The Daily Herald blames Provo for not settling the case with the Johnson family over the University Avenue/Canyon Road connector years ago.

After being involved in the matter for almost a decade, I don't think the family would have sold for any price. Every time the city offered more money the Johnsons would demand even more and the gap between the two steadily grew.

The truth is the Johnsons have never given the city an official appraisal from anyone. The city/county offers have always been based upon a certified appraiser's opinion, something the Herald ignores. The city and county have told the Johnsons' attorney that they would be happy to negotiate the issue of price if the family would just provide an appraisal.

The Herald would have Provo pay whatever a property owner wanted for his/her property without any questions. Looking back, the amounts demanded by the Johnsons appear reasonable, but at the time they could not get an appraiser to support their position.

The Herald claims that the family's offer was below market value. If their offer was so reasonable, why couldn't they get an appraiser to say so?

In hindsight, the Herald suggests that the city would have saved money just paying whatever the family wanted. But is that the precedent the taxpayers really want the city to take?

According to the Herald philosophy, the city could save even more money because it wouldn't have to get an appraisal at all. If the city needed property for a new road, it could just go to the owner and say, "how much would you like for this piece of property?" The city would then pay whatever amount the owner said the city should pay.

I do not begrudge the Johnsons fighting for their property and not wanting a road to run through it. On the other hand, I do begrudge the Daily Herald claiming the family is reasonable and the city is just out costing the taxpayers bushels of money.

David C. Dixon is deputy city attorney for Provo.