Letter: Contact your legislators now to support eminent domain bills

To the editor:

As distraught landowners along the proposed route for the Bluegrass hazardous liquids Pipeline, we wish to express our dismay upon finding stakes on our property on Sunday, Feb. 16.

On two occasions, we have adamantly told the pipeline reps that we said “No” to the pipeline and did not want them on our property.

Our 41-acre property in southern Nelson County is invaluable to us as our philosophy is to protect nature and the woods. We built our log cabin by hand with family and friends helping. Many people go hiking in our woods including our children and grandchildren. While on hikes we gather rose hips for tea and hickory bark for syrup, look at flowers — including a very rare yellow ladies slipper — listen to the song of the whippoorwills, learn to identify wildflowers and trees, and appreciate the beauty of nature.

Your help is needed now! We are asking you to call the legislative hotline at 1-800-372-7181 and leave a message for all state representatives and senators. Please ask for their support of House Bill 31 and Senate Bill 14. These bills will clarify the eminent domain law with respect to the Bluegrass Pipeline and other possible future pipelines.

The property rights of Kentuckians are at stake: eminent domain should only be invoked for public utilities or a project that is clearly for the public benefit. Rep. David Floyd underscored the importance of eminent domain legislation, sharing that “The issue is more serious than my back yard. The issue is the private property rights of every citizen of this state”.

Larry and Frances Strange
Bardstown

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