By S. James Rickert
Editor’s note regarding Measure P, a description from the Shasta County Elections Office: “Measure P adds a subsection to the Shasta County Charter. The proposed addition would limit the County’s exercise of eminent domain.”
###
After reading the Shasta County Voter’s Information Guide on Measure P, I felt compelled to respond.
I graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, with a degree in Agricultural Business, and I received a Masters Degree from Purdue University in Agricultural Economics. I have been a professional member of the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA), and have served as both the state and national president of this organization. I have 50 years of experience as an accredited real estate appraiser in northern California, Nevada and southern Oregon.
I requested information from the Shasta County Public Works Department if the county has ever used eminent domain to transfer property from one private property owner to another private property owner. They indicated they could find no incidence of this kind of transfer in the county resolution records.
In my 50 plus years of appraisal practice, I have never been witnessed this kind of transaction taking place in the unincorporated areas of any county in northern California.
My question to is why is this being added to the Charter County, which has not even gone into effect yet? Is this really a problem, and if it has not been a problem, why is this pointless amendment being added to our ballot?
Sincerely yours,
S. James Rickert
California Certified General Appraiser
Accredited Rural Appraiser, ASFMRA
Accredited Farm Manager, ASFRMA
Editor’s note: S. James Rickert is married to District 3 Supervisor Mary Rickert.
