Hamilton County Commissioners moved to protect a Colerain Township family whose home is about to be boxed in by an exit ramp.
Commissioner Todd Portune introduced a motion at the board's weekly meeting Wednesday that said that the commissioners' final approval of the project is contingent on the Langworthy family receiving "full and fair value" for their home and relocation expenses. If not, the board won't sign off on the proposed U.S. 27 interchange design.
Hamilton County Commissioners Greg Hartmann and Chris Monzel agree with Portune and will not support any plan that land locks the Langworthys.
The county engineer's office, which is independent of the commissioners, had offered to buy only a chunk of John Langworthy's front yard, essentially plopping his rural, nearly 100-year-old farm house into the middle of the highway.
"I don't want to stay here when they start construction," said Langworthy.
Langworthy said construction is expected to begin this spring. In the meantime, he's fighting to either save his house or get the county to pay for it.
The county can't directly kill the project, but it does have final say over what land is purchased. So by refusing to sign off the purchase of the front yard alone, the project can't move forward.
Buying the house would increase the cost of the $1.9 million road project, but it's not clear yet how much.
The Hamilton County Engineer's office plans to build a new exit ramp and widened this road which would cut through Langworthy's front yard. He said it would be only 23 feet from his front porch. County officials are considering paying him for the front yard of his property, but he said if his family is forced to move, it will cost him more than a $100,000.
Langworthy said that he wants fair market value so his family can move on. He believes his house is worth $200,000; he bought the fixer-upper for $82,000 and put $125,000 of work into it. The Hamilton County Auditor's Office Web site lists its value at $142,000.
The county's engineer's office will make Langworthy based on an appraisal currently being conducted. If Langworthy isn't happy with the amount offered he has the right to take the case to court where a jury will decide how much his property is worth.
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