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People in 200 households near contaminated creek and river banks had a chance to sell their homes after July’s oil spill disaster.

But two homeowners had divergent views about the company, Enbridge Inc., that was extending the offer to buy their homes.

For Kalamazoo River resident Jodi Nickerson, Enbridge was identified by the noise of vacuum trucks and air boats in the morning, the smell from the oil and fumes from mosquito raids and the well water which, one day, may not even be safe to drink.

Enbridge was the company that gave her an offer too low to move, giving her family no choice but to stay on the river.

But for Talmadge Creek resident Wayne Groth, Enbridge was personified in Meredith, the employee who worked to get him a “substantial” settlement for inconvenience, pay off his mortgage and move to a ranch-style home.

“Watching them with a very critical eye, I found nothing to complain about,” said Groth, who moved recently to Battle Creek.

Buyout basics

Since Aug. 3, Enbridge has offered to buy up to 200 homes that were within 200 feet of the Kalamazoo River.

The homes were in a “red zone” — a drinking water advisory area created by the Calhoun County Public Health Department.

The offer is open until July 26, 2011, and so far, the company has purchased 53 homes, is moving toward closing on 36 more, and has done a total of 184 appraisals.

If houses were for sale before the incident, Enbridge will offer the listed price, said company spokeswoman Terri Larson.

But if they were not previously on the market, the company has hired independent local appraisers to look at the homes and determine prices.

Enbridge declined to say how much it is spending, on average or in total, for the houses.

One of those appraisers, Jim Fobear, owns the Marshall-based Fobear Appraisal Service. Enbridge has been working with five appraisers from the Battle Creek and Marshall area, Fobear said.

Homeowners can get a second appraisal if they do not think the first appraisal is fair. Then the company will make an offer based on the higher amount, Larson said.