"Memphis, Tenn., Airport Offers to Purchase Area Properties"

November 28, 2000

Memphis, Tenn., Airport Offers to Purchase Area Properties
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN


Nov. 28--The Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority is once again offering
to purchase the 16 remaining properties that are still eligible to
participate in the airport's buyout program.

Notices to those property owners should be mailed by today, said R. Grattan
Brown, the airport authority's attorney.

As part of a 1988 noise compatibility program, the airport has purchased
1,400 homes and businesses in the most severe aircraft noise areas.

However, this is a separate issue from the $22 million settlement of the
airport noise lawsuit and the 12,441 parties eligible to receive a share of
the money.

Brown said the settlement payment is compensation to property owners for
their avigation easement, or the right of aircraft to fly over the
properties, which also includes the right to make noise among other things.

The one-time payments range from $325 to $4,200, depending on the length of
ownership of an eligible property and whether that property is being used as
a primary residence.

In order for the settlement process to begin, a claims administration office
must be set up. That should happen by Dec. 13, Brown said.

After that, Brown said, settlement claim packages are to be mailed to
eligible property owners in Tennessee and Mississippi by Jan. 12.

Brown said the package includes a claims form for the property owner to
complete and return to the airport authority.

Brown said the airport authority intends to make every effort to get the
proper addresses of those eligible to participate in the settlement.

The settlement money will be dispersed once completed claim forms start
returning to the office, Brown said.

Yet there is no timeline for when the checks must be mailed, he added.

The claims period ends Dec. 13, 2001.

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