Commissioners authorize three eminent-domain acquisitions for road projects

The Williamson County Commissioners Court on Oct. 21 authorized the use of eminent domain to acquire three small parcels of right-of-way needed for road projects, voting unanimously on three separate motions.

Commissioner Clint Covey moved to authorize acquisition of 1.359 acres from Mighty SIA Investments LLC for the Ronald Reagan Boulevard Segment C improvements; Commissioner Mark Bowles seconded and the court approved the motion 5-0. Covey then moved to authorize acquisition of 1.787 acres from KR2 Versus LLC for the same segment; the court approved that motion 5-0 after a second recorded from the bench. Commissioner Mark Bowles moved to authorize acquisition of 0.213 acres from Marie Carroll Northgard and Alan Archie Bailey (as trustees) on County Road 405 for corridor A2 improvements; that motion also passed 5-0.

County staff said the process for acquiring right-of-way is governed by state law and that property owners are given opportunities to review offers and obtain counsel during the condemnation process. Commissioners emphasized the county’s efforts to negotiate and to follow state procedures before pursuing eminent domain.

The court’s formal votes were recorded as approvals, each carried 5-0.