The Hattiesburg City Council voted to give City Attorney Randy Pope the authority to execute a motion that would give the Hub City possession of its planned Fire Station No. 9, which will be located at 7450 U.S. Hwy. 49 N.
The city has been working to get a fire station located on Highway 49 to meet state fire accreditation and lower the fire insurance ratings for the city.
Pope told the City Council on Tuesday, Sept. 17, that the motion gives him the authority to accept a partial judgment with the owner of the property, Saia Trucking Company, and deposit $87,750 into the registry of the court.
“Back in April, you voted to authorize an eminent domain suit because we were not able to reach an agreement with the owner of that property, which is Saia Trucking Company,” Pope told council members. “I have been in negotiations with the attorney for Saia, and he agreed to allow city to go ahead take a plat of that property. The amount of the city appraiser’s just compensation is $87,750.”
Pope said the decision will allow the city to have title to the property and to begin the necessary arrangements and plans to design the facility and offices.
“We will have to wait until November or later to complete the project (after the trial),” Pope said. “I think it is a good decision. I think it takes care of all the issues except for the actual building on the property. It think it is what we want; we are going to have to pay something.”