Eldridge council members will reconvene for a special meeting Thursday to resolve an impasse over property acquisition to widen the intersection of First Street and LeClaire Road.
The city’s consultants recommended easement agreements totaling $57,194 with 10 owners of 12 parcels, including three school district parcels. Most involved temporary construction easements valued at less than $1,000. Four of them have settled.
The school district’s construction and permanent easements are worth $36,025, according to the city’s consultant. That offer is pending before the school board.
The owners of Porter Insurance building at 102 N. First St., and Michelle Kapinski’s the State Farm office building at 104 E. LeClaire, sought compensation higher than that negotiated by city consultants.
Kotter said the Porter’s building, owned by 102 N. LeClaire St. LLC, asked for $11,500 more than the consultant’s settlement recommendation of $18,394. Kotter said the Porters calculated the value of lost parking and snow removal costs they say will be higher.
Mayor Marty O’Boyle said the city already spent enough on engineering work to spare at least four of Porter’s parking spots, and take just one or two. “We asked engineers to move this as far east as possible to minimize the impact. I think this is an overreach, asking for more after the appraisals came in,” O’Boyle said.
Kotter said Kapinski asked for $1,500 more than the $790 easement offer. The amount compensates for the loss of city-owned land that Kapinski has used and maintained for parking at her business.
Kotter recommended council approve the requests and avoid negotiations or condemnation that might delay the work, or push bidding into the summer when she fears it will cost more. The difference, she said, is just a fraction of the estimated $3 million project.
Some council members agreed.
“If we took this to court, I could see us spending $13,000 on an attorney, and we could still lose the case,” council member Bruce Cheek said. “$13,000, it’s a lot of money. But I think we should just go ahead with it.”
The council heeded Dockery’s suggestion of reconvening 6:15 p.m. Thursday to discuss it further.