03-24-2008, 02:35 PM
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Local leaders, those who are closer to the areas in question and actually have enough information to make proper decisions on a case-by-case basis should be the ones, if any, making such laws. [/reply]
There are times that I agree with this, and other times I don't. Unfortunately, just because you are a local "leader" doesn't mean you have the correct information.
Ayone from Wayne County here? How would you like to have free access to the Red River Ranch section of the Fremont River? Wouldn't that be nice? Thanks to local county commissioners, you don't. A number of years ago a private land owner approached the DWR with a land sale. The DWR was interested in purchasing that stretch of river. They would have done some restoration work, and opened the land up for public use forever. They also offered to pay the county fees in lieu of taxes, to keep the county from losing any potential tax revenue. Unfortunately, the commissioners stepped in and didn't allow the sale. Now, the land has been further privatized, and public access will never be allowed.
Some of these rural counties have more land owned by the state and federal governments than by county and private individuals. They feel very threatened by any potential to lose more land (Garfield County is a good example with the Grand Staircase -- now, any time a potential sale comes up (Sevier River...) they are completely against selling it to the government).
So when a group comes in wanting further protection to, with potential impacts to water rights and land use -- of course rural counties will be against it. It doesn't mean that they have "enough information to make proper decision"
FWIW -- my grandfather-in-law is a county commissioner in one of Utah's rural counties. He's an educated man, and a very smart man. I hold a lot of respect for him. I know first hand that some of the decisions they make have nothing to do with "information to make the proper decisions". Many times it has more to do with "let's stick it to those bastards along the Wasatch Front".
With rural Utah, it's not just the "tree huggers" that they are against -- its also you sorry saps along the Wasatch Front...
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Local leaders, those who are closer to the areas in question and actually have enough information to make proper decisions on a case-by-case basis should be the ones, if any, making such laws. [/reply]
There are times that I agree with this, and other times I don't. Unfortunately, just because you are a local "leader" doesn't mean you have the correct information.
Ayone from Wayne County here? How would you like to have free access to the Red River Ranch section of the Fremont River? Wouldn't that be nice? Thanks to local county commissioners, you don't. A number of years ago a private land owner approached the DWR with a land sale. The DWR was interested in purchasing that stretch of river. They would have done some restoration work, and opened the land up for public use forever. They also offered to pay the county fees in lieu of taxes, to keep the county from losing any potential tax revenue. Unfortunately, the commissioners stepped in and didn't allow the sale. Now, the land has been further privatized, and public access will never be allowed.
Some of these rural counties have more land owned by the state and federal governments than by county and private individuals. They feel very threatened by any potential to lose more land (Garfield County is a good example with the Grand Staircase -- now, any time a potential sale comes up (Sevier River...) they are completely against selling it to the government).
So when a group comes in wanting further protection to, with potential impacts to water rights and land use -- of course rural counties will be against it. It doesn't mean that they have "enough information to make proper decision"
FWIW -- my grandfather-in-law is a county commissioner in one of Utah's rural counties. He's an educated man, and a very smart man. I hold a lot of respect for him. I know first hand that some of the decisions they make have nothing to do with "information to make the proper decisions". Many times it has more to do with "let's stick it to those bastards along the Wasatch Front".
With rural Utah, it's not just the "tree huggers" that they are against -- its also you sorry saps along the Wasatch Front...
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