Citizen Report has just obtained a letter from the website of oil mogul, Forrest Lucas’ “Protect the Harvest” organization, allegedly written by former Delta County Commissioner Olen Lund in which he asks Lucas for help defending a continuing lawsuit brought on by local farmer and veterinarian, Dr. Susan Raymond. While it’s no secret that Lund was on the board of the Delta Farm Bureau during his last few years as county commissioner, what’s not clear is whether those ties may have influenced the 2012 county commissioner’s decision to approve a change of land use for a commercial egg-laying facility in a rural-residential part of Hotchkiss.
Written on Delta Farm Bureau letterhead, Lund describes the events following the 2012 decision and asks Lucas for financial help. Lund writes, “You have heard about the legal situation involving the Western Slope Layers, LLC owned by Edwin and Eileen Hostetler in Delta County, Colorado. Help is still needed, not only in the form of financial aid, but also help to get the word out to people about how it affects them and their right to farm. …”
“Delta County Farm and Livestock Bureau and Colorado Farm Bureau fought the first verdict aggressively as it brought into question the infringement on private property rights and the Delta County and State of Colorado Right to Farm ordinances and statutes. Several amicus briefs supporting the chicken house were filed with the court by entities ranging from Colorado Farm Bureau and Western States Legal Foundation to the State of Colorado Department of Public Health and the Colorado Department of Agriculture.”
“Some $750,000 in legal fees have accrued so far in this legal battle to preserve private property rights and the rights of a family to raise chickens on their property. Their employment of best management practices seems to be irrelevant as the legal case continues to drag on and the legal bills pile up.”
Then county commissioners defended their decision to allow the operation, despite both the Area Planning Committee and the Planning Commission recommendations to deny the application, believing the county specific development processes failed to address critical issues such as health impacts and use compatibility with the surrounding area.
Dr. Raymond, who’s civil case started this week in District Court, has long contended that Lund should have recused himself from all county decisions concerning the Hostetlter application which was approved while he was serving as commissioner. Mr. Lund and county attorney, Jin Ho Pack, are reported to be in gallery during the proceedings, while several county employees involved in the 2012 decision have been subpoenaed to testify.
KVNF Photo
Read the entire letter: support-letter-Protect-The-Harvest-2
Thanks for reporting the otherwise unreported. The county commissioners have been all-in on this so it’s no surprise to see Lund pulling on the rope. Are commissioners obligated to be “neutral” in their beliefs or efforts?
susan Raymond is a big trouble maker and lund only does things that benefits himself.so there is a problem.