Declaring that Custer County needs a stronger economic platform from which to emerge from its ongoing business and industrial doldrums, the Custer County Commission last month unanimously adopted a resolution calling for adoption of Rep. Mike Simpson's Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act.
The Congressman's bill would designate parts of the Boulder and White Cloud mountains as wilderness, but it would do so much more. The resolution makes clear that the "so much more" is what gleaned commissioners' collective blessing.
"(The) Custer County Commission opposes the creation of wilderness area, although in this instance the overall benefits of CIEDRA are judged greater than the effects of the proposed wilderness areas, a majority of which are non-motorized and being managed as wilderness study area," the resolution states.
According to the resolution, Custer County is burdened with a high percentage of public land, with more than 96 percent of the county's 3.4 million acres administered by federal agencies.
It states that a healthy, diverse, stable and growing economy is critical for the county's residents, and continues to state that motorized access is "necessary and vital to the use and enjoyment" of lands within the Boulder and White Cloud mountains.
"There needs to be a resolution to the management and lawsuits within the Boulder-White Clouds in a manner that will guarantee continued use, access and certainty for all users of this area," the commissioners agreed.
For those reasons, the commissioners resolved the following:
Specifically, they resolved to support locking in public access on motorized roads and trails within a Boulder-White Cloud Management Area, which would surround the wilderness area.
They resolved to support economic compensation to "all Custer County property owners who have been affected by lawsuits and government regulations, so that they have an opportunity to remain as viable and sustainable operations into the future."
They also resolved to support releasing 130,000 acres of wilderness study area for multiple-use management.
Finally, they resolved to support the overall bill.
Copies of the commission's June 27 resolution were forwarded to Idaho Sen. Larry Craig, Sen. Mike Crapo and Rep. Simpson.
