Whitfield takes steps to seize property

DALTON, Ga. -- Two property owners near the new Carbondale Business Park say Whitfield County isn't offering a fair price for their land.

County commissioners disagree and are instituting eminent domain procedures to get the land.

The county needs to buy the parcels, each less than an acre, to build a road connecting the planned business park to Carbondale Road and Interstate 75, Commission Chairman Mike Babb said.

"There's a big delta, so to speak, between what the county has talked about (paying) and what the owners are pricing (properties) at," he said.

Commissioners voted Monday night to begin eminent domain proceedings, but Mr. Babb said county officials hope to reach agreements with the property owners over the next 30 days and before condemnation action is filed in court.

Wynette Gazaway, who owns the Chevron service station just off the interstate, said the county offered her about $85,000 for three-quarters of an acre. She said that's not enough given the cost of land to create the Carbondale Business Park.

The county is paying about $5.25 million to three property owners for just over 150 acres, or about $35,000 an acre, records show.

"Our property is right there on Carbondale Road and the interstate is right there," Ms. Gazaway said. "We figure it's worth more than back down in the woods with no frontage to it."

Luis and Bertha Paniagua own the other property the county wants, about two-thirds of an acre with a house.

Their son, Fernando Paniagua, a real estate agent, said the property is his parents' nest egg. They've held onto it over the years, he said, because it is close to the interstate and is valuable.

He said the property is listed for sale at $225,000 and the county originally offered $150,000, which his parents declined. He said the county had the property appraised and sent a letter "saying they're going to take it at $97,000."

"We just think (the county's offer) is a slap in the face to say the least," he said. "It's very upsetting, especially when you're talking about somebody's life savings."

But County Administrator Robert McLeod said an official appraisal is required for eminent domain. When the appraisal comes in lower than an original offer, "you have to go with the official appraisal price," he said.

Owners of both sites say they're getting independent property appraisals to argue for higher value.