City of Morris will pursue condemnation for West Ave. easement
“According to Morris Mayor Richard Kopczick, the West Avenue landowner and the city disagree on how much compensation should be paid for the easement.
After attempted negotiations, the city will likely have to use eminent domain – or condemnation proceedings – to secure the easement.
At Monday’s Morris City Council meeting an ordinance authorizing condemnation proceedings for the easement was approved. The city has not publicized who the private land owner is.
“We’re going to go through condemnation proceedings at the circuit court,” Kopczick said Wednesday. “We will have an appraisal proceeding performed to find the amount we believe the easement is worth.”
The easement is needed so the city can move forward with the second phase in a four-part project aimed at preventing sewage overflows into the Illinois River.
The project was triggered by an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency mandate requiring the city to stop the overflows, but it is unfunded by the state, meaning the city is solely responsible funding the roughly $5.8 million project.
The project involves replacing several miles of sewer lines, many of which will cut through private properties, including the West Avenue property being negotiated.”
Bourque, Jessica. Morris Daily Herald 23 July 2014.