Otero County commissioners terminate 3 contracts with Lincoln National Forest

Otero County Commissioners have terminated three contracts with the Lincoln National Forest and opted out of scheduling a town hall meeting to discuss the termination of the contracts with forest officials. During Thursday's commission meeting, District 3 Commissioner Ronny Rardin said he was opposed to holding a town hall meeting with the USFS. "I have no desire to meet with the Forest Service any further than I already have," Rardin said." Otero County Commissioners have terminated three contracts with the Lincoln National Forest and opted out of scheduling a town hall meeting to discuss the termination of the contracts with forest officials. During Thursday's commission meeting, District 3 Commissioner Ronny Rardin said he was opposed to holding a town hall meeting with the USFS. "I have no desire to meet with the Forest Service any further than I already have," Rardin said. During July's commission meeting the commissioners had considered severing all working contracts with the USFS. The commission voted against severing all contracts with the Forest Service but agreed to take some contracts into consideration for possible termination. After the July meeting, the commission selected a few contracts to terminate with the USFS. Otero County Manager Pamela Helter said the commissioners decided to terminate three contracts with the Forest Service. The three contracts that are being terminated are: the Master Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) contract which was established Oct. 17, 2012; Two Goats Project established April 3, 2013 and Dale Resler Boys Scout Camp established July 24, 2013. Heltner sent a 30 day notice to Lincoln National Forest officials on July 30, 2014 that stated the county's intent to terminate the three contracts. The termination letter to the Lincoln National Forest Supervisor Travis Mosley states, "Otero County has tried diligently to work with the Forest Service on multiple issues and the Forest Service has not responded in a manner that we feel benefits the constituents of Otero County." Lincoln National Forest Sacramento District Ranger James Duran said the Forest Service is willing to work with the commission in the future to try and arrange a meeting. Rardin said meeting with the Forest Service in the past hasn't paid off and he doesn't expect it will be any different in the future. Rardin said prior meetings about issues the county has had with the Lincoln National Forest regarding water property rights were futile...more