Tim Goodman cleared up the dirt issue Monday night as four of the seven property owners along the proposed East Main Street extension project attended a meeting geared at creating dialogue between the city and the land owners.

Goodman, representing Warren Place L.L.C. -- a big player in the East Main project -- said Warren Place was willing to donate the right of way for Main Street, but at the current grade, meaning any dirt that needed to be removed would be hauled off and used by Warren Place.

That means the city won't have to move the soil, but it also means the city will have to buy more dirt to fill in low areas to build the road.

After the meeting, city administrator Jim Roach said he didn't know how much more the city might have to pay for the extra dirt.

The issue does appear to be an area of contention, however. At least twice during his presentation, Roach re-ferred to pro-perty owners asking for "six figures" for property and dirt removal.

Roach said the city was operating under the auspices, based on conversations dating back as early as 1997, that property owners were in favor of the project and would donate property. Roach said the right of way usually includes the dirt.

Goodman said Warren Place has said since 1997 that it would donate the property at grade level.

Other property owners and concerned citizens raised questions and support for the project.

Developers Jack Litzelfelner and John Lichtenegger both spoke about how they already donated right of way for this project.

Lichtenegger said the land in the area of the proposed extension, as it sits now, is valued anywhere from $6,000 to $25,000 per acre. He said after the city extends infrastructure out to Interstate 55, including an interchange, the property values could jump somewhere in the $20,000 to $400,000 "or better" per acre.

Lichtenegger, who as an attorney has been involved in many condemnation cases, said he encouraged the city to condemn the properties if necessary because the value of the improvement would greatly exceed the amount of land that was taken.

Among the landowners in attendance were representatives from Southeast Missouri State University's Foundation. The foundation owns much of the land around the interchange and plans to build an industrial park. When asked by alderman Larry Cunningham if the foundation planned to donate right of way, a university representative who did not identify himself before speaking, said he couldn't speak on behalf of the foundation, but that the university "wants to support this project any way we can."

bmiller@semissourian.com

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