A Napoleon land-owner has filed a lawsuit to challenge the eminent domain request of Henry County Commissioners for construction of a new bridge over the Maumee River in Napoleon. On November 6th, Henry County Commissioners initiated the proceedings to obtain about three-quarters of an acre of land along the north side of the Maumee River, that sits in the path of the new bridge project. Negotiations for the purchase of the property broke-down, so commissioners are going the eminent domain route.
But the Rettig family, that purchased the property along the river some 20 years ago, is fighting the seizure, saying the new bridge is not a necessity with a downtown bridge to the west, and two more bridges within 5 miles to the east. The injunction was filed in U.S. District Court in Toledo, seeking to block the bridge project. The Henry County Commissioners and Campbell Soup Company have been named in the suit, and have about a month to respond.