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Another lawsuit has been placed against the United States Government claiming that Vigo County landowners should receive some form of compensation under the fifth amendment for the land that was ordered to be converted to a public trail near the town of Riley. This is approximately a six mile stretch of land that the Indiana Rail Road company was operating under an easement until petitioned to abandon the line. A trail use request was filed for the property and on June 9th “a notice of interim” use of the property sign was posted by the Vigo County Board of Commissioners.
The lawsuit has been placed on behave of the Vigo County landowners seeking one million dollars in compensation plus costs of litigation and attorney fees for the land being converted into a public trial. The landowners believe that the trails act is impeding regulations by preventing the abandoned railway from reverting back to its landowners. Instead, the land has been taken by the federal government and granted an easement for a recreational trail.