By CLAYTON CITY COUNCIL
Open letter to Bill Wood, forest supervisor, Salmon-Challis National Forest:
The Clayton City Council members and many citizens in the Clayton area are objecting to the Salmon-Challis National Forest's decision to close the Yankee Fork Ranger District office to public use. This decision, which will affect such a large part of our community, was made with no public input.
The closure of the Yankee Fork District will have a great impact on all businesses and will affect the local economy and labor force of the Clayton community. Many locals will not have the advantage of full-time and summer employment that the Yankee Fork District offers, therefore decreasing our population base. Local business will suffer from the loss of patronage. The future prospects of selling or buying a business or homes in the area will be affected as well.
This district is the central axis point for visitors accessing the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, Boulder White Clouds, Frank Church Wilderness and the Boise National Forest. Our local emergency services are supported by the Yankee Fork office with the only certified helicopter pad between Challis and Stanley, which is our Life Flight and ambulance merger point. This is a great safety concern.
The Challis Messenger (newspaper) states that this decision was budget driven; if this is the case then:
1) Why are you moving forest personnel further from the forest? The taxpayers will pay the very high price of gasoline for the many government vehicles driving from Challis to the land that they manage.
2) The Yankee Fork District office is free and clear and under full public ownership, yet you choose to close down these offices and move personnel into very expensive leased buildings. Why?
3) Was there an economic analysis done that indicates the amount of money to be saved by this closure? If an analysis has been completed, why hasn't it been available for public comment?
It is due to these concerns that many people in the Clayton area object to the closure of the Yankee Fork Ranger District office. Your mission statement focuses on "serving the public," yet this closure decision has been made with no regard to public interest. You made the right decision to keep the Leadore District in Leadore. Please give the community of Clayton the same consideration.
