To the Editor:

Let’s not talk about the pipeline!

I have farmed my entire life. I am in my sixties. Our five children are fully launched, one of which is farming with us. I have never written a letter to the editor in my life. This topic; however, is worthy of every landowner and home owner’s attention to listen up. Your property owner’s rights are at stake.

My grandparents and parents worked this land hard for decades to create a special legacy for our family.

And now, one corporation in one fell swoop, is going to take our rights away. I believe it is my duty to protect the rights of my family and our farm.

Not only are property rights at stake, but local government authority is being questioned. If a township or a small town or a county passes an ordinance that has authority in South Dakota. It seems to me the companies backing these projects, some of which are foreign-backed and not a friend of the USA, want to run roughshod over local governments. They use intimidation and fear to get their way. And when I say “their way” I mean get our government dollars for their private gain. If eminent domain is used to accomplish this, that’s wrong.

Let’s not talk about the pipeline, instead let’s talk about what that topic has revealed. It shows me there are people, entities, and businesses that want to get control of just enough property rights to get what they want at an extremely low cost. If you don’t sign an easement they want to take your property rights by eminent domain. I firmly believe that no out-of-state company should have the power to take away the decision-making authority that rightfully belongs to local leaders. It’s about empowering South Dakota communities and ensuring that critical decisions remain in the hands of the people who know our lands and values best.

Bruce Burkhart
Dell Rapids