MASON — The city has filed eminent domain lawsuits to obtain 10 properties needed for the $5.7 million Mason-Montgomery Road improvement project.

        Despite the lawsuits, filed in Warren County Common Pleas Court over the past month, city officials say they want to reach settlements with the property owners for right-of-way land and/or temporary easements.

        “In order to widen the road, we've got to take anywhere from 5 feet to maybe 20 feet of somebody's front yard,” Mason assistant law director Christy Holmes said.

        The city also is negotiating to buy Reber Auto Body for $214,300, and one of the two buildings that make up Lexington Square Apartments for more than $263,000.

        A jury will decide the value of the property the city is taking. A private firm appraised the 10 properties at a total of $590,256, which has been placed in an escrow account.

        The appraisals run as high as $263,420 for one property.

        Denise and Policicchio Beauchamp, whose house is at Laurel Wood Court and Mason-Montgomery Road, said they and other property owners have hired lawyers to negotiate with the city. The Beauchamps were offered $2,515 for land needed for a right-of-way and a temporary easement.

        “It was a joke when they came to my house to offer this,” Mrs. Beauchamp said. “I think the biggest problem that we're dealing with is the city thought we were non educated.”

        Mason-Montgomery Road between Tylersville Road and Main Street closed June 4. Construction began immediately on relocation of a water main around the Muddy Creek Bridge south of Main Street and placement of a new sanitary sewer line from the bridge to Tylersville Road. Storm-water collection lines are being built and utility companies are moving overhead power lines onto new power poles.

        The project involves widening that portion of Mason-Montgomery Road from two to four lanes, and adding medians, three new traffic signals and left turn lanes at major intersections.

        Also included are a bike path on the east side and a sidewalk on the west side of the road.

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