When application is made to a common pleas court by a city to assess the amount of compensation to be paid by the city to the owner or owners of real property, the court shall give preference to all proceedings under such application over all other civil cases, except proceedings under sections 119.01 to 119.13, inclusive, of the Revised Code, irrespective of the position of the proceedings on the calendar of the court.
In the course of the proceedings the court shall grant no more than two continuances to either party without the consent of both parties.
R.C. §719.31