Owning land is something that many people in Georgia and across the country take pride in. They often work hard to purchase the property they hope to live on or have inherited land that has been in their family for generations. In either case, there is commonly a strong attachment to that property. As a result, if a government agency wants to implement eminent domain in order to take a portion of that property, owners may understandably be upset.
It was recently reported that two homeowners in a neighboring state are fighting against eminent domain with a federal electric utility corporation. According to reports, the landowners received notification in June that the utility company wanted to access a portion of their properties. However, this is apparently not a new battle as at least one of the families has owned the land in question for generations, and an eminent domain dispute also took place regarding the land in the 1980s.
Additional information regarding the dispute includes:
- The notification for eminent domain is in relation to power lines that already exist close to the properties.
- One landowner indicated that the original intention of the company was to take a small slice of land, but now, apparently more than 2 acres is at risk.
- Another landowner stated that his land has been in his family for almost 70 years and that the power lines have already been in place for approximately 40 years.
- The utility company stated that the expansion of the right of way is needed to ensure the power line’s reliability and for an intended upgrade.
Fighting against a government agency can be more than difficult for property owners who simply want to keep their property. Eminent domain notifications can be upsetting to deal with, but taking action in an attempt to keep their land may be worth considering for Georgia residents facing similar circumstances. Because it can be challenging to address such a matter, having legal assistance is often wise.