Public Comment. Volume III - Montana Legislature

up front. State and federal governments do not give fee title to public land for
the railroad. The railroad doesn't get to own public land, but they want to own
our private property by taking fee title through eminent domain. They want this
so the railroad can have equity to borrow money to finance their operations.
This is wrong. Financing should never be a reason why someone can get fee
title. (Boulware)
Eminent domain4aw should not in any way allow a condemnor to take ,title to
property ~~nless the landowner is willing to do this. 'There are other ways to
grant rights of ways than giving a title -- such as leases, which could include
yearly royalty payments. This is much more fair than a one time payment for
property. (Crandall)
Under the present system, one easement or fee title taking opens up the land
for every other possible taking, and creates no recourse for landowners to deal
with additional uses from other parties. (McKinney)
Montana's private landowners should have the same rights as those granted to
the State, Federal and Tribal governments. This should include the ability to
negotiate easements and adequate mitigations. (Hayes)
I support eminent domain reform. I suggest that the subcommittee immediately
draft legislation, which does the following things:
Lets landowners give an easement, rather than deed. (Gabrian)
I support eminent domain reform. I suggest that the subcommittee immediately
draft legislation, which does the following things:
Lets landowners give an easement, rather than deed. We would feel
terrible if the airport was abandoned and we would have a hole in our
land that belonged to someone else. (Dye)
I support eminent domain reform. I suggest that the subcommittee immediately
draft legislation, which does the following things:
Lets landowners give an easement, rather than deed. We would feel
terrible if the airport was abandoned and we would have a hole in our
land that belonged to someone else. (Mangus)
I support eminent domain reform. I suggest that the subcorrrrnittee immediately
draft legislation, which does the following things:
Lets landowners give an easement, rather than deed. (In. Alderson)
The law must explicitly give landowners the right to choose whether to sell an
easement rather than title for the land that is used. A condemnor wishing to
EQC Eminent Domain Study -45-