If any person claims damages on account of any such act done under sections 7223 and 7224, the person may, within 2 years after the doing of any act, petition the Department of Transportation to assess damages and the department, after reasonable notice to the petitioner and to the interested municipality and, after hearing, shall award a sum as seems proper as damages to be paid by the municipality where the property is located. On proper proof of any payment, the Governor shall cause 1/2 of the payment to be paid by the State to the municipality.   [PL 1989, c. 398, §8 (NEW).]