POCATELLO, Idaho -- Randy Smith has lived on his Pocatello property for 18 years. And he doesn't want the Greenway cutting through his backyard. It might be a proximity issue: Smith's barn is only about 15 feet from the proposed trail site.

"I have no problems with the Greenway. I use the Greenway a lot," said Smith.

Or it could be a lack of communication. PGF sent out a letter to people like Smith saying they wanted to use eminent domain to finish the trail.

"I have a problem with that because the way the letter stated it, it said that they'd been working with property owners along the river for years. I've lived here for a lot of years--nobody's ever come here and talked to me about the Greenway," said Smith.

But PGF has made every effort to reach out to Smith and others, but hears nothing back, said PGF Executive Director Tamara Code.

"There are about 24 homeowners that will not contact us. We've sent letters, we've said, 'Please call us, we'd like to talk to you,' And for some reason, they haven't done that. So we haven't been able to negotiate with them at all," Code said.

That's why they want the ability to use eminent domain. PGF's lawyers found that the city does have legal precedence to grant that power to a private organization, which is why PGF sent reluctant landowners letters saying that they would.

Ultimately, the city council has the last word. Mayor Brian Bladd is uncertain about how the council will vote.

"I'm not convinced that's what we want to do," said Bladd. "I don't think the council's ready to give that up. It's pretty powerful, for a bike trail."

Bladd understands the multiple benefits of a Greenway, but his sympathy echoes the sentiment of Randy Smith.

"I mean if it were my backyard, I don't know if I would want it to happen," Bladd said.

Public hearings over the issue of eminent domain are slated to begin in October or November.