Welcome to the Future!
Private property Rights advocates are gathering in Pfluegerville on May 9th.
“The Texas Landowner Rights Summit and educational seminar discusses the rights of Texas landowners facing condemnation and eminent-domain proceedings. The meeting will be held on Saturday, May 9, starting at 9 a.m. at the Hilton located at 801 University Drive East, College Station, Texas 77840 (Ballrooms 5-7).” Community Impact
The Court ruled that billboards are fixtures of a real property interest. And, that the removal of bill boards, compensation is required.
However, compensation for the removal of billboards are hampered by existing case law that prohibits lost profits from entering valuation of business property.
Targeting private entities that have the power of eminent domain, Iowa, wants to require projects to negotiate purchases with 75% of the private land involved in a project before eminent domain can be triggered.
The bill targets a pipeline project and a transmission line project. The pipeline has only been able to neogtiate 50% of the land acquisition while the transmission line has negotiated purcahse of 15% of its land acquisition.
KCHA Iowa Daily Herald Chicago Chronicle Houston Chronicle via AP
States are changing statutes to require that the public benefit/public use for eminent domain occur within the state boundaries. Good news for local projects. Bad news for pipelines and transmission lines that only service out of state customers.
An Eminent Domain fight is at the heart of campaign to disrupt the status quo on the Tarrant Water Regional Water District (TRWD).
The players are:
Contributions exceed $500,000.
An unnamed representative from the Texas Central Railway, the high speed rail btween Dallas and Houston group recently said that without eminent domain high speed rail is cost prohibitive.
Senator Kolkhorst has SB 1601 which is out of committee and heading to the Senate floor which prohibits the use of eminent domain for high speed rail.
This week Grayson County commissioners declined to use eminent domain to rebuild the Carpenters Bluff Bridge. Teh current bridge appears to be either a dirt path or a wooden path, which seems appropriate considering you go back in time when entering Oklahoma.
A collaborative project emerged. The states are funding a replacement for the 100 year old bridge. The Oklahoma County will maintain the the bill. Grayson County is required to acquire the right of way and is doing so through negotiations and not takings.
Statesmanship prevails.
A works proposal by Colleyville to add sidewalks, drainage and hiking trails has drawn vocal opposition. A counter referendum, Protect Glade, is on the ballot.
The opposition to Colleyville’s project want the road improvements but want road improvements that are:
City Council is split. The Mayor supports the Colleyville plan and has an Empower Texas backed opponent. Empower Texas
On a 92-3 vote, and within 7 minutes, the Iowa House passed an eminent domain bill that:
What has Iowans inflamed over eminent domain? A proposed drinking water pond by private developers, “greedy private developers.”
Raisin growers were before the US Suprmee Court arguing that a law allowing the government to take their crops, without just compensation, is unconstitutional.
During the New Deal, farmers got a raw deal. The 1937 Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act permits the taking of crops to shore up prices. The great raisin caper of 2015 led the Justices to offer colorful fodder:
WallStreet Journal Headline: Justices Skeptical Whether Crop Program Has a ‘Raisin’ D’être