"Threats to private property due to eminent domain proceedings."
TFB Members Call For Added Protection On Eminent Domain
12/12/06
Livestock Weekly
Copyright 2006
ARLINGTON — Delegates to the Texas Farm Bureau Convention here last weekend called for additional protections in Farm Bureau policy to deal with threats to private property due to eminent domain proceedings.
Driven by concerns over the potential loss of land due to the Trans-Texas Corridor and other state and local initiatives, some 968 voting delegates at the 73rd annual meeting unanimously adopted state policy and recommended national policy that strengthens landowners’ options when confronted with eminent domain proceedings. State policies adopted during the annual meeting serve as a roadmap to guide the state’s largest farm organization as it addresses issues and challenges in 2007.
Regarding eminent domain, delegates supported legislation requiring those exercising eminent domain to make a good faith offer. They suggested the condemning authority should pay attorney fees, appraisal fees and related costs whenever the offer is challenged and the amount awarded exceeds the initial offer. Delegates said adequate time should be given to those affected by eminent domain to relocate.
Delegates also recommended a governmental review to determine the number and kind of entities that have the right to exercise eminent domain.
“We encourage the legislature to consider limiting the number of entities with these powers,” delegates said.
In other action, delegates reelected Kenneth Dierschke of San Angelo to his fifth one-year term as president of the state’s largest farm organization.
“Farm Bureau is our life,” Dierschke said of the election contested by former TFB Vice President Lloyd Arthur of Ralls. “I will continue to represent you in Washington, Austin, and anywhere in the world we go.”
Concerning other policy, delegates sought to protect the property tax cuts afforded by the legislature during the recent school finance debate. They favored lowering the current property appraisal cap to six percent, and indicated that all increases above the cap be approved by countywide election. They supported elimination of the current unelected position of county chief appraisal officer and supported shifting those duties to the county tax assessor/collector, which is an elected position.
Delegates favored reappraising property every three years instead of annually, and suggested the appraisal district post the average increase in a county’s property values — to show a real increase in taxes — in the local newspaper.
With the current drouth focusing both urban and rural attention to the state’s water situation, delegates sought to clarify agriculture’s position in the state water debate by urging classification of water for agricultural purposes as an essential use of water. Opposing legislation that would give municipalities water that is required to sustain crops and livestock, delegates urged the development of brackish and seawater desalination projects to meet growing urban demands. They also supported legislation that encourages and supports voluntary water and land stewardship by “providing assistance and incentives to landowners for activities which benefit both urban and rural Texas.”
Following the convention, the Texas Farm Bureau board of directors met to elect officers. Chosen as vice president was Bobby Nedbalek, a cotton and grain farmer from Sinton. Don Smith, a dairyman from Sulphur Springs, is TFB’s new secretary-treasurer.
State directors elected included Dewey Hukill, a cotton, corn and wheat farmer from Olton; Charles Ray Huddleston, a wheat, corn and sorghum producer from Celina; Gary McGehee, a sheep and cow-calf producer from Mertzon; Richard Cortese, a grain and livestock producer from Little River; Raymond Meyer, a cow-calf producer from Pleasanton; and Arthur Bluntzer of Goliad.
© 2006 Livestock Weekly: www.livestockweekly.com
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To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog clickHERE
12/12/06
Livestock Weekly
Copyright 2006
ARLINGTON — Delegates to the Texas Farm Bureau Convention here last weekend called for additional protections in Farm Bureau policy to deal with threats to private property due to eminent domain proceedings.
Driven by concerns over the potential loss of land due to the Trans-Texas Corridor and other state and local initiatives, some 968 voting delegates at the 73rd annual meeting unanimously adopted state policy and recommended national policy that strengthens landowners’ options when confronted with eminent domain proceedings. State policies adopted during the annual meeting serve as a roadmap to guide the state’s largest farm organization as it addresses issues and challenges in 2007.
Regarding eminent domain, delegates supported legislation requiring those exercising eminent domain to make a good faith offer. They suggested the condemning authority should pay attorney fees, appraisal fees and related costs whenever the offer is challenged and the amount awarded exceeds the initial offer. Delegates said adequate time should be given to those affected by eminent domain to relocate.
Delegates also recommended a governmental review to determine the number and kind of entities that have the right to exercise eminent domain.
“We encourage the legislature to consider limiting the number of entities with these powers,” delegates said.
In other action, delegates reelected Kenneth Dierschke of San Angelo to his fifth one-year term as president of the state’s largest farm organization.
“Farm Bureau is our life,” Dierschke said of the election contested by former TFB Vice President Lloyd Arthur of Ralls. “I will continue to represent you in Washington, Austin, and anywhere in the world we go.”
Concerning other policy, delegates sought to protect the property tax cuts afforded by the legislature during the recent school finance debate. They favored lowering the current property appraisal cap to six percent, and indicated that all increases above the cap be approved by countywide election. They supported elimination of the current unelected position of county chief appraisal officer and supported shifting those duties to the county tax assessor/collector, which is an elected position.
Delegates favored reappraising property every three years instead of annually, and suggested the appraisal district post the average increase in a county’s property values — to show a real increase in taxes — in the local newspaper.
With the current drouth focusing both urban and rural attention to the state’s water situation, delegates sought to clarify agriculture’s position in the state water debate by urging classification of water for agricultural purposes as an essential use of water. Opposing legislation that would give municipalities water that is required to sustain crops and livestock, delegates urged the development of brackish and seawater desalination projects to meet growing urban demands. They also supported legislation that encourages and supports voluntary water and land stewardship by “providing assistance and incentives to landowners for activities which benefit both urban and rural Texas.”
Following the convention, the Texas Farm Bureau board of directors met to elect officers. Chosen as vice president was Bobby Nedbalek, a cotton and grain farmer from Sinton. Don Smith, a dairyman from Sulphur Springs, is TFB’s new secretary-treasurer.
State directors elected included Dewey Hukill, a cotton, corn and wheat farmer from Olton; Charles Ray Huddleston, a wheat, corn and sorghum producer from Celina; Gary McGehee, a sheep and cow-calf producer from Mertzon; Richard Cortese, a grain and livestock producer from Little River; Raymond Meyer, a cow-calf producer from Pleasanton; and Arthur Bluntzer of Goliad.
© 2006 Livestock Weekly:
To search TTC News Archives click
To view the Trans-Texas Corridor Blog click
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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