§ 2-252. Filing of petition in eminent domain but prior to mediation.

For those real property acquisition negotiations which occur subsequent to the institution of a condemnation suit, but prior to court-ordered mediation, the following group of departmental personnel are acknowledged as having the authority to negotiate and purchase on behalf of Orange County:

(1)

Manager or assistant manager of real estate management department;

(2)

The division director, assistant division director, manager or assistant manager of user division/department; and

(3)

The assistant county attorney assigned the responsibility for acquiring the order of taking if the settlement is pre-order of taking or the assistant county attorney assigned trial responsibility for the trial for value portion of the condemnation suit if the settlement is post-order of taking.

Such individuals may conduct negotiations with the property owner or his representative which establish final total compensation on parcels of real property up to a maximum amount of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00). All settlement approvals must be unanimous and based upon the criteria that settlement is necessary, practical and in the best economic interests of Orange County. Any negotiations on parcels of real property in litigation which seek to finalize an amount of full compensation in excess of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000.00) must be approved by the board of county commissioners.

(Ord. No. 92-29, § 2, 10-6-92)