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Public Land Users Committee P. O. Box 5012, Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 |
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Monthly Meetings June 11, 2007 Bill Adsit called the meeting to order at 5:25 p.m. followed by the reading of the minutes for the May meeting which were accepted with a unanimous vote after appropriate motions had been made. The treasurer's report remains the same. Under old business, Ted Lapis explained using two marked out map areas, that the north area of the Beatty Gulch lease is leased by Kenny Balkenbush's father-in-law leaving 520 acre for Kenny and 120 by the father-in-law. This would not complicate the issue as the county road is a natural barrier. On the east would be for adult riders, using the creek bottom for jumps and on the west side would be better area for safety for younger riders. Gerald mentioned that 100cc riders need to be with parents or guardians for safety. Riders suggest kids not be in the lower age group to ride in the bottom area. A fence would not only be expensive, $10,000 or more but the riders themselves are respective of boundaries that they have already established and work by. Gerald was out there Saturday morning and noted that vehicles for mud bogging were present. However, when they saw Gerald, they left. Mud bogging is jut too close to a residence out there. He commented on the damage done last year but that damage has already healed now. The improved road, done by the CBM company, is another boundary. Basically the existing roads would be the accepted boundaries. Trails could be marked like the forest service does. Gerald had visited with dealers about weight limit of 70-90 pounds, like 12 and under for beginners. Fifteen year olds can use motorcycles on county roads with licenses. And the license and unlicensed definition would be under parental control and responsibility as is now practices. Maybe there is another method to delineate the differences .Ted stated that age is not as much a matter as attitude. He also mentioned that the riders do a good job of policing themselves, and that the county roads work well as natural dividers between bike and dirt bike riders. Mike Watkins reported meeting with Kenny Balkenbush who said he was supportive of having a place, some other place as he was concerned that continued use will deteriorate the land. Mr. Balkenbush has had to make calls this spring related to calves being chased. Mike asked him for suggestions. HE suggested Not Beatty Gulch, but instead the state land by the port of entry, leased by Charlie Jorgenson. Janet Ludwig has suggested land north by Ranchester. Clive Clevenger said the visit from Jim Whalen months ago with Larry Durante that the north location had been the first to be inspected. John Scott would be contacted for that area. Whalen had asked Larry to take him to Beatty Gulch area for inspection and he had thought that to be a much more workable property. Mike also spoke about the special use permit that Larry Durante had work to set in place to enable access through a private ranch to the Hole-in-the- Wall canyon hideout entrance. Terry Cram reported on an area north of town that will not be used for quite a while. Discussion continued about this area. The information was noted that when there are no charges, there is not a liability issue. Land north of Acme owned by Padlock where John Pollock allow walk-in hunting that can be accessed by a military road going back from the old church was discussed. Ted's observation that Balkenbush is being paid by the CBM companies more than it cost him to lease the land, that perhaps we need a petition encouraging people to sign up and call Mr. Balkenbush about the need to develop what is there and what has historically been used for over forty some years. Bill validated Balkenbush's fears about the calves being chased and that we need to go to him with a suggested plan first, addressing legitimate concerns, uses and show how more people present would help alleviate the problem by the group's self policing which we have seen working already. Terry said Mr. Balkenbush could be worked with, terms are the SLB rules, like if we have enforcement, and to recognize that he still will have the income from the gas wells. Ted Lapis said AUM's would be lowered so 200 acres would be reduced which would lower Balkenbush's lease cost, but would not affect the return from the CBM companies. Bill brought out that other lessees will be pressuring Mr. Balkenbush not to allow this for fear that they would be approached as well. Mike asked Terry to get the county attorney to look into liability by the county . Bill then reminded the group of available Trails grant moneys when and if the area is designated a "trail" by the county. Remember that money talks! We need to leverage his emotions to create his amicability. Ted stated that the bikers have been PUSHED onto that land by being pushed
off other areas where they had ridden before, that they need a place to ride, this is a
financial benefit for the community as well as just a need for our residents. Presently
money is going to other comminutes because they have facilities and we don't. The
necessity is for a win-win situation. A statement from the floor reminded us that the coal bed methane companies on the area in question should be included in the working process of this project. Suggestion that the SLB, when writing up the lease, write in wording so the sheriff can enforce law breakers. SLB can delegate rights to the county commissioners. A comment that when going after a grant up to $ 25,000., it could go for reclamation, signs, trails if included into the "Trails" plan. Ted put forth a suggestion for posters to provide information to the community, at places like dealers and sports shops. Bill suggested that when we get to the point when the Three Pole Lease is ready, maybe several dealer would help pay for an ad and that a pointed news release would draw needed attention.. Ted mentioned that we will need $2-3,000. In place plus our labor and donated help. So we need to be looking at a budget and plan. Establish membership fee for next month's meeting, plus proposals for budget and plan. Motion to adjourn unanimous. Meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m. JELo 08/20/2007 |