Public Comment. Volume III - Montana Legislature

As a general comment, we hope the subcommittee does not lose sight of our
needs in ,the new technology age and while we are vigorously recruiting high
technology firms to Montana and continue to urge Montana companies to
expand, that we are not throwing roadblocks in their way by changing a statute
in order to slow down or stop two projects which have been in process for a
number of years. (Tongue River Railroad)
I understand that your committee is studying this law and looking at ways to
improve it. I urge you to reform this law so that my private property rights will
be protected. Under the current law, we have very little protections. (Marcure)
The other issue we would like to comment on is five amendments to your
findings that were offered at the May meeting. We respect the intent and
sincerity of those amendments, but some of them do potentially concern us.
However, not knowing if or how these would be written up into draft legislation,
it is impossible to fully understand what implications they may or may not
contain to our ability to get telecommunications services to Montanans in a
timely and affordable manner. We respectfully request that should these be
developed into draft legislation, that there be an opportunity to analyze and fully
debate them so that we all understand how they will affect the ability of getting
services to Montanans. (US West)
I believe it is time for Eminent Domain reform and I support the three conditions
proposed by the Northern Plains Resource Co~~ncil. (Overturf)
We would like the right to have the railroad and other projects using eminent
domain bonded so we can be sure damage to our property is minimized.
(Boulware)
We believe the eminent domain law as it stands now to be unconstitutional.
(McKinney)
-58- Volume Ill: Public Corr~ment