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.; <br />earJa <br />performed an appraisal of the property. The firm appraised the property as of July 7, 2000 for <br />$340,000.00. On October 2, 2000, the County made Mr. Denton an offer in the amount of <br />$340,000 (appraised value), which he rejected. During this same period (October, 2000), Mr. <br />Denton stated that the figure he had in mind was 527,500.00 per acre and he would counter the <br />offer at 5412,775.00. He then decided not to counter because he didn't want to have the property <br />tied up in case the project were to drag on. However, on March 14, 2002, in a meeting with Jim <br />Davis and myself, Mr. Denton verbally agreed to sell this parcel to the County for $27,500.00 per <br />acre, which is 3412,775.00. Three days later, the County tendered a written offer to Mr. Denton <br />in the amount of 5412,775.00, subject to Board of County Commission approval. <br />After deliberation, Mr. Denton rejected the written offer citing his wish to retain the property <br />until 2006. <br />ANALYSIS: <br />It is now apparent that Mr. Denton is not willing to sell this parcel to the County. To date, no <br />attorney has contacted the County in Mr. Denton's behalf. One appraisal of the property has been <br />made for a fee of $3,500.00. Negotiations with the property owner have ceased. <br />ALTERNATIVES: <br />1. Attempt to continue negotiations with the property owner; <br />2. Initiate Eminent Domain proceedings; <br />3. Abandon the project. <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />For the above reasons, staff recommends Alternative No. 2 that Eminent Domain (condemnation) <br />proceedings be initiated on the Denton Parcel. <br />ATTACHMENTS <br />1. Copies of Contracts <br />Robert Denton claimed he did not have timely notice because he had been out of <br />town and he had not had sufficient time to properly prepare. He explained that his family <br />purchased this property as an investment to hold for ten years. He recounted his discussions <br />with Director Davis and their inability to reach a mutual agreement. His family is willing <br />to sell the property as a civic gesture but they envision a park and nature trail, with the <br />wooded area near the river preserved and not a fenced -in "big hole" (retention pond) in the <br />middle of it. Director Davis could not include these amenities in the package but said <br />July 9, 2002 <br />51 <br />nu <br />1 <br />• <br />