Johnson Family Statement On Potential Eminent Domain Proceedings By Uintah County

The Uintah County Commission recently announced that they are considering Eminent Domain proceedings on land owned by two private property owners in Ashley Gorge. Utah Law defines Eminent Domain, sometimes referred to as Condemnation, as the power of a government entity to take privately owned property and convert it to public use without the owner’s consent and with just compensation. The Johnson Family is one of the private property owners involved in the Ashley Gorge access dispute. Their land in question has been in the Johnson family for nearly a hundred years. Ted Johnson, Johnson Family Representative, shared the following statement with Evans Family Media: “We are surprised and disappointed by Uintah County’s disregard for private property rights and water source protection concerns. The County did not seriously engage with us or Ashley Valley Water & Sewer until the via ferrata was substantially complete. Throughout these discussions, the County has been consistently overreaching and uncompromising. Unfortunately, we now expect these issues will ultimately be resolved in court.”