A local farmer will get to keep his farmland after St. Joseph County walks away from a lawsuit.
County officials sought to acquire a 37-acre property east of New Carlisle so it could build a rail spur to help connect businesses to the industrial area its building. The county tried to sue the farmer using eminent domain.
However, the recent sale of industrial property nearby meant the value of the property was appraised to be $1.4 million, or $38,000 an acre. The South Bend Tribune reports that the county and the farmer failed to agree on a price earlier this month, causing the county to move on from its quest to acquire the property because of the high price tag.
The county will now explore a new path for their planned rail spur.
