Public getting a chance to weigh in on plan to seize farmland for Vt. border station

Public to weigh in on expanding Vt. border station

FRANKLIN, Vt. — The public is getting a chance to speak out on a federal plan to expand a little-used border station by seizing land from a Vermont dairy farm.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials will be at the Franklin Town Hall on Saturday morning for a hearing on the scope and intent of the Morses Line border station project.

Federal officials want to incorporate a nearly 5-acre parcel that is currently a hayfield from the owners of the Rainville family dairy farm.

The family doesn’t want to sell but has been told the government will seize the land through eminent domain if it doesn’t accept an offer of nearly $40,000.