As Hall County makes plans to build a new fire station on the south end of the county, the Hall County Board of Commissioners has granted approval to use the power of eminent domain to obtain the property for the facility.
The commission voted unanimously at a meeting Thursday, March 12 to approve a resolution that will allow county officials to proceed with the purchase of two parcels of property on Holiday Road for Hall County Fire Station #17.
"This is about three-and-a-half acres, it's on Holiday Road [5711 and 5719 Holiday Road] and it has access to Lanier Islands Parkway," said County Attorney Van Stephens. "[With] this resolution, the board authorized us to begin eminent domain proceedings ."
Stephens said the county will first negotiate with the property owner to see if it can obtain the parcels by agreement, but if not, the county is now permitted to use the power of eminent domain. The process basically allows the government of acquire the land, with payment to the property owner, for public use.
"We're required to appraise the property before we begin any condemnation proceedings, and we've done that. The appraisal is at $800,000, and we will pay that into the registry of the court and begin the negotiations at that point," Stephens said.
Stephens said the owner of the property is not opposed to selling the property to the county for the fire station, but they do have to come to an agreement with the property owner and his attorney.
"We're hopeful we can negotiate the price quickly and resolve it without condemnation proceedings," Stephens said.
The proposed Station #17, located in Commission District One, would provide much-needed service to the Lake Lanier Islands area. The closest fire station to the resort area at this time is Station #8 on Gaines Ferry Road.
