Is condemnation, or eminent domain, really a problem in Wyoming?
Instances of condemnations are increasing in Wyoming. For example: • To build a new library, Laramie County condemned private homes in downtown Cheyenne at their appraised fair market value rather than their replacement cost. If the homeowners been non-profit organizations, Wyoming statutes would have required that they be compensated for the replacement value of their homes. • A school district in Sheridan County threatened private property owners with eminent domain regarding the school districts purchase of private property. Acquiring the land through condemnation would have cost the school district less than a fair-market negotiation with the property owners. • After five years of study, the City of Cheyenne Board of Public Utilities proposed a location for a future municipal water storage facility on private land without notifying or working with the private landowner. The citys effort is currently suspended due to the outcry of private property owners in the area. • A major oil c
