State Index

New information added October 11, 2005

Additional Helpful Organizations Utah Property Rights Association A Utah Non Profit Organization Robert J. Fisher, Director Team work, focuses on property rights conflicts with zoning and planning departments in cities and towns. address Rural Utahns For Local Solutions (RUFLS) Brad Van Dyke Exposing the threat to private property rights and the future of rural population posed by the proposed National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area and Heritage Highway 89 Alliance. address Websites Utah State Legislature link

State News “National Property Rights Ombudsman Bill Announced” — U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch, Press Release, Sandy, Utah, July 5, 2005 The “Empower Act” would apply the Utah model of a State Property Rights Ombudsman to the federal government, to inform people of their rights and actively work to help property owners to take full advantage of their rights. More on this topic: Eminent Domain—National  “Rural Utahns for Local Solutions: New Developments - Heritage Areas” - By Brad Van Dyke, Rural Utahns Media Release, June 22, 2004 The Heritage Alliance worked out a deal with County Commissioners who wanted changes in the Mormon Pioneer National Heritage Area legislation to include resource-based industry instead of solely crafters, artisans, and tourism. The Commissioners instead were given a place on the Alliance board of directors. More on this topic: Heritage Rivers and Areas “Kanab Panel Spurs Discussion of national Heritage Area Proposal: Called ‘First Night of Public Process’” - News Release, Rural Utahns for Local Solutions, April 19, 2004 Kane County Commissioner Mark Habbeshaw said, “This is the first night of the public process we’ve been involved with” on the proposed National Mormon Pioneer Trail Heritage Area. His statement counters claims by proponents that the “heritage area” has broad public backing. More on this topic: Heritage Rivers and Areas “Utah Property Rights Ombudsman — A National Model” - By Craig M. Call, Property Rights Ombudsman, State of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah; Speech to the Eighth Annual Conference on Private Property Rights (PRFA, Albany, N. Y. October 23, 2004) The first property rights ombudsman in the world is a powerful negotiator for small property owners—mainly homeowners — facing eminent domain, land use takings and land use ordinances imposed by state and local government. More on this topic: Citizen’s Strategies for Defending Private Property Rights Letter to Sen. Robert F. Bennett in opposition to the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area Act - by J. Boyd Mickel, a Spring City Council Member. More on this topic: Heritage Rivers and Areas “Rural Utahns for Local Solutions letter to U.S. Senator Robert F. Bennett in Opposition to the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area” - By Brad Van Dyke, June 10, 2003 The proposed National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area has no local support in spite of claims to the contrary, threatens private property rights with central control over land use, favors low-paying tourism jobs while threatening to drive up the price of property so that local people can not afford to live where they work, and threatens the independent local heritage of the Mormon culture. Property owners in the area of the Capital Reefs National Park, to be included in the National Heritage Area, are fed up with the Park Service, which has closed down family logging businesses to preserve the viewshed. More on this topic: Heritage Rivers and Areas “Rural Utahns Demand Public Hearings on Proposed Heritage Area” - Press release by Brad Van Dyke, Rural Utahns for Local Solutions, May 10, 2003 The U.S. Congress is considering designation of 300 miles of Highway 89 and the Boulder Loop as a National Area, without taking into account the impact on the traditional rural way of life and economy, points out a new organization, RUFLS. “U.S. Supreme Court Brings Reason to Punitive Damages — State Farm Ruling Builds on the Record in 1996 BMW Case” - By Carol W. LaGrasse (PRFA, May 31, 2003) Justice Anthony M. Kennedy held for the majority of the Supreme Court that a punitive damages award of $145 million was excessive for an award of $1 million in compensatory damages in the case of State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Campbell, thereby strengthening the trend to bring punitive awards within the bounds of reason that was widely applauded in the Court’s 1996 ruling in BMW of North America, Inc. v. Gore. More on this topic: Private Property Rights “Rural Utahns for Local Solutions makes a stand during Spring City Heritage Days” - Press release by Brad Van Dyke, RUFLS, May 27, 2003 Members of RUFLS raised a banner emblazoned with “The Federal Takeover of Highway 89” on the Memorial Day weekend, to publicize their concerns about the National Mormon Pioneer Heritage Area currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate, and answered questions about the proposal at the holiday event. More on this topic: Heritage Rivers and Areas Click picture to see a larger version. “Utah Property Rights Association, Inc. is organized” (January 2003) Robert J. Fisher, executive director, announced the formation of the non-profit Utah Property Rights Association based in Murray, Utah. They are organizing for zoning and planning hearings, as well as other important property rights issues. Robert Fisher extends a hearty welcome to new members. More on this topic: Heritage Rivers and Areas “Existing and Tentative U. N. World Heritage Sites in the United States”-reprinted from Positions on Property, Vol. 4, No. 1 (Nov. 1998) (Jump to Utah information) More on this topic: Biosphere Reserves & World Heritage Sites “Hydroelectric Dams Subject to FERC Relicensing—1998-2010” - from Positions on Property, Vol. 4, No. 1 (PRFA, Nov. 1998) (Jump to Utah information) More on this topic: National Dam Relicensing under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)

Back to:
State by State Index

© 2005 Property Rights Foundation of America, Inc.
All rights reserved. This material may not be broadcast, published, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.

Flag courtesy fg-a.com