City of Pipestone Ex Rel. Spannaus v. Halbersma

KELLY, Justice.

The City of Pipestone appeals from the district court’s denial of its petition to condemn 91.4 acres of land in Gray Township, Pipestone County, Minnesota. The city seeks to exercise its power of eminent domain for the purpose of expanding its municipal airport. The district court, pursuant to a stipulated remand, 1 held that although the city established that the taking was for a public purpose, it failed to establish a public necessity for the taking. We reverse.

The facts may be briefly stated. In 1971 the Pipestone City Council commenced its airport planning process because…