen, people who have to appear or have an interest in federal legal proceedings would have to travel to Sioux Falls or Pierre and some might not have the time or money to do so, he said. If local people don’t have easy access to federal court hearings, it could impact the administration of justice, he said.”
Waltman, Scott. Aberdeen News 31 October 2013.