Crook County plans public meetings on natural resource plan
Crook County is known for its great outdoor activities, and now its gearing up to hear from the public on what it wants when it comes to a natural resources plan.
The Crook County Natural Resources Political Action Committee submitted a plan to the county court in July of 2016.
The policy would invoke coordination and a federal mandate, which would require all state and federal agencies to work with local governments when it comes to public lands.
Wallowa and Baker counties have adopted similar plans.
The court put the original plan on hold and suggested the PAC come back with some changes.
In June, the PAC brought a new version of the natural resources plan to the court, and commissioners hired legal counsel to look it over.
County Judge Seth Crawford told NewsChannel 21 on Tuesday he has seen the plan, due for public release on Friday, and there were no major changes, just some legality fixes.
“What I’m hearing is they’re not happy with the forest is being managed, and I’m not saying it’s the Forest Service’s fault == they are there set by laws that they hear from Washington, D.C.,” Crawfprd said. ‘”And what we need to do is work with them to push policy. That is where the county comes in with coordination and get things done.”
Jodie Fleck, who represents the PAC, told NewsChannel 21 it’s all about people living in Crook County having a voice when it comes to public lands.
“Coordination is about these federal agencies that are in place listening to the people at the local level,” Fleck said. “Our government is supposed to be ‘We the people,’ and so it should start with us here on the ground and go up from there.”
She said the plan would be the link to local government working with the state and federal agencies.
Fleck said she hasn’t yet seen the revised plan but hopes it will look similar to the one submitted back in June.
The Crook County Court will hold two public meetings to discuss the natural resources plan at the Crook County Courthouse on Monday, Nov. 6, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 9 a.m.
