INDOT officials explain process to land owners

EASTERN HEIGHTS ---- Indiana Department of Transportation officials met with property owners Thursday night at Eastern High School to discuss issues concerning their property and the construction of I-69.

Lyle Sadler, project manager for INDOT, informed property owners that if the purchase of their property occurs, it wouldn't happen for a while.

"We're working on what's called a 2000-foot corridor," Sadler said. "This is what the governor identified in January. This corridor is what represents I-69 at its present state between Evansville and Indianapolis."

He said that the corridor is having a final environmental impact statement done, which has been going on for the past three years.

Sadler said that by the end of the year, the corridor will receive a record of decision by the Federal Highway Administration.

"It's at that time that we have the go ahead from the federal standpoint with I-69, but that's just a start," Sadler said. "We then go into what is called a tier two, which is called a tiered environment, something Indiana has never been involved with before."

Sadler said that tier two will establish what part of the 2000-foot corridor the highway will actually consume. He said that the right-of-way ranges would be from 270-450 feet.

Tier two involves a break-up of the entire corridor into six sections. Greene County has land in sections three and four.

Once tier two is completed and a record of decision is received for each section, the actual design of the road can begin. Once the blueprints are finished and INDOT knows exactly what areas it needs, the process of purchasing property will begin.

"We're not to the point where I can give a percentage of chance whether or not your property will be affected," Sadler said.

Kevan McClure, chief of INDOT's land acquisition division, said that his work begins after the exact route is mapped out. He said that he, and other land acquisition employees, will go to the courthouse to examine property lines. He said that it's important to know where property lines begin and end.

McClure said INDOT establishes a buyer for the property and the buyer contacts the property owner.After an appraisal is completed, the property owner has the option to accept or decline the offer; however, they have 25 days to accept it.

McClure said that once property is purchased, payment would be received within 90 days.

Bob Souchon, program director of the appraising section, said that the appraisal value would be compared to that of similar properties in similar areas.

If the property owner isn't satisfied with the appraisal value, Souchon said that they have the option to have the appraisal reviewed by an impartial third party appraiser.

If someone rejects the offer, the case will get sent to the attorney general's office, Steven Penturf, manager of the buying section, said.

Penturf said that a suit can be filed to obtain the property. If a suit is filed, the court will order an appraisal by three different people; however, these people do not have to be licensed appraisers.They only have to be court-appointed. Once the appraisers examine the property, they will report back to the court. If the property owner again rejects the offer, a jury trial could result.

Penturf stressed that a jury trial is a last resort.

Once the purchase is taken care of, an acquisition assistance employee will be sent to speak with the property owner.

Alan Curson, manager of the acquisition assistance section, said that once a buyer knows a property will be purchased, the buyer contacts a relocation agent. Within 10 days of meeting with the buyer, a relocation agent will be in contact with the property owner.

A relocation agent helps the property owner find a place comparable to the one they are being displaced from. Curson added that INDOT takes care of the closing costs.

Curson said that if a business is forced to change locations, they are entitled to three different things.

They will be reimbursed up to $1,000 for any costs regarding searching for a new business site. They will be reimbursed up to $10,000 for re-establishment expenses. Curson said this includes things such as advertising, signs, stationary and costs for preparing the new business site. Businesses will also be reimbursed 100 percent for moving costs.

"These (reimbursements) cover almost any costs the business may have," Curson said.

If a residential owner or tenant is displaced, they are entitled 100 percent reimbursement for moving costs.

Curson stressed that INDOT will work closely with property owners.

"You do not have to move until a new home is available," he said.

Sadler said that tier two could take several months to complete. Once construction begins, Sadler said, the project will take 10 or 11 years to complete.

Check out I-69's Web site for updates on the project and maps. The address is www.i69indyevn.org