Commissioners adopt resolution of necessity for safety campus

As an initial step to acquire property for the Community Safety and Justice Campus through eminent domain, the Benton County Board of Commissioners adopted Resolution of Necessity R2022-001 at their March 1, 2022 meeting.

The resolution allows the Board to declare it necessary and in the best interest of the public to acquire the McFadden Ranch, LLC, a site adjacent to Hewlett-Packard in north Corvallis, for the purpose of locating justice system facilities.

The Board agreed that this is the best possible location after a 20-month process to determine a site that provides the greatest public benefit and causes the least private injury to residents. This is the first official step in a lengthy eminent domain process that could span 18 months or more.

Neither the Board’s adoption of the Resolution of Necessity—nor proceeding with eminent domain—prevents the County from negotiating a purchase of the property with the owner. Eminent domain is a defined legal process by which governments are able to acquire private property when it is deemed necessary and in the public interest to do so.

If eminent domain is ultimately used, a jury will determine fair and just compensation the County will be required to pay McFadden Ranch, LLC, for the purchase of the 28 acres of land. The County sincerely hopes to negotiate an amicable agreement with the owner prior to a jury decision and views the opportunity for ongoing negotiation as an advantage of the eminent domain process.