The Brown County Commissioners will not support the use of eminent domain for the Salt Creek Trail.

The commissioners were asked at their Oct. 18 meeting to “set a precedent” against using people’s private land without permission.

The trail is envisioned to connect Brown County State Park and downtown Nashville. To do that, it will have to cross private property.

At issue is the placement of two iron highway bridges that have been donated by the Indiana Department of Transportation. Gary and Sheila Oliver have been offered money to place one side of a bridge on their property, but they have not come to an agreement. The proposal they received from INDOT includes a mention of eminent domain — using their land anyway.

They have been asking the commissioners for months to stop that possibility from happening. A large group has been coming with them to meetings.

Last week, Gary Oliver said that he might be open to a different type of bridge, but he’s not pleased with how this process has played out.

After about an hour of debate, commissioner Jerry Pittman made a motion to reject the use of eminent domain for the trail. He and Diana Biddle voted for that motion; Dave Anderson voted against it.

County Attorney Jake German said that doesn’t exclude INDOT from taking action.

Anderson said his objection was that he’s concerned that this will ultimately cost taxpayers. Biddle has said that the county is liable to pay back money the state has spent on the bridge relocation project thus far.

The Salt Creek Trail Committee also has been awarded millions in grant money over the years to build the trail.

“It’s a funded project,” Biddle said. “We need to see if we can find a different alternative, and I don’t know what that alternative would be.”

A moderated community conversation has been set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 26 at the high school.