Contested Property Trial Begins

Monday, July 23rd 2007, 10:25 am

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- A trial is under way in Stillwater determine whether Oklahoma State University can force a property owner to sell land OSU needs to build a $316 million athletic village. Joel and Kevin McCloskey own the home and land that is the final piece of property the university is trying to acquire.

The brothers are challenging OSU's right to take the land through the process of eminent domain.

A panel of court-appointed commissioners estimate the property is worth $84,000 which is about $20,000 more than OSU offered.

An attorney for the McCloskeys says the university hasn't negotiated in good faith.

OSU attorneys deny the claim and say the university successfully negotiated buyouts of other landowners in the area.

Oklahoma State wants the land for outdoor practice fields, an indoor practice complex and a baseball stadium.

Related stories:

12/22/2005 - OSU President Regrets Treatment Of Nearby Stillwater Residents

2/21/2006 - Document Indicates OSU Planned Eminent Domain Use

7/28/2006 - Regents Give OSU Authority To Use Eminent Domain For Athletic Village

12/12/2006 - Stillwater Eminent Domain Court Hearing Postponed

2/5/2007 - State Supreme Court Denies Request To Remove Payne County Judge

3/1/2007 - Garden Planned At Stillwater Eminent Domain Site

7/12/2007 - Trial Will Decide OSUâ€™s Eminent Domain Issue

7/22/2007 - Eminent Domain Trial To Begin