More than a year ago, my attorney notified “Energy Transfer Partners, LP, DBA Bakken Pipeline, LLC, DBA Dakota Access LLC” by letter that I was not interested in having a pipeline on my property.

Many times since then, Dakota Access LLC persisted wanting to survey my property, and I always replied no. 

In April, Dakota Access LLC took the issue to the Iowa District Court for Boone County and filed Case Number EQ40450, petitioning the court to order the survey of my property and ordering the Boone County Sheriff to protect the surveyors while they survey my property in case I would interfere.

Judge John J. Haney ruled, based on Iowa Law 479B.15, that the pipeline company has the right to survey my property with the protection of the Boone County Sheriff. They did survey my property without my permission, and the Boone County Sheriff Department was present.

I know this because a few days later I received an engineer’s plat of the proposed route of the pipeline through my properties.

The pipeline company listed my property on Exhibit H (Eminent Domain) with the Iowa Utilities Board even though my neighbors to the west, north and east had given easements to the pipeline company. The pipeline company paid my neighbors for those easements, so it already has a route around my property.

Our governor, senators, representatives, judges and sheriffs are supposedly paid by Iowa taxpayers, to protect Iowa taxpayers — not Big Oil.  Maybe it’s time to change some laws and protect private property in Iowa and Iowa taxpayers. The next election is coming up.

Pilot Mound is known for being the “friendliest town around.” So far, I have tried to be nice.