Caldwell County News: Public Service Commission testimony highlights
Proposed Bill Would Limit Eminent Domain:
Missouri’s 40th District representative Jim Hansen recently introduced a bill, HB1027 that would prohibit Grain Belt Express and other similar proposals from obtaining the power of eminent domain. The bill adds a paragraph onto an existing eminent domain statute. It has the support of Farm Bureau and was written by its attorney, Terry Jarrett.
Hamilton Bank
Representative Jim Neely states, “As someone who worked closely with the sponsor to draft HB 1027, I am a strong advocate for the personal property rights of Missouri landowners. It is imperative that we stand together to defend the property of Missourians from the senseless and needless land grab Grain Belt Express is trying to perpetrate. I am committed to working with my colleagues to move this important piece of legislation forward so we can provide peace of mind to the many residents living in the 14 counties that could be impacted by this proposed project.”
President of the grassroots organization, Block Grain Belt Express, Russ Piscotta, states “Grain Belt Express, a private company, would violate our property rights unnecessarily as it would condemn as much as 5,000 acres of private land in Missouri alone without any proven public need or benefit, according to the technical and legal staff of the Missouri Public Service Commission. They also determined that the proposal was not economically feasible and would not lower electricity rates. The power of eminent domain should only be awarded to public utility companies and cooperatives and only used when absolutely necessary and beneficial to Missourians. That is not the case with the Grain Belt proposal.”
A hearing has been granted for the bill with the Energy and Environment Committee. It is scheduled for Tuesday, March 31, at 8:00 a.m. Jennifer Gatrel, spokesperson for the block group, states “We need as many people as possible from across the state to attend it, along with a person or two from each county to speak in support of it. We need to impress upon the legislators and the press the importance of the bill and the large amount of public support for it.”
To read the Public Service testimony highlights refer to our website at www.mycaldwellcounty.com
