As the City of Perry makes its way into phase two of the improvements to the municipal airport – which includes constructing a new fuel station – the City staff is continuing to work hard in preparation for phase three, the runway extension.

However, that aspect is still being held up in land acquisition. In anticipation for potentially not reaching an agreement with the landowners they’re still in negotiations with, the City Council recently approved an engagement agreement with the Ahlers and Cooney Law Firm for eminent domain representation. City Administrator Sven Peterson emphasizes that enacting eminent domain isn’t how the City wants to acquire the land for the project, though he says it’s something the Council has to be prepared for in this instance. “Some of the landowners we have not been able to come to an agreed upon purchase price, so this is the next step in that process. Eminent domain is our absolute last resort on this project. But the project is going to happen, so if that’s what we have to do, then that’s what we’re going to do.”

Peterson adds, the City decided to contract with Ahlers and Cooney, a Des Moines-based firm, because they have the resources and background needed to deal with eminent domain issues. However, he says City Attorneys with the Finneseth, Dalen, and Powell Law Firm will work alongside the other lawyers during the process. To learn more about this and other City of Perry topics, click the link below to listen to the recent Perry Fareway Let’s Talk Dallas County program with Peterson.

https://www.raccoonvalleyradio.com/2019/10/08/lets-talk-dallas-county-10-8-2019-sven-peterson/