LETTER: Disappointed in the PUD

To the Editor, 

The Public Utility District says it serves the community. Yet on Aug. 26, 2025, it just condemned our family’s land, ignoring four other viable routes that would have spared private property. Instead of fairness and negotiation, we’ve been met with force and dismissal. 

We have lived in our home for over three decades — 31 years of raising our family and building our lives here. To lose property rights in this way, when better options existed, feels like a betrayal. Even more troubling, Route 4B was not only the most destructive to landowners but also the most expensive. It was first estimated at $41 million. That figure has now more than doubled to $86 million — yet commissioners continue to press forward, ignoring the financial and human costs. 

From the start, PUD representatives told us landowners would be able to negotiate and receive fair compensation. But that promise was never kept. Instead, we were sent certified documents instructing us to sign or face condemnation. That is not negotiation — it is force. We asked for two simple things: to know the exact language of the easement and to receive fair market value for the permanent loss of property rights. Neither request was honored. 

We raised questions about health and safety risks, as well as basic access. Our property is secured by an electric fence and gate. How will the PUD enter — by installing their own gate, or demanding our private codes? These are practical questions that remain unanswered. 

We also did not stand alone in asking for fairness. Three experienced realtors and a professional appraiser — respected voices in our community — spoke on our behalf. Their expertise was dismissed with a simple line: the commissioners “respectfully disagree.” That is not respect. It is a disregard for the very professionals who understand our local property values best. 

This easement is not temporary. It lowers property value, restricts future use, and creates uncertainty for generations. Families like ours are left carrying this permanent burden, while the PUD gains the permanent benefit. 

The PUD has forgotten something simple but vital: behind every acre are families who call this place home. 

Sincerely, 

Alan and Jacque Rasmussen
Quincy/George area