A Union Grove property owner could receive fees from the high school trying to acquire his land, but the amount is not determined, according to a Racine County court ruling.
The case was covered in a Sept. 7, 2025 story that appeared in The Journal Times of Racine. According to the piece:
During a Sept. 4 hearing, Racine County Circuit Court Judge Eugene Gasiorkiewicz ruled that Daniel Riedel is entitled to have Union Grove High School cover his attorney and expert costs associated with the school district’s ongoing condemnation of 80 acres of Riedel’s land.
Riedel said he has spent about $200,000 in legal costs, appraisals and expert fees related to the matter in recent years.
“I don’t think anybody really wins in these cases,” Riedel said after Thursday’s hearing.
Riedel will have to prove that his fees and costs were reasonable during a Nov. 14 hearing that likely will include witnesses.
Gasiorkiewicz then will determine the amount of money to award Riedel.
On Thursday, Hanna Kolberg, the attorney representing UGHS, argued that Riedel was not entitled to recover fees, saying he “is financially responsible for his own legal choices.”
Gasiorkiewicz did not agree. He ruled that, under state law, Riedel is entitled to recover fees because UGHS abandoned a condemnation petition of his land earlier this year. Kolberg declined to comment after the hearing.
UGHS Superintendent Tom Johnson said it remains to be seen how much, if any, of Riedel’s costs and fees the district will pay. By Sept. 26, Gasiorkiewicz wants information from Jessica Hutson Polakowski, Riedel’s attorney, that was redacted in earlier legal briefs, including billing hours related to the matter.
UGHS is trying to acquire 80 acres of Riedel’s land via eminent domain.
Eminent domain, also known as condemnation, is part of the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. It gives public entities, including school districts, the power to acquire private property by providing “just compensation,” even if the owner doesn’t want to sell.
Under state law, there are steps involved in the eminent domain process. They include each side appraising the land’s value and negotiating to try to reach a deal. Riedel paid about $2.7 million for 116 acres in 2004. According to Riedel’s 2024 appraisal, the 116-acre property is worth $6.5 million, and the 80 acres UGHS wants are worth $4.82 million. In June 2024, UGHS offered $1.3 million for the 80 acres.
Riedel did not accept that price, and his attorneys called it a “low-ball” offer in a legal brief.
After unsuccessful negotiations, the school district filed a condemnation petition to acquire the land, but UGHS dismissed the petition this March.
Diane Skewes, UGHS Board president, said the condemnation petition was dismissed so UGHS could make a new offer — $2.3 million for the 80 acres. Riedel said he does not believe $2.3 million is a reasonable number.
