Commission approves condemnation ordinance to secure easements for Metropolitan–50th Street intersection project

The Unified Government’s Public Works division asked a standing committee to approve an ordinance authorizing condemnation (eminent domain) for temporary easements and new right‑of‑way at the Metropolitan Avenue and 50th Street intersection to keep the project on a Kansas Department of Transportation schedule.

Chris Finger, City Traffic Engineer, said the ordinance is a standard step to ensure the project meets KDOT timelines. "This project ... is really, condemnation proceedings, to keep us on track with KDOT's grant, for this project and their schedule," Finger said, adding that staff had two fully executed acquisitions and were negotiating with four additional property owners. "We have 2 fully executed out of, I believe, 6 total properties that we're working on negotiating, with in terms of acquiring those temporary easements or that new right away," he said.

Finger told the committee that the work will widen the intersection and add turn lanes and a new signal. "We're widening and putting in turn lanes on both and redoing the signal if I remember right," he said.

Commissioner Stites asked whether condemnation was being used because negotiations had stalled. Finger said staff were pursuing a parallel path: "We have been in contact with ... parties ... doing our best to work it out. If they were to stall out, this would moving forward with us at this time allows us to stay on our schedule that KDOT requires us to stay on to get this bid next year."

No public comments were received at the committee meeting. The committee voted 6–0 to approve the ordinance authorizing condemnation proceedings so the project can proceed if negotiations do not produce complete agreements.

Ending: Public Works said it will continue negotiations and proceed with acquisition work as needed to preserve the KDOT project schedule and return if further actions are required.