Jefferson County megasite proposal raises eminent domain abuse concerns
“The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce and the county government are both saying that they are committed to an open and transparent process in the debate over the megasite, but some officials have said that they weren’t told about the plans for the megasite until shortly before the public unveiling. “Other commissioners were told about these plans months before I was,” Commissioner Robert Blevins of Strawberry Plains told The Examiner, “Commissioner Anna Niceley Barreiro also wasn’t told in a timely fashion. They didn’t tell people they knew would ask questions and talk to farmers first.” State Representative Jeremy Faison (R-Cosby), in whose district much proposed megasite would likely be built, said eminent domain would not be used to seize private property for a megasite in his district so long as he had anything to say about it. “I will not tolerate abuse of eminent domain, and this would be a seizure of private property for the sake of private profit. Jobs we want, but to get them by taking someone’s legitimate property and livelihood isn’t right. Senator Frank Niceley (R-Strawberry Plains) and I are on the same page here. If this is going to be done, the property owners had better part with their land willingly and without force or coercion”
Oatney, David Examiner.com 15 January 2013.