Local Government Law

In the early 1950's, condemnation was rare and political suicide. A popular limited access road was being delayed by a farmer. When the State survey crew showed up, the farmer was standing at a fence with his shotgun. He never moved, but the survey crew would not go beyond the fence.

After the Attorney General, District Attorney, and Sheriff failed, the assignment devolved to the County Attorney. I walked up to the fence. "John, we have known each other a long time." "You take one step further," replied the farmer, "and we will not know each other for a longer time."' The more things change in the ethereal realms of local government law, the more they remain the same.