The Coos County public hearing on Tuesday will focus exclusively on the proposed LNG terminal, but the Douglas County Board of Commissioners has been looking more closely at another facet of development.

Douglas County Commissioners Marilyn Kittelman, Doug Robertson and Joe Laurance passed a resolution calling for Williams, the company planning to build the Pacific Connector natural gas pipeline, to negotiate fairly with property owners.

“We had a pretty regular stream of citizens coming to our meetings wanting to talk about the pipeline,” Kittelman said. “It culminated where we needed to do something.”

The resolution, passed on July 25, recommends that the pipeline “not be constructed unless and until the contractor negotiates with property owners and all concerns have been addressed to their satisfaction.”

Kittelman noted one complaint she has heard from constituents is that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management will receive additional funds, known as rental payments, on top of the lump sum purchase for an easement, while private owners do not.

Williams spokeswoman Michele Swaner said the agreement with BLM is a common practice when agreeing to easements with federal agencies.

“Because the BLM allows multiple uses on its land ... the right of way agreement with the BLM is different than the ones executed for landowners,” she wrote in an e-mail.

Megan Harper, a BLM spokeswoman in the Coos Bay office, said the rental payment money would be used to pay for inspection of the pipeline in BLM lands, which can sometimes be difficult if it is in a remote location.

When negotiating with private landowners, Swaner said Williams views eminent domain as a last resort.

“We plan to negotiate with landowners and determine a fair price. We have always found that is the best approach. It results in a limited use of eminent domain,” she said.

Douglas County has a history of opposing the use of eminent domain. The commission passed a resolution in 2005 declaring the county would not use it for projects benefiting a private entity.

“I don't oppose pipelines and I don't oppose natural gas, but this isn't the proper use of eminent domain,” Kittelman said.

Coos County Board Chairman John Griffith said he did not see much value in passing a similar resolution.

“It basically is telling these people they need to obey the law as they deal with these folks that live on that route,” he said. “I figure it's just empty symbolism.”

He noted that any private company wishing to use eminent domain to secure property for a project can't impose it on a whim. According to a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission spokeswoman, Williams would need to go to state courts and plead its case.

“Pacific Connector doesn't just get the land. They need to prove that they need it,” Griffith said.