LOOKING ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

 

Fellow Mortals wins one.
On Friday, the 29th of July, 2016 at 8:30 am, Walworth County Judge Koss presided over a packed courtroom wherein the attendants kept adding chairs until finally opening up another room which provided television access to the proceedings. Local attorney Bartolotta, and former Judge Kennedy were attorneys for the plaintiff called Fellow Mortals, located on Palmer Road in Geneva Township. Fellow Mortals is owned by Steven and Yvonne Blaine. The American Transmission Company (ATC) had two attorneys:  Ms. Martin, the lead counsel, and a second in-house unnamed counsel.

Fellow Mortals Petition Drive

American Transmission Co–No Clear-cutting of Fellow Mortals Wildlife Sanctuary

The issues being presented were a motion by the plaintiff for a temporary injunction to clear cut the land Fellow Mortals is located on for the laying of high power electrical lines, and a counter motion to dismiss the case brought by the defense (ATC). The real issue was about the easement agreement held by ATC, in which the company claims it can trim or remove trees in the easement (and their interpretation of an addendum to trim/cut trees near the easement) and to chemically treat the area to control all growth of trees and shrubs to suppress or repress them from effecting any power lines to be built in the future. The ATC would not admit that their actions could constitute clear cutting, although their plans seemed to indicate otherwise. ATC attorneys claimed that they merely intended to remove incompatible vegetation without specifying what that might be.

Judge Koss basically handed ATC its walking papers, and saw in favor of Fellow Mortals. There is little doubt that the huge crowd showing up to support Fellow Mortals could have had something to do with the decision (as it should). ATC is a huge power line company, and the issue is a long way from being permanently decided. However, the reality of the importance of the work Fellow Mortals does for so many animals and people is likely to continue to be a gigantic barrier for ATC to overcome, as this case has proven.

Welcome Home

Tribute to George Ingram

On Wednesday, July 27th a local veteran returned home more than 60 years later. Overpasses along I-43 were filled with support and honor as the procession drove by. Thank you for your service US Air Force Airman First Class George Ingram.

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