By A.J. Hazarabedian
We reported back in December about the City of Exeter and how they would not be supporting the closure of C Street by the Exeter Public Schools District and the acquisition of properties by eminent domain.
The City is now hoping to be removed from the controversy all together. As discussed in the Visalia Times-Delta article, “City of Exeter bows out in dispute between residents, school district,” the Exeter City Council is said to want “no part in the conflict between Exeter Public Schools and C Street homeowners.” The article explains how Exeter’s Interim City Manager, Felix Ortiz, had asked that the homes not be seized, only to be shut down by Superintendent Renee Whitson. Whitson claims she does not want to agree to not using eminent domain, just in case the district cannot come to an agreement with homeowners.
Currently, the district is waiting for approval from the State to move forward with building on the homeowner’s parcels, and cannot give any clear answers as to when an acquisition might take place.