Wednesday, April 27, 2005

County holds open house today on land transfers


By GREG STAHL
Express Staff Writer

As part of the federal land that could be doled out in Rep. Mike Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act to establish a Boulder-White Cloud wilderness area, up to nine properties totaling more than 500 acres could be transferred into Blaine County's ownership.

Blaine County commissioners, however, want to know what local residents think about the properties they have highlighted for possible transfers. They will host the third of three open house meetings today from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

"It's part of the community involvement," said Commission Chair Sarah Michael. "It's important that residents be involved in the decision making process."

Michael planted the seeds for the possible land grants to Blaine County and, along with her fellow commissioners, submitted a list of 10 federally owned land parcels to Simpson's office last summer. In the last several months, the initial list was reduced to nine.

"I feel that Blaine County does have land needs," Michael said. "When Custer County was getting a share of the bill, I thought it would be useful for us to identify some of our specific needs we knew were out there."

As part of Simpson's wilderness bill, a half-dozen properties are earmarked for transfers to Custer County and several of its communities. Many residents there have long lamented the large amount of public land ownership within the county's borders.

According to a summary of Blaine County's public-land wish list, various properties would be used for a fire station, well, recreation access, riparian restoration, solid-waste transfer station and recycling center, gravel pits, future growth and infrastructure or amenities near a new south-county airport.

The largest block includes 160 acres south of Magic Reservoir that would be "near a possible Blaine County airport site." The county would hold the property "for future growth and infrastructure needs."

The most specific land requests Michael made included:

· 102 acres in Ohio Gulch that would be used for a new solid-waste transfer station and recycling center.

· Two acres in Smiley Creek that would be used for a new fire station.

· One acre on Eagle Creek Road that would be used for an expanded turn-around for school buses.

Michael also asked for 11 acres in Oregon Gulch that would be used for "improved and safer access, increased recreational use of Oregon Gulch and riparian restoration and noxious-weed treatment in exchange for an opportunity to improve the infrastructure of the trailer park."

Near Glendale Road, 120 acres would be used for gravel pits. Near Triumph, approximately 35 acres would be used for "future growth and infrastructure needs."

Another 40 acres were targeted along Croy Creek Road, and .47 acres are targeted in Smiley Creek for a new city well.




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