Jackson County looks for anti-monument strategy

MEDFORD, Ore. (AP) — Jackson County’s attorneys say a legal strategy to oppose an expansion of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument wouldn’t succeed in court.

The Mail Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/2eZQf16 ) that James Carlson, a Kansas-based consultant who fights national monuments, wanted to charge Jackson County $60,000 to stop the proposed expansion. County commissioners turned down the offer Thursday.

Commissioner Doug Breidenthal says he paid out of pocket to fly Carlson in because he thinks the county needs to try a new anti-monument effort. But Commission Rick Dyer called Carlson’s strategy “futile,” saying it hasn’t succeeded in court.

Commissioners left open the possibility of working with Carlson after they have a chance to review a strategy document he prepared for a Utah community fighting the proposed Bears Ears National Monument.

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Information from: Mail Tribune, http://www.mailtribune.com/