Johnson County land dispute puts 37 animals in danger

A land dispute could be putting some animals in danger.

The argument is over a small access road that leads to Trask's Horse Farm near Solon.

In the meantime, Doug and Wendy Trask say they need to take care of the animals on their farm.  An attorney working with the Trasks has filed an injunction to have the barriers removed until the dispute is resolved.

It could take another day for a judge to respond to the request, leaving the animals unattended, lacking water, and possibly unfed.

“He wanted us arrested for trespassing even if we just walked up to water the horses,” Wendy Trask said Wednesday.

Wendy Trask says she and her husband have been at odds with neighboring property owner Troy Tiedeman over 120

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Street NE in Solon.  It's a small access road leading to their property.

"He's got gates up there -- he's been threatening to close on us since March,” said Doug Trask.

This time it's concrete barriers keeping them from their animals.  The couple says they've already spent thousands in court fees to keep the only entrance to their stables open.

"It's going to hurt,” Doug Trask said. "Hurt us, our business, and our boarders."

Virginia Heal, one of Trask's clients, boards her horse at the Trask farm, and said she received no notice of plans to close off the road.

“In my opinion this is abuse,” said Heal, “and I will be filing charges if this doesn't get taken care of soon."

The concrete wall is also keeping Steve Hauser from his 130-acre farm.

"These people (the Tiedemans) have been here one year,” said Hauser. “We've been here 100.  I don't understand why it has to be so un-neighborly."

The Tiedemans declined comment Wednesday when asked why they're keeping people off the easement.

R.J. Moore with the Johnson County Planning and Zoning department issued this statement:

"I did contact Mr. Tiedemann or his attorney and informed them that the Trasks' stable was a legal permitted use in our A-Agricultural district.  Apparently the Tiedeman thought it was not."

More said the issue a private land dispute, meaning the Trasks cannot reach their animals until a judge approves.

Planning and Zoning officials said they've contacted the Assistant Johnson County Attorney to see what can be done to help the Trasks.

The couple expects to find out Thursday if the injunction will be approved by a judge -- something Doug Trask says he is anxiously awaiting.

"I just need to get to my horses," he said.