Eminent Domain Task Force Tackles Easements

The latest meeting of the Eminent Domain Task Force features a look at easements. The Task Force has already heard a lot about land seizures. This latest hearing featured testimony dealing with easements – a less severe form of eminent domain. Kansas City attorney Steven Mauer says the current statute must be changed to set time limits on contractors who want to use somebody’s land to install such things as sewers or electrical lines. Mauer says landowners should be compensated for the time they cannot use their property. Some form of this recommendation is expected to end up in the report sent to Governor Matt Blunt.