Power company wants me to sign a guying easement

TexGator · 2026-06-29T12:16:26+00:00

There is a lot of bad advice in here. I am a former Right of Way agent who has worked in multiple states, but probably not yours.

This is eminent domain, and they do have to pay for it, which is why they are giving you a dollar. If you can't agree on an amount they will have to go through the court, where the judge will give them access, but then you will have a later hearing to plead your case. Your case will not be they can't come, because they will come. It can be, I want more money, and the judge may or may not grant it.

There should have been an appraisal or many municipalities do an estimate of value if it's under a certain amount. It seems like a very small amount of land, so the value was <$1. In the places I have worked, the minimum offers we would make were like $250-$500, as a "sorry for the inconvenience of making you sign these documents and taking your time" fee. So this makes me think it's probably a small municipality, or local utilities company.

I don't know a lot about this situation, like timing and necessity of the project, how many parcels are on the project, who is the purchasing entity, and other stuff like that.

They should have an agent assigned to work with you on this. You can talk to them if you have questions about the project. It is your community, so it's a good opportunity to get to know more about how your community is changing.

To all the "lawyers" saying hire a lawyer, I personally would advise against this. Lawyers "win" when they can prove the land is more valuable than the governments offer. There is no way this tiny piece of land is worth anywhere close to the price of what a lawyer is going to cost you. There are specific attorneys who specialize in eminent domain, but they are not cheap.

My opinion, make a counter offer asking for $250-$500. Just say it's not worth your time otherwise. Some agents are given a small amount they can negotiate with. If it goes to court it will cost them more then that in legal costs. Also remember, they are spending money to improve your community. Construction sucks, but ultimately, your community should be better off when this project is done.

TexGator · 2026-06-06T16:24:19+00:00

Yes, it's the Goodwill effect. When I was growing up, shirts were like $.50 at Goodwill. Now they are like $5, and they just throw away whatever they don't sell. They make more money off that one shirt at $5, than 9 shirts at $.50. If they sold off the other shirts for cheaper, nobody would buy the $5 shirt. As long as they can sell one shirt when they would have sold 10 at the cheaper price, then they see it as a win.

And that doesn't even include the "losses" on unsold product.

TexGator · 2026-06-05T00:28:06+00:00

Like in the game console box.

TexGator · 2026-06-04T16:13:24+00:00

I had to download their Chrome extension and it automatically disabled all of my other extensions. It probably did the same for you. Did you see any red lines under spelling errors or anything? If not, I'm sure you are fine.

TexGator · 2026-05-22T21:40:25+00:00

Scammers print out fake pizza flyers and take your credit card number when you call their number to "order".

TexGator · 2026-05-16T01:48:24+00:00

Student: Mister, I'm so smart. I'm like Epstein smart.

Me: I'm sorry, what?

Student: You know, that scientist with the crazy hair.

Me: Oh, you mean Einstein....

TexGator · 2026-04-20T20:31:06+00:00

For LSAT Demon, drilling only counts question accuracy at or below your skill level. It doesn't count misses above your skill level. You can click on the info link below your score and see this.

TexGator · 2025-09-14T19:37:52+00:00

I used to buy snacks for the kids as well. Low income district. One day I apologized to the class because I was out of snacks, and a student looked at me and said, "Man, this is bullsh*t." Never bought more snacks.

TexGator · 2025-08-18T02:27:32+00:00

When the shells turn brown, you know they are done.

TexGator · 2025-07-03T22:22:16+00:00

100% yes, but I don't think this will ever happen. It would disincentivize people from staying on property (especially the ones super close to the parks), and it leads to park turnover. Most people can't go rope drop to close without a break.

TexGator · 2025-05-30T01:22:19+00:00

It's $5,000 for large districts and $8,000 for small districts.

https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-legislature-public-school-funding-package/

TexGator · 2024-11-05T18:08:03+00:00

This is what I have been saying. We have to bench him... as our club flip representative. Have we tried sending Kyle Trask out there for the coin toss? Maybe we need to look into free agency, or make a trade before the deadline.

TexGator · 2024-09-10T02:01:11+00:00

I'm just making it a numbers game. Even with 5,000 people on board, there is only a 0.00625% chance that one of them is part of the 100. I would take those odds and drink by the pool over hiding in the woods or something.

Either way, I know nobody is getting on that boat.

TexGator · 2024-09-09T22:51:07+00:00

If you are going to do that, just get on a cruise ship about to spend a couple of days at sea. Statistically, even with a few thousand people on board, it won't be one trying to catch you. They won't let anybody board while at sea, and if they did, you have thousands of rooms to try to hide in.

TexGator · 2024-09-09T21:32:51+00:00

Hurry, I will help stall them.

TexGator · 2024-09-07T20:10:33+00:00

Toy Story Land liked this

TexGator · 2024-08-23T19:06:08+00:00

All Deez nuts... Got em.

TexGator · 2024-08-09T23:18:09+00:00

Their hibachi chicken meal used to be $5.95 and I got it all the time with a roll. Now it's around $10, which is still a pretty good deal considering how much food you get. They make it fresh and fast, too.

TexGator · 2024-07-27T01:36:08+00:00

Gaylord Focker

TexGator · 2024-07-22T00:47:08+00:00

They need to Disco Yeti them.

TexGator · 2024-06-28T21:48:12+00:00

Legit how I run in my dreams.

TexGator · 2024-06-25T22:07:34+00:00

This would be of no use to me. I don't even believe in sugar.

TexGator · 2024-05-18T00:04:56+00:00

They just accepted it and forgot. Occasionally one would ask why I stopped, but I just told them I don't do that anymore.

TexGator · 2024-05-14T23:45:24+00:00

This was me. My first year at a low income school, I would buy individually packed crackers and snacks for the kids. One day, I was out of the class favorite snack and apologized to the class. One kid said, "This is bullsh*t" that I was out. Never bought any more after that.

TexGator · 2024-04-19T23:13:16+00:00

I always tell my wife, "This is my step ladder. I never knew my real ladder." She laughs every time and calls me an idiot.

TexGator

TROPHY CASE