By Dave Thompson
Bismarck, ND – A group that wants to limit a government's power of eminent domain has submitted petitions to amend the state's Constitution.
The Landowners Association of North Dakota is spearheading the effort. LAND president Don Berge of Litchville wants to prevent land from being taken for private purposes -- and to limit eminent domain to such things as utility and highway easements.
Berge says the recent U-S Supreme Court decision in a Connecticut case is the reason for the initiative.
"I guess whenever you have the potential for wrong, I think you have to step out in front," Berge said. "If this happened in Connecticut, it could happen here."
The group will need to gather more than 26-thousand signatures to get it on the ballot. The group can start collecting the signatures after the Secretary of State's office approves the ballot wording.