2018 Arkansas Code
Title 18 - Property
Subtitle 2 - Real Property
Chapter 15 - Eminent Domain
Subchapter 6 - Municipal Corporations -- Water and Water-Generated Electric Companies
§ 18-15-604. Petition

(a)

• (1) The municipal corporation or other corporation so intending and desiring to condemn, take, and use the real estate may present to the circuit court in and for the county in which the lands so proposed to be taken, condemned, and used are situated, a petition signed by the president and secretary of the corporation or water association or by the mayor, recorder, or other executive officer of the city, town, or village.

• (2) This petition shall set forth a description of the enterprise to be prosecuted by them and describe with reasonable certainty and by reference to the map or plat, or otherwise, the lands, property, and estate which it will be necessary to appropriate, take, use, overflow, drain, or otherwise affect, setting forth the name of each and every owner, encumbrancer, or other person interested in the lands, property, or estate or any part thereof, so far as it can be ascertained by the public records and by view of the premises or other inquiry touching the occupation thereof.

(b) In case the property sought to be condemned is owned by any individual or corporation and is located in more than one (1) county, the petition may be filed in any circuit court having jurisdiction in any county in which the whole or a part of the property may be located, and proceedings had in the circuit court will apply to all the property designated in the petition.

(c) The notice of the filing of the petition and the presentation thereof shall be given to the owners and parties interested as is now prescribed by law for the condemnation of property by railroad, telegraph, and telephone corporations.

(d) The written notice to the landowner shall include a statement that the owner may request, within twenty (20) days of receipt of the notice, that the corporations or associations shall mark and identify the proposed area of the easement on the landowner's property which is the subject of the eminent domain action, and which shall be done at the expense of the corporation or association.