Eminent domain possible for new fire station site

CEDAR RAPIDS - The City Council took a first step last night to exert its power of eminent domain to acquire property for a new west-side district fire station at Edgewood Road and Crestwood Drive NW.

The city's senior real estate officer, Rita Rasmussen, had asked the council to take the first step and set the fair market value for the three acres of vacant land at $140,000, as established by a city-hired appraiser. Members did so without comment.

If purchase negotiations between the city and the property owner, Westgate Communities LLC of Dubuque, are not successful, the council will be asked to refer the matter to the Linn County Compensation Commission for resolution. The city will offer non-binding mediation to Westgate before pushing the matter to the commission, Rasmussen said in a memo.

Sheila Hefel of Westgate told the council the city had not communicated well with her firm about its intentions. She also said its figure for fair market value was wrong.