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La Salle County group plans ‘summit on
eminent domain’
July 26, 2005
NewsTribuneOnline
426 Second Street
LaSalle, Illinois 61301
815-223-3206
To submit a Letter to the Editor: ntlocal@newstrib.com
An area property rights advocacy group
has scheduled a summit to inform residents on a recent U.S. Supreme
Court ruling that allows government bodies to take privately owned
land and give it to other private entities.
The La Salle County Landowners Association will sponsor a “summit on
eminent domain” at 7 p.m. Thursday at Pitstick Pavilion, 3401 N.
Route 23, Ottawa, Illinois.
Eminent domain is the right of government entities to take private
real estate for public use, with or without the permission of the
owner, for the completion of a public project such as a road. In any
eminent domain case, the owner of the property must be properly
compensated for the property in question.
However, Landowners Association members say they are concerned the
recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Kelo v. City of New London is
harmful for private property rights in Illinois. The ruling stemming
from that Connecticut case gives states authority to legalize “the
taking of private property from one private owner, and transferring to
another private owner,” according to the Landowners Association
announcement.
“We're afraid the eminent domain powers are spread too broadly,”
said vocal Landowners Association member Ralph Coyle. “We'd like to
tighten up the law to protect property rights in Illinois.”
Coyle said although the association believes the Kelo ruling is
unconstitutional, they have found that state legislators may be able
to secure a government entity’s power to use eminent domain through
state law.
“The justices did say they wouldn't argue with legislators in the
state,” Coyle said. “That gives us an opportunity to tighten up
our laws here, although the justices did take a constitutional right,
something that is supposed to be protected by the federal government,
and throw it on the states.”
State Rep. Frank Mautino (D-Spring Valley), state Rep. Patricia
Lindner (R-Aurora), state Sen. Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora) have confirmed
they will attend and speak at the event.
The evening will consist of an overview of the Kelo case, a short
discussion on current case law, existing Illinois state statutes and
how they might affect the people of La Salle County. The floor will
then be opened to the public for questions and answers, statements and
suggestions.
Association members say they hope to answer questions for the public,
provide an opportunity for the public to work together with their
legislators in a bipartisan effort to help lay the groundwork for
just, equitable, commonsense laws that protect private-property rights
and allow government reasonable and proper authority under the powers
of eminent domain for “public use.”
Copyright 2005, NewsTribuneOnline.
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