Lake Maumelle update -- Deltic loses
Here's the news from Judge Mackie Pierce's court on a variety of motions in Central Arkansas Water's effort to condemn some 700 acres owned by Deltic Timber near the Lake Maumelle water intake. Deltic (which values the lake so much it refused Thursday night to oppose dumping of treated sewage in the water supply) wants to build high-dollar homes. The water utility fears runoff from the development could degrade the water supply.
Deltic lost the big motion of the day. Judge Pierce said an ongoing watershed study -- which offers some, but by no means definitive support for the notion that Deltic's land could be developed with minimal impact on the water supply -- was not ground to reopen the whole condemnation issue in a new trial. He issued summary judgment on that issue, denying Deltic's request for a four-day trial. That means a September trial will concern the value of the land, for which the water utility has already paid Deltic $3.8 million.
UPDATE: Pierce also denied Deltic's effort to move the trial to Perry County, a hotbed of resentment against Central Arkanasas Water thanks to the demagoguery of Sen. Bob Johnson of Bigelow, who owns land in the watershed and tried in the 2005 legislature to severly limit the utility's condemnation power. It was hard to imagine that Deltic could prove it's impossible to get a fair hearing in Pulaski County. The timber company's offering of critical newspaper editorials and commentary didn't sway the judge on the point.
Other motions are still under discussion. We expect some argument will arise eventually on whether the water company can let jurors know that Deltic pays penny per acre in property tax on 700 acres of land it claims is severely undervalued at $3.8 million.
By the way, the water commission will hold a special meeting Monday morning to hear a new appraisal from its own appraiser on the property. He reportedly now places the value at $5.1 million, which reflects some prices in land sales shortly after filing of the condemnation action. The commission presumably will up its payment to Deltic on account of that. Deltic's appraisal of the property is much higher --- $15 million
Comments
What will Craig (still pretend'n to be a Dem) do next? Perhaps say Deltic is a champion of the environment or give a few thousand to Sierra Club.
Posted by: PR go--- | August 18, 2006 12:24 PM
Here's a great idea from the other thread. Deltic probably has less than $100 an acre, including property tax.
So, that's what we should pay them.
As I understand it, Deltic owned their land for many, many years prior to the establishment of the watershed protection zones. I believe that this entitles them to a different level of compensation for their land than the other developer who purchased the land knowing that it was inside of the protected area.
Posted by: Roland | August 18, 2006 01:36 PM
Hard to believe that a company like Deltic, who wants the public's good will and patronage in developing high-end real estate, would at the same time piss in their customer's water.
Posted by: 4Fair | August 18, 2006 02:10 PM
Not surprising when you realize how often they have gotten away with it in the past.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 18, 2006 02:17 PM