Dane County intends to purchase state Sen. Fred Risser’s law-office property as part of the plan for construction of a new Dane County courthouse.
The county has made an offer of $728,800 ($100 per square foot) for Risser’s property. In accordance with state law, Dane County based the offer on the results of two independent appraisals.
“Senator Risser has 20 days to respond to that offer,” Dennis O’Loughlin, Justice Oversight committee member, said. “The county, in its planning for the judicial center, has determined that the highest and best use of the space where Risser’s law office is, is for the judicial center. When you look at both appraisals that we have, and you look at the figures in those appraisals, it is clear that the County’s intent is more than fair. It is certainly at or above the market.”
Some city officials believe the project is worthwhile.
“I feel that Risser’s property should be a part of the footprint for construction,” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4 said. “It will make for a much more attractive building by incorporating this parcel. It would look silly up against a 10-story courthouse. Risser’s property is on the corner of South Hamilton and West Wilson, and it is a triangular parcel. Taking the corner property, with compensation, would allow for a far more appropriate design.”
However, Risser said he fails to understand why he should sell the office.
“It is outside of my power if they decide to take it,” he said. “Eminent domain — they can take it regardless. They don’t need it and their original plan was without it. If they don’t need it and I don’t want to sell it, why should I?”
Risser said the property has been in his family for roughly 40 years. It was converted into a law office over 30 years ago.
Despite Risser’s sentimental attachment to the property, the County is going ahead with the process.
“He said he won’t [take the offer], he will ask for 1.7 million, in which case the appeal will to go a three member tribunal,” County Supervisor David Blaska said. “At this point we could still go ahead with demolition. We’ll have his land regardless. The county is offering a fair price. His property was assessed at $250,000, essentially unbuildable for anything but a little house on the corner lot. He should take the offer and not appeal.”
State law gives Risser little choice but to sell the property.
“When there is a public project that has been approved by the Legislature, in this case, the County Board of Supervisors, landowners within the project area are negotiated with for a public agency to purchase that land,” Gaylord Plummer, the facility’s Planner and Real Estate Officer for the county, said.
Once an offer is made the County can take the property regardless of objections, Plummer said.
“When the final offer is made, the landowner can take the agency to court if they don’t agree, but only regarding the money,” Plummer added. “Essentially, we’ve already purchased the office building on the site. There’s only one more building and that’s Risser’s office.”
