Gas Company wants to install pipeline under my land; Please help!

[rambler]

You guys gotta be kidding, most states a city can condemn land and give/sell it to a bigger corporation that will generate more property taxes, this is considered 'for the public good'. Best Buy's corporate headquarters in Minnesota came about that way, city took down 2 car dealerships, one was somwhat agreeable to sell out, the other one did not and fought it, but they were tossed off their land.

In my rural part of MN, a city got to condemn an 80 mile long strip of land, condemn whole farms and decide as th built where it was best for them to lay a gas pipe that serves only 2 towns. Renters were never compensated for their losses, payments - whaqt there were - were 3 years after the pipe was in the ground, and so on. Several farmers got together, their legal council was petty much ignored, some judge would move up court dates and all was cooked and dried, nothing to do....

Any you guys think one of you can stop or change any of this stuff? It'll be laid down, and he'll get the standard rate for such a project, and thy will move on. Some outfits have some minor respect for your property; others like this town pipeline deal 80 miles away they bulldozed through and that was that, didn't matter if they wrecked tile or nothing...

Huh.

--->Paul

 

[crbr]

Good info...

 

[buck12]

You guys gotta be kidding, most states a city can condemn land and give/sell it to a bigger corporation that will generate more property taxes, this is considered 'for the public good'. Best Buy's corporate headquarters in Minnesota came about that way, city took down 2 car dealerships, one was somwhat agreeable to sell out, the other one did not and fought it, but they were tossed off their land.

In my rural part of MN, a city got to condemn an 80 mile long strip of land, condemn whole farms and decide as th built where it was best for them to lay a gas pipe that serves only 2 towns. Renters were never compensated for their losses, payments - whaqt there were - were 3 years after the pipe was in the ground, and so on. Several farmers got together, their legal council was petty much ignored, some judge would move up court dates and all was cooked and dried, nothing to do....

Any you guys think one of you can stop or change any of this stuff? It'll be laid down, and he'll get the standard rate for such a project, and thy will move on. Some outfits have some minor respect for your property; others like this town pipeline deal 80 miles away they bulldozed through and that was that, didn't matter if they wrecked tile or nothing...

Huh.

--->Paul

This issue was on the ballot in MS. 30 days after the election results are certified land can longer be taken from one individual and transferred to a private party by eminent domain per the state constitution. The amendment passed with 73% in favor.

 

[ITHINKICAN]

Wow!!

I complained to the Manager about his first Salesman that tricked us in to giving permission to do the Survey and lied to us several times. The Manager said he'd handle the remainder of the process. In November he said the deadline was cancelled and we'd continue to discuss. On December 1st he said he'd ask ETC if they had a Certificate of Necessity and Convenience. We had a baseball tournament weekend of 12/3 and went to Dallas for a Company Christmas party weekend of 12/10. I took pictures of the land and made another thread about "location" of the easement ROW. Since they have not answered the question about the Certificate and since there hasn't been any email or verbal communication I figured we'd discuss more this week or maybe after the Holiday's. Out of nowhere, this morning, we get a Fed Ex. They've lowered their offer to 1/5th of the last offer. If there was no expiration of the offer and if I didn't reject their counter offer - by law how can they change the offer? Plus he never called - not even once. And the Sales Manager guy is talking on the phone like he did no wrong.

I'm going to call and see if I can reach his Manager. What a joke!

 

[ITHINKICAN]

I just called Gullett and Associates (713) 644-3219 to file a complaint. They said the Manager is not available but he'd call me back. I guess it's par for the course. Salesperson withholds information and lies. Sales Manager says we'll work it out and then lowers the offer without warning.

 

[Obed]

Wow!!

I complained to the Manager about his first Salesman that tricked us in to giving permission to do the Survey and lied to us several times. The Manager said he'd handle the remainder of the process. In November he said the deadline was cancelled and we'd continue to discuss. On December 1st he said he'd ask ETC if they had a Certificate of Necessity and Convenience. We had a baseball tournament weekend of 12/3 and went to Dallas for a Company Christmas party weekend of 12/10. I took pictures of the land and made another thread about "location" of the easement ROW. Since they have not answered the question about the Certificate and since there hasn't been any email or verbal communication I figured we'd discuss more this week or maybe after the Holiday's. Out of nowhere, this morning, we get a Fed Ex. They've lowered their offer to 1/5th of the last offer. If there was no expiration of the offer and if I didn't reject their counter offer - by law how can they change the offer? Plus he never called - not even once. And the Sales Manager guy is talking on the phone like he did no wrong.

I'm going to call and see if I can reach his Manager. What a joke!

I'll preface my comments to state that I have not had experience in exactly your situation. However, I do have some experience with negotiating both in a business setting and personally.

