By: Joe Lancello

The No Coast Network reached out to Amy Beattie, the legal counsel for the South Central Regional Airport Authority, on why the term eminent domain was used in the trustee warranty deed.  Beattie replied via e-mail, saying that state law requires the seller of a property has to pay a transfer tax…and the wording on the deed exempts a seller from paying this transfer tax.  She went on to say that she generally uses this language when a government entity is acquiring property in order to benefit the seller….and that “any purchase of property here is legally under the threat of eminent domain by virtue of the Iowa Code, granting the cities, the county and therefore the Agency through the 28E Agreement, the power of eminent domain.”