County starts eminent domain proceedings over airport land
“Warren County leaders voted Tuesday to begin eminent domain proceedings to expand Warren County Airport’s main runway after a property owner opted out of a sale agreement.
The county believed it had come to an agreement with local developer Vic Macri to buy four acres of land and avigation easements over 80 acres he owns between the airport and Quaker Road. The purchases would allow the county to expand the main runway 1,000 feet.
That agreement was reached after more than a year of negotiations in which Macri made it clear he was not happy with the county’s offer, supervisors said.
Macri recently decided to withdraw from the sale, which would have resulted in him being paid $327,200.
The agreement was reached a year ago and county officials had begun preparatory work to take possession of the property.
Eminent domain is a legal proceeding in which a municipality or governmental agency can take land for its use, with the owner awarded “just compensation.”
Warren County Attorney Martin Auffredou said Macri had taken issue with the county’s valuation of the land and the easements.”
Lehman, Don. Post Star 29 April 2014.