I'm sure the gas line company has had lots of experience dealing with landowners who were reluctant to sign over rights to their property. I would not be surprised if you are encountering a negotiating tactic the gas company has carefully developed after going through this process hundreds of times. First they make you an offer they hope you will accept (meaning the offer is probably less than what you could get if you are patient and have all your ducks in a row). Then, when you don't immediately accept the first or second offer, they send you a ridiculous offer of 1/5 the value of the original offer hoping to make you regret not accepting the earlier offer.

Remember, the gas line company has done this process many times. They know exactly what they are doing. The 1/5 offer is not a mistake; I'm confident that it was sent on purpose. They are trying to get you to act with emotion instead of with your head. The gas line company has no emotion in this deal so that automatically puts you at a disadvantage. They want as much drama as possible so that you will eventually wear out and give in without a fight.

Keep your wits and get some council on this. The more knowledge you have regarding the value of your property and the offers the company has made other landowners, the stronger your negotiating position will be.

I wish you the best and greatly sympathize with your plight.

Obed

 

[buck12]

Sounds like a bunch of car salesmen. Bait and switch type scam only instead of taking a few extra dollars they are taking your land.

 

[two_bit_score]

Wow!!

I complained to the Manager about his first Salesman that tricked us in to giving permission to do the Survey and lied to us several times. The Manager said he'd handle the remainder of the process. In November he said the deadline was cancelled and we'd continue to discuss. On December 1st he said he'd ask ETC if they had a Certificate of Necessity and Convenience. We had a baseball tournament weekend of 12/3 and went to Dallas for a Company Christmas party weekend of 12/10. I took pictures of the land and made another thread about "location" of the easement ROW. Since they have not answered the question about the Certificate and since there hasn't been any email or verbal communication I figured we'd discuss more this week or maybe after the Holiday's. Out of nowhere, this morning, we get a Fed Ex. They've lowered their offer to 1/5th of the last offer. If there was no expiration of the offer and if I didn't reject their counter offer - by law how can they change the offer? Plus he never called - not even once. And the Sales Manager guy is talking on the phone like he did no wrong.

I'm going to call and see if I can reach his Manager. What a joke!

Offers can be rescinded anytime before acceptance. Actually O&G companies have been known to recind offers at any time even accepted offers. That's why you should always get a cashiers check and never take a draft from a landman.

Sounds like they are getting ready to start playing hardball with you. Get with your lawyer ASAP.

 

[two_bit_score]

I just called Gullett and Associates (713) 644-3219 to file a complaint. They said the Manager is not available but he'd call me back. I guess it's par for the course. Salesperson withholds information and lies. Sales Manager says we'll work it out and then lowers the offer without warning.

Complaints don't mean anything to these people. In fact it probably gives them an advantage when you complain because they know they have more control than you do.

Make a trip to the Co. Clerks office and look at some of those condemnation cases if you want to see how they operate.

Please talk to your state representative and state senator. They probably won't be able to help you get more money but they need to hear your complaint about the pipeline co. and how you were dealt with. believe me, they already get a lot of calls from people about pipelines but you have to let them know.

You need to be patient but ready. Check on those condemnation cases. See who their lawyer is. How many they ave filed and if it's anyone near you or anyone you know. See who the commissioners are. You will get a real education looking through a few of those files. It will be with your time.

 

[TraderMark]

Wow!

This is so different from the experience I had here in south Georgia with Elba Gas, formerly SNG.

Granted, one pipeline was already there when my Dad bought the land back in the late 60's but in the mid 70's they came in and put down a second line. He was well compensated for the crop damage since they cut a swat 100 ft wide, 4200 ft long right through the center of our field.

I inhereted the 300 acres when my Dad died in 1999.
2001 I planted 50 acres of sod and farmed it while I rented the rest of the farm to a local farmer.

2009 they wanted to put down yet another, even larger line. We were notified of their intent well in advance. The liason kept us updated on when surveys were being done, etc. He even tried to keep us posted as to when they expected to reach our land so the guy who rented part of the farm could get his crops gathered if needed.

When they finally did make it to my place, I was well compensated for the sod they removed. They actually paid me close to retail price for it. They were also very conscientous about the soil. They removed the top 12inches of top soil and set it aside. Then they dug the trench, keeping a silt fence between that dirt and the top soil. When they were done, they put the topsoil back on top so that we didn't wind up with a strip of clay right through the center of the field.

They were great people to work with. I even got to be friends with a couple of the guys. I had to go move the irrigation system out of their way a few times. I told them I would be happy to show them how to move it, but they quickly replied, "Thank you, but we can NOT set foot off this ROW under any circumstances."

I thought the guy was just taking his orders a little too seriously, but when they started to rebuild the terraces they destroyed on the ROW, I told the crawler operator to get in the truck with me and I'd take him through the field alonside the ROW and show him how they should look. He replied, "Thank you sir, but I'll drive my tractor ON the ROW. Leaving this ROW for ANY reason would cost me my job."

I couldn't have asked for better people.

Mark