As we first told you earlier this week, Eau Claire County is continuing to buy properties that surround the courthouse to build a new jail. It started with a buyout list of 13, and is down to the final two.

But, the property owner says he refuses to give up those two houses without a fight.

Dennis Begalke has owned the properties at 720 and 724 First Avenue for 23 years.

"My Dad made me promise a week before he died that if the county ever tried to get those properties that I'd fight them to no end,” he said.

And, that exactly what he says he plans to do.

"What am I supposed to do? Meet these people with open arms, I mean talk about stupid."

In May, the County Board passed an eminent domain resolution on the two properties, which are in a planned parking area. One of Begalke’s tenants says he’s on his side.

"I don't think they should kick people out of their homes,” said tenant, Keith Alt Sr.

In fact, he sits on the sidewalk outside his house almost everyday, asking people to sign a petition.

"In the last 3 years we've gotten almost 4,000 signatures, me and other people."

Still, courthouse Project Manager, Frank Draxler, says the county has submitted an offer to Begalke, and is working through the condemnation process.

"We hope to have approval and purchase ownership of those properties within the next month,” Draxler said.

And, with construction scheduled to start in October, Draxler says a delay in that plan could add thousands to the $59.1 million project.

"If that is delayed, just simple inflation alone causes the price of the project to increase approximately a quarter of a million dollars every month,” Draxler said.

"Well, I'm gonna' slow them down,” Begalke said. “There's a lot of ways of doing that.

Begalke says he plans to engage the county in a legal battle, and adds he’ll go all the way to the Supreme Court is he has to.