Commissioners Griffith, Whitty and Stufflebean started pushing the county down the path of ceding management of the Coos Bay Wagon Road timber lands to the Coquille Tribe four years ago. In March 2008, the commission resolved to support the Tribe’s proposal in order to “…substantially increase County funding from management of those lands…”
NOW, THEREFORE,IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED, that the Coos County Board of Commissioners announces its strong support for the Coquille Indian Tribe’s proposal for a Coos Bay Wagon Road Cooperative Management Area.
The language of the resolution is very vague and non specific and there are no specifics about what timber harvest plan might be followed or the Native Indian Forest Resource Management Act. There is no mention of jobs, or revenue or any evidence or reference to environmental impact statements or fiscal impact statements or any due diligence done on the part of the commissioners whatsoever that would substantiate reliance upon a market driven revenue source.
AND IT IS FURTHER APPEARING that the Coquille Indian Tribe has worked with Commissioner John Griffith to develop a proposal that would (1) transfer management only of the Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands to the Coquille Indian Tribe and keep these lands within the Federal estate as Federally-owned lands, (2) continue and improve the management standards and prescriptions applicable to the Coos Bay Wagon Road Lands, (3) substantially increase County funding from management of those lands, and potentially resolve much of the problems caused by the termination of Federal safety net funding, (4) promote alternative energy partnerships in our region, (5) comply with environmental laws and management plans, and (6) Provide a means to make
infrastructure improvements and ecosystem restoration without additional Federal appropriations;
Last week there were three timber sales in the Elliott Forest, two older stands of trees and one with younger trees. Only the younger stand was sold indicating the market isn’t ready. Where is the math and the analysis that supports taking over management of the CBWR from the BLM as a sustainable revenue source? The county has been managing its own timber property and supporting the government services for a long time, why not just buy more land and add to its inventory to increase revenue?
Commissioner Parry will return to DC this week on behalf of this proposal and hopes to attend a House Resource Committee hearing.
Are we paying for Mr. Parry’s trip to Washington DC that directly in opposition to the vote of Coos County in 1994. Perhaps there should be another advisory vote at the next election cycle? Lets see if the public’s opinion of signing over County lands that benefit ALL County residents to a 50% share, minus expenses charged by the Coquille Tribe – 600 members strong with the other 62 thousand of us.
It doesn’t take an Einstein to realize that our two new UNELECTED County commissioners value this plan or are already bought off by the tribe. Both serve on committees of the Tribe. Do they also serve on the Confederated Tribes committees or on local town committees?
To my knowledge no! They are now paid to RUN the County. Not the HR Director, former Democratic Representative Mike Lehman. Why are they always spending public $ to lobby Congress. That is what they are paying other groups to do. Then there is the question of Mr. Main’s support for this usage of the Wagon Road. This is not what was advertised when he ran. Think back folks. Was it a lie? Are you being lied to? I don’t know about you but I am darn tired of liars in office. Perhaps we should consider a brand new board.
Loyalty to the tribe must be a prerequisite for the job of county commissioner.
Defeated politicians by vote or death are just replaced by another team member sitting on the bench waiting their turn.
Griffith moved into Cams former spot(straight up lobbyist), Main gets Griffith’s, Parry gets Whitty’s, ect,ect.
The line-up is always at least three replacements deep for the good of the team.
Look at the last two lists of replacements for BOC and notice how many where already connected to the same organizations that got the job.
Anyone want to play poker with a stacked deck?