While Gunnison County Commissioners, Governor Hickenlooper and Senator Bennet urge BLM to defer the North Fork parcels from a planned December lease sale, Delta County Commissioners agreed yesterday to submit a letter expressing regret over the withdrawal of several upper North Fork parcels and encouraging the sale of thousands of acres, some close to Paonia’s watershed.
Twelve area residents attended the special meeting and pleaded with commissioners to send a message to BLM that they, at least, defer the sale until after the development of BLM’s Resource Management Plan. Many voiced feelings of disenfranchisement and under-representation. Commissioner Roeber said, “I take exception to the statements that we are not representing the North Fork. I live in the North Fork. I grew up in the North Fork and I don’t think most of the people there take the hardline stance of no development.”
The Town of Paonia asked commissioners to include the town’s comment letter along with the county’s letter. “We don’t mess around in their government, and they don’t mess around with ours,” said Commissioner Suppes.
READ THE DRAFT LETTER:
READ THE PAONIA LETTER: