CP’s Mojonnier Road improvement project hit with property acquisition issue

By Dan Thesman on Thursday, August 28th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories

COLLEGE PLACE – The College Place City Council approved a motion Tuesday night to adopt an ordinance declaring public use and necessity regarding the use of eminent domain (condemnation) proceedings related to the Mojonnier Road improvement project.

City Attorney Eric Ferguson explained to council that the Mojonnier Road improvement project requires the acquisition of property to be completed. The city, through its right-of-way acquisition contractor, has been working to negotiate the acquisition of all the necessary property for the project, but has been unable to acquire all the necessary property.

“One particular landowner remained obstinate to going through this just compensation process,” Ferguson explained. “We’ve got really no time left and really the only option is to move forward with condemnation proceedings.”

The property is a farm, and the owner seeks compensation for losing part of it. Ferguson said the city offered about $50,000. However, Washington State Department of Transportation funding was denied because an appraisal valued the property at up to $1 million once the Mojonnier Road improvement project is completed, which WSDOT deemed too valuable for compensation.