Rail to Trail updated Tyndall to Platte: On January 29 I attended the first meeting on the Rail to Trail Project. After we introduced ourselves, the main spokesman for the friends group commented that I, Ed Van Gerpen, should not be permitted to speak because of letters in the paper indicated that I didn’t support the R&T Project. Without support from others at the meeting, he wasn’t able to silence me. I then reminded him we live in America and still have Freedom of Speech. It appears they want to use intimidation to silence the opponents. The purpose of this meeting was to set guidelines for when the engineers do the feasibility study, a project taxpayers are paying for.

I have been reviewing the material being sent to landowners along the rail from the lawyers from St. Louis, Mo. Statements in material should concern all landowners (we understand the negative impact a R&T conversion has on landowners) (The Supreme Court rules that the Trails Act was constitutional because the federal government has the powers of EMINENT DOMAIN that is the right to TAKE your property for public purpose). I am representing the Bon Homme County Commissioners who voted to not support project, I also will be a voice for landowners. Ed Van Gerpen Avon, SD