Governor Mulling Over Bill To Protect Farmers

A bill sent to Governor Holden would protect farmers against assessments that could drive them off their land. It’s called the Farmland Protection Act and it aims to protect what Representative Luann Ridgeway of Smithville calls real farmers – not gentleman farmers. The act would prevent developers from charging farmers assessments for water and sewer lines that cross their land, but they never use. The bill also would force cities to hold public hearings before moving to take farms under eminent domain.