JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. — One East Tennessee city is hoping to use a government right as old our nation to acquire lands for public use.
Jefferson City leaders recently approved a resolution that would allow the city to acquire 95 acres of land surrounding Jefferson Memorial Hospital for public use.
"In a normal negotiation, you would expect some type of feedback or counter or whatever it may be, so, it was certainly a large surprise that instead of having that back, there was the vote to go for for eminent domain," Ben Ridder, CEO of Jefferson Memorial Hospital, said.
Eminent domain gives the government the power to seize land for public use. Meanwhile, the constitution adds protections saying private property can be taken for public use, but not without "just compensation."
The CEO of Jefferson Memorial hopes negotiations can start back up soon.
"We are still at this point, willing to reopen up those conversations," he said.
Jefferson City Manager James Gallup issued this statement below:
"The resolution to authorize the city to pursue the acquisition via condemnation was not an easy decision and the council was split on the vote. At the moment, the city has not yet petitioned the courts as part of the condemnation process. In light of the decision, members of the community have come forward to offer alternative solutions and the city is exploring those options."
A roadblock in the negotiations is the hospitals wanting to keep a portion of the land for possible future expansions.
"Our community has seen an influx of people from out of state, a growing and evolving need for health care," Ridder said. "So we have been working over the last couple of years that I've been here to expand to meet those needs."
The city is holding a city council meeting on Monday, Dec. 4. Hospital officials are planning to ask city leaders to rescind the resolution then.