Editor, The Progress:

I am writing in protest to Easley Combined Utilities’ plan to put a water line on the south side of Saluda Dam Road. They say it is necessary and are requiring the purchase of a 30 foot right of way plus a 20 foot easement, which will take out all of my landscaping in front of my house. I resent this as I have lived here for 20 years and planted trees for shade as well as curbside appeal. Now I am being asked to give it up for the paltry sum of 39 cents per square foot, based on $17,000 per acre.

In 1989 when I purchased my property, the asking price for one acre was $24,000. I’m sure the value has gone up considerably since that time. My house and lot was purchased for $66,900 the same year and is now market valued at $102,800 (which is an increase of 54 percent).

I also see no reason for 30 feet when it can be done with a smaller amount of land using a trench box; or, put it in the road. Work on a utility line is currently being put down the middle of US Hwy 25 (White Horse Road in the Berea section of Greenville County). I am also told that we will still have to pay taxes on this right of way even though we no longer own it, which is an unfair practice. There is plenty of farmland that in practice could be used across the countryside and would make less of an impact on so many home owners. The farmer can still plant crops, but can’t put any permanent structures or plant trees on it.