MONROE - The City of Monroe could resort to property condemnation and paying property owners fair market value for their land along 8th and 9th streets to keep the project of reconstructing and widening the streets moving.
The Common Council Tuesday voted 9-0 to approve land acquisitions for about 30 pieces of property along the project corridor.
Alderman Jan Lefevre abstained because her father owns property on the stretch of road.
Kelly Finkenbinder told the Council that only about 50 percent of the properties had been acquired.
Finkenbinder expected a few more offers to land owners to be accepted, but the rest will be appraised. If the first appraisal amount does not meet with an owner's approval, a second appraisal will be taken and the city will enter into negotiations with the property owner.
If the second appraisal is not accepted the city will pursue condemning the necessary property to widen the street, Finkenbinder said.
Sandra Marian, living in the 800 block of 9th Street, accepted the city's first offer for about 724 square feet off the front of her property, she said Tuesday, in a telephone interview prior to the meeting.
The city is paying about $2.50 per square foot, plus landscaping costs.
Marian was pleased the city would be removing walnut trees along her street, which have been hard on her garden, and said she didn't mind losing the strip of land. However, she said other property owners would lose enough land to put the new street near their front doors.
City Attorney Rex Ewald said the city had the power to condemn the land and the court had procedures to work out the cost.
The Common Council Tuesday voted 9-0 to approve land acquisitions for about 30 pieces of property along the project corridor.
Alderman Jan Lefevre abstained because her father owns property on the stretch of road.
Kelly Finkenbinder told the Council that only about 50 percent of the properties had been acquired.
Finkenbinder expected a few more offers to land owners to be accepted, but the rest will be appraised. If the first appraisal amount does not meet with an owner's approval, a second appraisal will be taken and the city will enter into negotiations with the property owner.
If the second appraisal is not accepted the city will pursue condemning the necessary property to widen the street, Finkenbinder said.
Sandra Marian, living in the 800 block of 9th Street, accepted the city's first offer for about 724 square feet off the front of her property, she said Tuesday, in a telephone interview prior to the meeting.
The city is paying about $2.50 per square foot, plus landscaping costs.
Marian was pleased the city would be removing walnut trees along her street, which have been hard on her garden, and said she didn't mind losing the strip of land. However, she said other property owners would lose enough land to put the new street near their front doors.
City Attorney Rex Ewald said the city had the power to condemn the land and the court had procedures to work out the cost.