Animal sanctuary operators, home Owners Lose Property to ‘Eminent Domain’
EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - You can’t fight City Hall, and an Eagle Mountain couple is learning that the hard way.
After months of opposition, a judge ruled the city of Eagle Mountain can put a huge power pole right in their front yard, and the front yards of others all in the name of development.
It’s called an ‘eminent domain’ order, or the taking of one’s property for the greater good of the city. The O’Donnells call it ‘legalized theft’ by the government.
Karen and Kim O’Donnell run the “Friends in Need” Animal Sanctuary. The property and the animals are the O’Donnell’s life, and now they feel that life is in jeopardy.
“They didn’t come up here and see what kind of devastation this was going to create…they want to develop and put up houses and bring in new people.” says Karen O’Donnell.
The O’Donnell’s hired an attorney and tried to fight it, but just this week a judge ruled in favor of the city. O’Donnell says any day now, 90 foot power poles with lines to follow will go in right in their front yard.
“They are 75 foot width that they are taking that there taking all the way down our front area here,” says O’Donnell, pointing to the area in her front yard.
Their attorney says an appeal would be costly, and he tells them he’s not even sure he can represent them any further. In the meantime, Karen O’Donnell worries about how this will affect their health, and the health of their animals, not to mention their property value.
“I just wake up in the morning and wait to hear the machines and trucks to come in,” says O’Donnell.
“How do you fight government; legalized theft?” says Karen. “We will fight as long as we have to fight, I Don’t know what to do now.”
The city administration offices were closed on friday. ABC 4 tried repeatedly to get in touch with someone for the city, but so far, they have not called back.
There is a lot of space in and around Eagle Mountain, and there are existing power lines across the street from the O’Donnells.
The O’Donnells wonder, ‘Why not there?’
The project will take about an acre of land from the O’Donnells. They claim they are not being appropriately compensated for that land.
http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=9910ce02-844c-44be-af2f-b7c5afb474b2
abc4.com reported by: Jill Atwood
Last Update: 2/15 5:32 pm