During a time when MagnaGro International’s production facility was out of compliance with several city codes, the owner of the building also received $28,000 from the city.

The city of Lawrence purchased two easements totaling about 0.22 acre from Star Tyler Properties, owner of the MagnaGro building, as part of the Burroughs Creek Trail project.

The city paid more for the MagnaGro property than any other on the trail. The city paid $2.78 per square foot for the easements, when other easements were secured for prices ranging from $1.25 to $2 per square foot.

Diane Stoddard, assistant city manager, said the city paid the higher price after officials from Star Tyler Properties contested a condemnation action in court. Star Tyler had been seeking $6.50 per square foot, and the city decided to settle the matter for the $28,000 rather than take on the expense of a court case, Stoddard said.

Stoddard said the city took extra effort to make sure all parties understood the easement issues and the code enforcement issues were not related.

“We did not want the impression that these actions were in any way tied together,” Stoddard said in a written response.