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Crime Stoppers 67CRIME
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Monthly Meetings
May 14, 2007
The meeting of the Public Land Users Committee for the month of May was
called to order at 5:35 p.m by the president whose first action was reading of the minutes
of the last month. Minutes were accepted after appropriate motions and a unanimously
affirmative vote. Unchanging status of the treasurer precluded action by the group.
Under the order of old business was the discussion of the Three Poles area report given by
Ted Lapis. Ted stated that the southeast quad , approximately 100 acres under the brow of
the hill west of Verlin Danner's place looks to work well as a general recreation area
because the brow of the hill performs as a sound barrier for those residents locally.
Admittedly, it would be difficult to delineate what is a road and probably can not be
done. Ted suggested using a chunk of ground and saying that area would be the accepted
area of use.
April 7th the Office of State Lands published a notice in Casper and Cheyenne newspapers
pertaining to a public notice as of January 2 that the Office of State Lands intends long
term special leases for recreation with a minimum charge of $250 and other considerations
as well.
Ted reported the meeting with Beatty Gulch was attended by several land owners in the area
plus many bike riders. He considered the meeting together with all the interested parties
very successful with constructive suggestions made by many people there. The texture of
all was to work together to make a recreation area that was acceptable to all.
Comments from the Sheriff's office who has been working to keep the peace is that 2
citations for off road travel were issued in February, 1 vehicle citation March 17. One
report with no contact made and a report of gunshots on May 19 with no contact made.
Sheridan County leads in number of registered bike/ATV registrations which emphasizes the
pressing need for special recreation area for these sportsmen. This is a true need that
must be met.
Mike discussed the matter of recreation lease, i.e. fair market value of the lease,
whether leases with grazing lease would be considered. For a recreation lease, these
matters would have to be considered for a recreation lease to become a responsible party.
Ted requested a feed in about other area available to ride in the state. There was the
suggestion that the $15 registration sticker become the title to use recreation areas.
In the Worland area, bike and ATV riding is encouraged by business as it is income for the
town (a lot of people from Sheridan use the area for recreation).
Mike Watkins suggested that the county would be the best institution to do the lease, that
perhaps through the county the sticker money could be returned for use in maintenance.
Funds for the Wyoming State Trails funds could be available for construction and
maintenance and a local watch group could be formed
Terry Cram stated that the county commissioners could lease but that a sub-lease would be
necessary as the county commissioners are not a group that is set up to enforce and
regulate. This would be an all off road trail area to be used east of CBM roads. He
wondered about doing things that are way out in terms of what has been done in the past.
Bill Adsit said that a board for reclamation would be required. Terry also mentioned a
call from area land owners to submit a request for recreation use might also be needed.
Bill Adsit reintegrated that the area suggested provides opportunities for excellent
riding challenges. He pointed out several challenges that he has seen his son perform with
great agility and finesse. This is a rather educated opinion as to the worth and value of
this recreation are.
A discussion followed on preferences of lease or sub-lease, lease form, and stipulations.
Since this is an entirely new endeavor for the Office of State Lands, it has been
suggested that PLUC create a form for review.
Another quick issue that came to light was that if a 100 acres only area was to be
considered, there would definitely be a matter of over-crowding in the summer months. More
area is definitely needed for safety because of the number of users. At this point, the
hope that Buffalo Creek Run could be used for recreation lease was proposed, to take the
pressure off the use of the one small area of Beatty Gulch and because it has pre-existing
well laid out trails that could be marked with carsenite markers which we have on hand.
Terry supports Ted's work with Kenny Balkenbush to try for as much as possible for a
combined working relationship. Mike Watkins will work with Kenny to this end.
The meeting adjourned at 6:48 p.m.
JELo 06/08/2007
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