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Dispute Over Connecting Grant Avenue and Sawyer Drive Continues

Rather than having to go to court, the City of Sturgeon Bay will make another attempt to reach a settlement to purchase approximately four acres of land that the city wants to acquire to connect Grant Avenue and Sawyer Drive on the city’s west side, Mayor David Ward said.

The land is part of approximately 36 acres that Tim Ruenger owns in that area and previously declined to sell to the city. The city has proceeded with an eminent-domain process to acquire about two acres for right-of-way, where an unpaved roadway already exists, and slightly more than two acres for stormwater retention.

Ward said the Sturgeon Bay Common Council discussed the matter in closed session Aug. 16, after the city was unable to negotiate a settlement recently upon extending an offer to purchase to Ruenger, who obtained his own appraisal at city expense. The city also received an appraisal of the land in dispute.

With the two appraisals having come in at $28,000 and $104,000, Ward said City Administrator Josh VanLieshout, City Attorney Jim Kalny and community development director Marty Olejniczak have sought to work out a negotiated property sale with Ruenger and his attorney.

VanLieshout said a meeting was scheduled Sept. 8 for the two sides to continue negotiations.

Ward said he would like to reach a settlement in September so that work on the road connection could begin this year.

If a negotiated sale price is not reached and Ruenger elects not to accept what’s known as a “jurisdictional offer” for the property, Ward said the matter could then be decided in Door County Circuit Court, where the purchase price would be determined, with the city taking title to the property under eminent domain.

A connection of Grant Avenue to Sawyer Drive is included in Sturgeon Bay’s comprehensive plan and would provide another outlet for residents in that part of the city who otherwise must make a left turn from Grant Avenue onto Highway 42/57 when traffic is heavy, such as during Door County’s tourism season.