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Suprised
My wife and I own 33 acres in the country. We owned it going on 30 years this coming this September. We only live 5 miles away from there. Sunday I went there to mow grass. Topped the hill and saw a blue post where there was never one. Rode over there and to my surprise the rural water company extended the water line from the old water valve about 10 to 15 feet on to my property. That valve was on a dead end water line. Then they laid a new water line across my property about 200 feet to a meter box, then continued across my property to the road. I was shocked to see this. Checked the mail for notices. None! Called my neighbor across the road to see if he saw them doing this. No. But he and another neighbor up the road a short ways both called the water company about dirty water at their tap. Little did they know they were both on dead end lines. The dirty water was coming up stream. Called the water company field crew about what the HELL! They decided to make a loop of the water system because of the dirty water. That doesn’t work because dirty water is coming from upstream to the same place. I gave them a rough talk about what gave them the right to do this on our property without asking for permission. They felt they had the right to. And felt there was a easement. No easement! Get you water lines off my property, and restore my property to it’s original condition. He said he was going to call the water company’s lawyer. I told him I was going to call mine. This really burns my azz!
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7 Replies
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Go get ’em.
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Well, the fact that there was an old valve on your property in the first place makes me think their easement claim might be legitimate. I’d be mad that they didn’t contact me prior to performing any work though.
I’d relax and simply ask them for a copy of this easement that they claim to have.
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Grrrrr!
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I’ve been there since 1989. In 1988 my neighbor across the road at that time rented a trencher and put a 1/2 mile of 2″ water line in. He put the blow out valve in, crossed the road to his property, there the water association put his meter in. It was a dirt road at that time. Easement? There is none.
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Discovered a Cable TV/telephone company just trenching everywhere Willy nilly at one of our rural fire stations (not open…off season). Fortunately mostly in the road. Then after they left the property owner across the road told us they laid thousands of feet of conduit on the ground through the middle of his property (forest). They are a real redneck mountain outfit.
they also bored 200′ of conduit across the state highway, doubt they had a permit.
surveys, easements, permits, we don’t need no stinking permits!
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Have spent decades serving on the boards of two rural water districts and a wholesale water district. Assume nothing. You have rights. The water district may or may not have rights. This is why attorneys make lots of money. You probably should do some investigation of the public records first. Typically, the first easement acquired is only good for the line installed near that time, its maintenance and its replacement or removal. Expanding usage beyond the original plan normally requires another easement.
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Thank you.
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