Judge hears testimony in eminent domain case for land near airport
“Representatives of the city of Columbia appeared before Boone County Circuit Judge Kevin Crane on Monday morning in a short hearing to enter testimony in support of a petition for eminent domain to acquire roughly 5 acres of land north of Columbia Regional Airport that the city needs to extend the airport’s main runway.
Extending the runway also will require realignment of Rangeline Road and Route H.
The Columbia City Council approved a bill at its Feb. 17 regular meeting to spend $639,000 to buy about 58 acres of land north of the airport. The city is eligible to have 90 percent of that cost covered by the Federal Aviation Administration.
At the hearing this morning, Wendy Lister, the city’s property acquisition manager, confirmed the city offered the property owner compensation for the 5 acres of land and that the property owner did not offer an alternative location.”
Denney, Andrew. Columbia Daily Tribune 2 June 2014.