Sequoyah County Times
by Courtney Bullard, Staff Writer
Oct. 25, 2010
The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) plans to construct a new $7.5 million Port of Entry station in Sequoyah County in March.
ODOT spokesman David Mueser said ODOT is currently trying to obtain 23 acres of land three miles west of the Arkansas state line in order to build a state-of-the-art commercial truck weigh station or Port of Entry station. The land owners, however, aren’t agreeing with the price ODOT has offered. ODOT filed a condemnation suit in Sequoyah County District Court against the owners on Sept. 13.
There are two owners of the land, according to the petition filed in the Sequoyah County Courthouse on Sept. 13. Theresa Williams of Georgetown, Texas, and Jerry W. Fleming of Fort Smith, Ark., have both been notified of the condemnation suit.
According to Mueser, the suit was filed for two reasons: to gain clear title; and ODOT and the landowners could not reach a price agreement on the vacant land.
“We’re not at liberty to elaborate on which party involved is disputing the price that ODOT offered,” Mueser said.
“We don’t like to file condemnation suits,” Mueser said, “It represents a failure to negotiate a price with the landowner, but at the same time it protects the landowner and his or her rights of ownership plus the interest of the taxpayers by giving a responsible price.” FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Mon, October 25, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski