Maine Eminent Domain v. "Landowner Dale"

As reported in the BDN recently, Landowner Dale Henderson has won a preliminary battle with the state in a dispute involving a stretch of former railroad bed that runs through his property in Hancock and Washington counties.

A judge in Hancock County Superior Court ruled last week that Henderson can keep — at least temporarily — a set of barricades he erected to hinder people from traversing his land.

At issue:

Late last year, the Maine Departments of Transportation and Conservation opened up a lengthy stretch of the multiuse Sunrise Trail, which runs from Calais to Brewer along the old Maine Central Railroad line. Dale Henderson owns large tracts of affected land in the town of Hancock in Hancock County and Steuben in Washington County. He said he has tried repeatedly to work with the state to keep users off what he considers his property. Last month, the landowner took matters into his own hands by creating rock barriers and putting up no-trespassing signs at all the entrances to his property.

We say keep up the good fight Mr. Henderson! Maine has had a strong tradition of respecting and protecting private property rights. Today this tradition is challenged. Thank you Mr. Henderson for using your resources to fight for all Maine landowners - most of us whom cannot afford to fight the ample resources of state Government.