Georgia judge affirms ruling to allow Sandersville Railroad's property takeover for rail spur

The Fulton County Superior Court in Georgia last week upheld prior decisions by a Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) hearing officer and the full PSC to grant Sandersville Railroad Co.'s petition to acquire property by eminent domain that the railroad says it needs to construct the Hanson spur in Hancock County.

Judge Craig Schwall affirmed the PSC's finding that the project is a necessary accommodation of Sandersville's business connecting industries to rail, Sandersville Railroad officials said in a press release. The Hanson spur will connect local businesses, farmers, loggers and timberland owners in middle Georgia to markets that are served by CSX, they said.

The judge determined that the railroad could condemn a 200-foot wide piece of property along 4.5 miles to build the rail line that would serve the Hanson Quarry and other users. Property owners were fighting the railroad's efforts and appealed the PSC's ruling allowing the land takeover, according to an Associated Press report by Jeff Amy. The property owners say they will appeal the ruling to the Georgia Supreme Court.

Railroad officials say the spur will have a minimal impact on local residents and will reduce truck traffic to the nearby Hanson Quarry. All property owners will be "fully compensated" for land acquired using eminent domain, Sandersville Railroad officials said.

The land that Sandersville seeks to acquire are narrow strips of property through mostly pasture and timberland, comprising 2% to 7% of the property owners' parcels. No homes are to be condemned, railroad officials said.

"We understand some of the property owned by the Smith family is special to them given their heritage, and we regret that they may have felt that our initial offers, based on independent appraisals, were not adequate," said Sandersville Railroad President Ben Tarbutton III. "We would welcome the opportunity to re-engage in meaningful conversations about how both the landowners and Hancock County can benefit from the Hanson spur."  

The Hanson spur will serve area customers including Heidelberg Materials, Pittman Construction, Veal Farms Transload, Revive Millings and Southern Chips.