“Over-stepping” and “one sided” is how Greene County board of supervisors board chair John Muir characterized the easement agreement the county received from Summit Carbon Solutions last week. The proposed CO2 pipeline would cross the Raccoon River Valley Trail south of Jefferson near Winkleman Switch. That’s the only place the pipeline would cross land over which the county has control.
County attorney Thomas Laehn explained that easements are typically attached to the deed on the property, and that should the property be sold, the easement goes with the sale. However, the Summit easements state that the company could sell the easement at any time and could enter the land at any time to work on the pipeline, including making it larger. The easement also states the proposed location on the property is an approximation, “and they reserve the right to put it anywhere on your land they want,” he said.
“We’re just dealing with one small parcel across our bike trail. I can’t advise members of the public, but I’d say to the board, knowing that the public is listening, be aware that language is in there, because although they have a line going through your farm field, they reserve the right to tear down your house and put it under your house. They reserve the right to put it anywhere on your parcel,” Laehn said. “The current line is just an approximate.” “If you sign that agreement, you’re agreeing they (Summit) can put that pipeline anywhere they want,” he said.
