During debate on the RDA bill on Capitol Hill, Bell disclosed his conflict. But he did vote against an amendment that changed the moratorium from Feb. 24 to Feb. 15.

The Farmington blight study was approved Feb. 23.

Farmington City Manager Max Forbush says "schemes" to benefit Bell and Haugen are "beyond the motivation of the mayor and City Council and city government."

The purpose for designating the blight study area was to clean up Haugen's property, securing protection of the watershed below his land, Forbush said.

"I get so tired of these neighborhood fears," he said. "We're in this thing together. We're a community, and in this case it advances and protects the water supply for the entire city."

If the RDA legislation is vetoed, the city will work with residents in the area, Forbush said.

On March 2, residents delivered a letter to the Farmington City Council, asking for more public involvement in the RDA process.

"We do not feel our properties are blighted, and they do not deserve to be treated as if they may be," the letter to the City Council reads. "We perceive that our property values are in jeopardy."

That attitude of fear was a main motivation behind the RDA legislation, Bramble said.

As the Legislature was debating whether to move the moratorium deadline up, he received several notes and letters from people in Farmington who were concerned about possible threats to their property.

"If people who own the property don't believe their property is blighted, how can the city come in and redefine it as blight?" he asked.

The Nielsens agree. Seventeen years ago, they bought their Farmington home, which rests on an acre north of Lagoon and the Park Lane interchange.

The land is dotted with trees, an old shed and rows of raspberry bushes. There are cherry trees and several horses on adjoining land owned by Lagoon.

The land has significant monetary value, they say. But the true value is in the memories and meaning it has to the family.

"This family is all put together here on this piece of land and in this house," said Nola. "I don't intend to leave unless they carry me out feet first in a casket."

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com