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Road Project Forces Business Out

95 views · Published 12 December 2012 · 2:23 · Indexed 10 November 2026

Channel: WTVC NewsChannel 9 · 2012 · News & Politics

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by John Madewell  A planned road project in north Georgia has forced a small business owner to a new location.    The dispute is across from the intersection of Highway 41 and Highway 2 in Catoosa County.Raby's Tree Service owner, Ron Raby, actually  agrees with improving the intersection and bridge in front of his property. His problem -- he feels the Georgia Department of Transportation is not giving him fair value for the land it wants for the project.Raby said,"They want the right-of-way, they've taken our office, we need the exposure. That's a huge concern for us too, the exposure of this location. It's been good for us."His office was the central hub of his business. But G-DOT's plans to change the intersection changed that. Raby didn't accept the state's 7,000 dollar offer.GDOT filed condemnation in September. He had to be out of the office by the end of November. The state wanted right-of way from Highway 41 to 29 feet behind the office.Raby had to move the nerve center of his business to his home. "They're not accounting for my loss of business, that's what the state is not accounting for."G-DOT spokesman Mohamed Arafa said, in general, the state only takes as much land as needed for a project. He added land acquisition comes down to a question of "property owners versus Georgia taxpayers."      Condemnation, Arafa said, is only used when necessary.Raby asked the state for five acres and an office building in a highly visible area, similar to what he has now.He said G-DOT declined a location he found just south of his current business. He and his attorney filed an appeal against the condemnation. The dispute is headed for a jury trial.

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