One more thing

And then I have to run and write my 2 stories for the Current.

At-large Councillor Barry Connell gave an update on the wastewater treatment facility mods at Monday's City Council meeting.

In the course of his remarks, I noticed he said, "The taking of 115 Water St." instead of "The purchase of 115 Water St."

That's the private property next to the plant, to the west, that is needed to stage the construction equipment and later as a location for the new building.

So of course I had to nab him after the meeting and ask what he meant by "taking."

Well, it seems that the owner there - the yacht club people - did not accept offers made by the city so the city is going to take the property through eminent domain.

"The only reasonable course for the city is to proceed with eminent domain," Connell told me, adding that this is not necessarily a bad thing for the owner.

From the Wikipedia:

Eminent domain (United States of America), compulsory purchase (United Kingdom, New Zealand, Ireland), resumption/compulsory acquisition (Australia) or expropriation (South Africa and Canada's common law systems) is the inherent power of the state to seize a citizen's private property, expropriate property, or seize a citizen's rights in property with due monetary compensation, but without the owner's consent. The property is taken either for government use or by delegation to third parties who will devote it to public or civic use or, in some cases, economic development. The most common uses of property taken by eminent domain are for public utilities, highways, and railroads.[citation needed] Some jurisdictions require that the government body offer to purchase the property before resorting to the use of eminent domain.

There's more to this story about stimulus funds but I have to get some more info from the sewer dept. One more stop on my visit to City Hall - which I should be on my way to right now.

This is not one of my 2 stories for this week's Current.