Board Highlights 122110
Board Highlights 122210
Under “Public comment” Robert Eshleman stated that there needs to be a place for West Siders to shoot. There was a range at Brush Creek on Forest Service land, but typical of the @%$#&@! Forest Circus (these are our words, not Mr. Eschleman’s) they have restricted use to the point that now there is vandalism and deep, seething resentment against the green clad smurfazoids of the FS (also not Mr. Eschleman’s words). Mr. Eschleman said he regretted, on behalf of all shooters, the damage done at the site, and asked the County to provide a site on the West Side similar to the Sierra Valley range for the East Side.
Craig Wilson reported for the Forest Service: the 16 years of hard work paid off, and this year’s Christmas Tree permit sold out all 250 permits. Supervisor Goicoechia remarked that local merchants who sold the permits also benefited.
Some heat was generated at the meeting when Tim Beals mentioned that the Plumas County Board of Supervisors and the Butte County Board have filed appeals to the Off Highway Vehicle Plan for the Forest Service Transportation System. Mr. Beals warned that there was pressure for the Forest Service to consider Over the Snow Vehicles (OSV) to fall under the regulations for Off Highway Vehicles, essentially closing the woods for the winter.
The Board and even members of the public slowly built themselves up on the matter. Damned Forest Service anyway, keeping us off public land. Tim Holabird, representative for Congressman Tom McClintock, stood and said what everyone was thinking: this is another step the Forest Services is using to keep people off public land. He said the Congressman’s office had had thousands of complaints.
People including Board members got worked up, saying they should join in on the appeals from Butte and Plumas Counies, and confusing the Tahoe National Forest with the Plumas National Forest and then remembering that the Plumas National Forest does have land in Sierra County and working up to a resolution to appeal the whole Forest Service all together. Damn it.
But, then County Council Jim Curtis spoke as the only adult in the room.
First of all, the Board has no technical reason, no critique or analysis, for an appeal. Six days (the end of the appeal period) isn't enough time to cobble something together. It doesn’t help to appeal a policy decision, an appeal needs legal grounds.
There was a huzza huzza and someone asked how Plumas and Butte counties are doing it.
Mr. Curtis indicated that he didn’t have the documents to answer that, and suggested in a ‘round about way that just because another county was wasting everyone’s time and acting like bumpkins didn’t mean Sierra County had to do it. He should have said “If Plumas County jumped off a bridge, would you have to, too?”
People began to remember the several times the Tahoe National Forest sent people, and even Tom Quinn, the Forest Supervisor, to inform the Board in eye glazing detail what was being done and why. We hated it then, and we complained (the Prospect certainly did) and nothing changed. The Plumas and Tahoe, both, are following the law and directives from on high.
Eventually, the Board voted to get on with life. It was five aye, zero nay.
In the proceedings, the Board approved the Timber Production Zone ordinance. It was done swiftly and with little fanfare.
The Board interviewed for the position of Planning Commission Member. Irv Christiansen was unanimously chosen for one seat; Dick Devore was re-appointed on a four aye vote, with Chair Goicoechea voting “no”.
The Board heard Keith Logan on Biomass utilization, an article is HERE.
Many people came forward to pay honor and praise to retiring Supervisor Pat Whitley, article is HERE.
Under “Public comment” Robert Eshleman stated that there needs to be a place for West Siders to shoot. There was a range at Brush Creek on Forest Service land, but typical of the @%$#&@! Forest Circus (these are our words, not Mr. Eschleman’s) they have restricted use to the point that now there is vandalism and deep, seething resentment against the green clad smurfazoids of the FS (also not Mr. Eschleman’s words). Mr. Eschleman said he regretted, on behalf of all shooters, the damage done at the site, and asked the County to provide a site on the West Side similar to the Sierra Valley range for the East Side.
Craig Wilson reported for the Forest Service: the 16 years of hard work paid off, and this year’s Christmas Tree permit sold out all 250 permits. Supervisor Goicoechia remarked that local merchants who sold the permits also benefited.
Some heat was generated at the meeting when Tim Beals mentioned that the Plumas County Board of Supervisors and the Butte County Board have filed appeals to the Off Highway Vehicle Plan for the Forest Service Transportation System. Mr. Beals warned that there was pressure for the Forest Service to consider Over the Snow Vehicles (OSV) to fall under the regulations for Off Highway Vehicles, essentially closing the woods for the winter.
The Board and even members of the public slowly built themselves up on the matter. Damned Forest Service anyway, keeping us off public land. Tim Holabird, representative for Congressman Tom McClintock, stood and said what everyone was thinking: this is another step the Forest Services is using to keep people off public land. He said the Congressman’s office had had thousands of complaints.
People including Board members got worked up, saying they should join in on the appeals from Butte and Plumas Counies, and confusing the Tahoe National Forest with the Plumas National Forest and then remembering that the Plumas National Forest does have land in Sierra County and working up to a resolution to appeal the whole Forest Service all together. Damn it.
But, then County Council Jim Curtis spoke as the only adult in the room.
First of all, the Board has no technical reason, no critique or analysis, for an appeal. Six days (the end of the appeal period) isn't enough time to cobble something together. It doesn’t help to appeal a policy decision, an appeal needs legal grounds.
There was a huzza huzza and someone asked how Plumas and Butte counties are doing it.
Mr. Curtis indicated that he didn’t have the documents to answer that, and suggested in a ‘round about way that just because another county was wasting everyone’s time and acting like bumpkins didn’t mean Sierra County had to do it. He should have said “If Plumas County jumped off a bridge, would you have to, too?”
People began to remember the several times the Tahoe National Forest sent people, and even Tom Quinn, the Forest Supervisor, to inform the Board in eye glazing detail what was being done and why. We hated it then, and we complained (the Prospect certainly did) and nothing changed. The Plumas and Tahoe, both, are following the law and directives from on high.
Eventually, the Board voted to get on with life. It was five aye, zero nay.
In the proceedings, the Board approved the Timber Production Zone ordinance. It was done swiftly and with little fanfare.
The Board interviewed for the position of Planning Commission Member. Irv Christiansen was unanimously chosen for one seat; Dick Devore was re-appointed on a four aye vote, with Chair Goicoechea voting “no”.
The Board heard Keith Logan on Biomass utilization, an article is HERE.
Many people came forward to pay honor and praise to retiring Supervisor Pat Whitley, article is HERE.
