Some homeowners in Foxconn construction area without place to go as company is set to break ground

RACINE COUNTY, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Some homeowners in the Foxconn construction area are still without a place to go, even as the company is set to break ground Thursday.

"I've been through hell and back and I don't even know where I'm going to," said Joe Janicek, who's lived on Braun Road in Mount Pleasant down the street from the groundbreaking site for nearly 30 years.

Joe and his wife Kim say they haven't come to an agreement with the village on the sale of their home.

He says they received a "lowball" offer, and have had little communication with the village.

The couple says they haven't been able to find a new home they can afford and that is also suitable for their respective small businesses. They say they should be getting the village's assistance in relocating.

"We need to be made whole again and maybe a little compensation for what [they] put us through -- sleepless nights, not knowing, rerouting my whole life," Janicek said.

In a statement, Mount Pleasant's attorney Alan Marcuvitz said, 'Every property acquired by the Village for the Foxconn development has been through voluntary agreements with property owners. To-date, that approach has enabled the

Village to acquire 100% of the land in the core section of Area 1, as well as 80% of the land in the entire project area – Areas 1, 2 and 3 – all through voluntary agreements.

With every purchase, the Village has remained consistent with its acquisition plan, paying 140% of the fair market value for homes, $50,000 per acre for vacant land, plus the full package of relocation benefits. All owners of acquired properties are allowed rent free occupancy post-closing. Owners are also able to retain various items of property improvements such as appliances, cabinetry and outbuildings.

Negotiations are continuing on a daily basis with all remaining property owners or their attorneys.'

If no sale agreement is reached, the village could attempt to use eminent domain law to acquire the home, a potentially lengthy legal process.

Danny Baker's father is a neighbor of the Janiceks'. He was clearing out a lifetime's worth of odds and ends from his father's garage Tuesday.

The Baker family has been in their house for 43 years.

"As we're getting closer, Pop and I sit around and it's like I don't want to go. I really don't want to go," Baker said.

Baker's father has found a new home to move to in Kenosha.