- Eleanor Miller -After almost half a century and raising 8 children in the same house, she has to fight to keep the city from taking her house for a developer. |
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| Eleanor Miller is a widow who is fighting to keep the home she has lived in for nearly 50 years. Her lovely home is pictured to the right. Who can imagine that this would be labled "blighted"? |
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My name is Eleanor Miller, a mother of 8 children, many grand children, a retired nurse and widow of 13 years. I live in a small city of Sugar Creek, a city of 3800 citizens. |
In February of 2007, Ochsner, Hare & Hare of K. C. Mo. was hired to blight a parcel of land in Sugar Creek, Mo. including 57 businesses and homes, where there were many widows and young families living in peace and security: some just starting out, many living in their homes for over 50 years. Unaware of the looming monster of eminent domain, the plan of the City Fathers of Sugar Creek for Sugarland LLC Development Plan Still in the infant stage, a 42.3 million dollar Tax Increment Financing Plan was to be passed in the next few months that would come in like a poisonous snake ready to devour all our hopes and dreams. Our First Amendment rights as property owners would soon be stripped from us one by one, by the passing of the Sugar Creek city counsel ordinance number 3149, to enforce eminent domain should good faith negotiations fail. In late May 2007 the “non-binding” letters began to arrive notifying us of the city's intent to acquire our homes, asking us to be a part of the city's long awaited development, as if it were a privilege to give away everything away that we have worked for all of our lives! Now nine months later, we continue to sit through countless counsel meetings, forced city appraisals of our homes, neighborhood meetings, appointments with lawyers, receiving harassing letters, and meeting the cities dead-lines, with fear increasing day by day. Our fine neighborhood is now a war zone of rubble, downed trees and desolate, empty homes, with only three homeowners left, fighting for their property rights and against the insult that it is “for the betterment of Sugar Creek citizens”. Now, we are down to an imaginary dead-line: possible loss of the entire ”Development Project” by the private developer. Orange fencing surrounds our beautiful homes, like a spider to a fly, wrapping tighter and tighter with their fear tactics and the knowledge of the powerful city government. This is a government that appears to be above the law, continuing to ignore the fact that our city of Sugar Creek is an unchartered city of less than 5000 and does not have the power of eminent domain. We await the Supreme Court victory for Homer Toukakis, of Arnold Mo., which will set a precedent, as well for our city of Sugar Creek. At this writing, the city of Sugar Creek has sent me a registered letter notifying me that they will not try to take my home for phase 1, 2 or 3 of their development, but I will fight on! Eminent Domain is still a very real threat to all Missourians, as well as myself. I still regard Sugar Creek as a very real threat to my property and my security, as a property owner of over 48 years. Missouri Citizens for Property Rights, the Institute for Justice, and the State of Missouri Eminent Domain Ombudsman are still fighting the good fight for all Missouri citizens, upholding our constitutional rights as property owners. At times there seems to be no hope! I know that we must continue to fight for our Constitutional rights. I believe the people do have the power to change the Constitution, and end eminent domain abuse for economic gain. For this has changed my life and has become a principle. We must change the constitution! With the help of the great men who are giving their all for this monumental cause, a government for the people and by the people! Not a government by the people for the government! I will always be grateful for their support and generous time and knowledge. These are men of great caliber and attributes! Please join us now before it is too late! W e can stop eminent domain for private gain! Eleanor Miller Sugar Creek, MO. 64054 |
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