PB WASTEWATER WEIGHS EMINENT DOMAIN

By Erin France/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF

Eminent domain could come into play as Pine Bluff Wastewater Utility’s planned expansion has hit a snag.

The utility’s land acquisition project has purchased 12 of the desired 17 lots behind the agency’s operations building at 1520 Ohio St. Two of the three property owners of the remaining lots refused the utility’s offer to purchase their four properties for $1,250 per lot. The third owner could not be contacted.

“Our offer is more than reasonable for what those lots would probably be appraised for,” said PBWU manager Ken Johnson. “I want to go ahead and make this acquisition as easy as possible.”

He said he thinks the property owners eventually will accept the utility’s offer.

The proposed 50,000 square foot expansion mostly will be used for storage and other operations, Johnson said.

If the property owners refuse to sell their land to the utility, eminent domain could be used. The process allows a government entity to acquire property for public use after negotiations with the property owner fails.

“They actually end up filling a lawsuit to take the property (under eminent domain),” said city attorney Carol Billings.

Billings said that the city has used eminent domain in the past for small projects and once for a sewer system more than 10 years ago.

“A lot of government agencies try to use it as infrequently as possible,” she said.