A recent ruling by the Miami County District Court is a victory for
landowners and local governments. In February '07, the district
court judge ruled the Kansas Recreational Trails Act is
constitutional.Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy
had challenged the legality of the trails act. The organization did
not want to negotiate a financial bond that would have taken care of
maintenance on the trail including fencing, noxious weeds, trash,
etc.
At the heart of the Miami County landowners
defense was upholding the law that provides protection for all
citizens of the county including landowners adjacent to the trail.
The ruling also reinforced the principal of local government rule.
“This allows our state statutes to be
enforced,” says George Pretz, Miami County farmer and KFB board
member. “The KFB Legal Foundation played an integral role in
ensuring the people and landowners of Miami County are protected.”
At no point was there intent to shut down or
eliminate the recreational trail. The Kanza organization failed to
adequately negotiate with the Miami County commission regarding
their financial obligations.
“The landowners of Miami County are happy about
the outcome of this district court ruling,” Pretz says. “We are also
very appreciative of our Farm Bureau Legal Foundation.”
The court ordered the parties into mediation to resolve their issues
regarding their differences (financial bond). If they are unable to
agree, the court will proceed with testimony and then it will
determine any disputes including the reasonableness of the bond in
this matter.
Seminars or Speaking Engagements
County FB
Annual Meetings
Allen County
Chautauqua County
Neosho County
Woodson County
Hamilton County (scheduled)
Publications
Securing a Solid Future: Farm
Financial & Transitional Planning Guidebook (Terry and Mike)
Securing a Solid Future: DVD of
seminar
Transitional/Estate Planning Seminars: (Securing a Solid Future)
McPherson
Cimarron
Topeka
Chanute
Oberlin
Abilene
Garden City
Winfield
Ottawa
Beloit
KFB Farm Leader Letter
Interstate Trucking Regulations
8 Year End Tax Tips
Business Structures
Sole Proprietorship
Partnerships
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
Corporations
Southeast Royalty Owners Association (oil
and gas issues)
Assistance in setting up
organization
Financial assistance provided to
group
Speaking engagements
Moran
Fredonia
AFBF - Amicus Curiae Participation, U.S.
Supreme Court
Beef Check-off
Kelo
case – Eminent Domain
Wind Energy
McPherson County (host wind
energy educational meeting – Lindsborg, Kansas)
Interview by Wall Street Journal
Morris County FB educational
meeting
Traveled to Minnesota to view
community wind development (Sponsored by Kansas Energy Council)
Community Wind Energy Project
–Partner with Kansas Energy Council
Attend Kansas Renewable Energy
Conference (Topeka, Kansas)
Attend Windustry Wind Energy
Conference (Des Moines, Iowa)
Attend Intermountain Harvesting
Energy Summit (Loveland, Colorado)
KFB Annual
Meeting
2005 Presidents
Conference
Kansas
Partnership Conference –
Junction City / Wind Energy in
Kansas
Washington
D.C.
Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
–Brown County Watershed Project – met with Secretary of BIA
Young
Farmers and Ranchers
Kansas State Fair
2005Annual Meeting
2nd Annual Hay and Forage Meeting
(Hutchinson)
Risk Liability
KFB Resolutions Committee
Wind Energy Presentation
Research Project
Executive Summary
Survey for Membership
Kansas Association of Conservation Districts
Annual Meeting
Wichita, Kansas
Eminent Domain
Mid America
Association of Conservation Districts - Olathe, Kansas (scheduled –
June 2006)
“Ownership is Power
Greenway development
Sherman
County Farm Expo
Agricultural Law Update
Trego County Eco. Development:
Wind Energy Development
Community Wind
County FB Requests
Capital District Visit (2nd,
3rd and 4th)
Barber County
Brown County
Clark County
Ellis County
Franklin County
Geary County
Grant County
Hodgeman County
Leavenworth County (2 requests)
Labette County
Lyon County
Marshall County
Miami County (2 requests)
Montgomery County
Morris County
Osage County
Rooks County
Shawnee County (2 requests)
Stanton County
Wabaunsee County (2 requests)
KFB Farm
Talk (Radio)
Eminent Domain
Southeast Royalty Owner
Development
Ag. Tourism Conference (Chanute, Kansas)
Business and Legal Issues
Radio/Newspaper
Oil and Gas Lease Seminars
WIBW (Kelly Lenz)
Securing a Solid Future Seminar
KKOW (Suzanne Hubbard)
WIBW (Kelly Lenz)
KBUF (John Jenkinson)
Mid-America Ag Network
Various newspapers across the
state, concerning seminar opportunity
FB National
Attorneys Conference
Nashville, Tennessee
Washington, D.C. (scheduled)
American Agriculture Legal Association
Conference
Kansas City, Missouri
Hodgeman County Farm Bureau
Attend open house
KFB Masters Program
2005 work with participants
2006 (scheduled)
Fair Tax Meeting
Geary County FB
KFB Foundations Golf Tournament
2005 fund raising activity
2006 (scheduled at Prairie Dunes
Country Club – Hutchinson, Kansas)
Kansas State Fair
2005 – Hutchinson, Kansas
2006 (scheduled)
