An Overland Park homeowner didn’t think the city was paying him nearly enough to take a chunk of his land and decades-old trees for a road-widening project.
A court agreed with him.
Appraisers appointed by a Johnson County judge determined this month that Scott Hamblin should get $19,000 — more than twice the $9,200 the city initially offered.
The differing amounts should prompt concerns about whether the city “low-balled” residents when it condemned property for the road project, said Hamblin, who lives with his family east of 177th Street and Quivira Road.
“At this point, I’m more concerned about the city talking about what happened here,” Hamblin told The Star. “Why did this happen and how it’s not going to happen to everybody else.”
His attorney, Michelle Burns, also said the “low offer” called into question the city’s appraisal process.
City spokeswoman Meg Ralph said the city’s original offer was based on an independent appraiser’s determination of fair market value of the property.
(Read more: Government & Politics News |)