LAWRENCE COUNTY Papers for 2 properties to be refiled

An agreement with the economic development corporation was amended.
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The Lawrence County Redevelopment Authority will refile its condemnation papers for two Neshannock Township properties.
Authority members agreed to refile the papers after amending an agreement they had with the Lawrence County Economic Development Corp.
The corporation has been the lead agency handling negotiations for the purchase of property for Millennium Park, a high-technology business park being developed between King's Chapel Road and Pa. Route 60 in Neshannock Township.
But an agreement made between the redevelopment authority and economic development corporation made it appear that the corporation was given eminent domain powers, said John Hodge, authority solicitor.
It was not given those powers, the solicitor said. The redevelopment authority retains eminent domain powers.
The papers filed in court must now be refiled to reflect the new agreement with the economic development corporation, Hodge said.
The authority filed eminent domain for property owned by Dr. David Hamilton and Thomas and Christy Whittaker.
Eminent domain is the government's right to take property, usually in exchange for fair compensation. All other property in the proposed high-technology park has been purchased through private agreements.