Resource plan group reactivated

Kevin Chamberlain and Dennis Hildebrand were present at the meeting of the Mineral County Commissioners on Friday to discuss reactivating the Resource Use Plan Group.

If reactivated, the group would then update the Resource Use Plan – a document used to set the tone of where county commissioners stand in matters of public land.

“The teeth it has is based on the counties desire to enforce it,” Chamberlain said. “And what we are here today to ask is, is this something the commission is willing to consider.”

Hildebrand elaborated on the document, stating that the original was composed by a group of 11 people with the help of others about nine years ago.

Based on the original document and what the group learned when they disseminated the document to various government agencies, Hildebrand said the group wants to rework the plan.

“It is nine years old and we think it is time to look at the nuances of the plan and figure out where to make changes if we need too,” Hildebrand said.

Chamberlain elaborated that the service the group was offering was information to help the commissioners make informed decisions when it came to public land.

After discussion on the history and specifics of the plan, Commissioner Roman Zylawy said it seemed the commissioners were all in favor of reactivating the group and asked Chamberlain what the “best route” would be to take.

“We want to open it (the group) up (through newspaper ads) so it is a public process rather than someone thinking it’s a good old boy in the closet thing,” Chamberlain said. “We’d get it out in the open, get those that want to be a part of it and then you guys can dwindle it down how you want.”

Chamberlain added that the meetings would be public and ideally the group will have 11 members.

“Once we have a group we will meet with you (the commissioners) and see what you want in your resource use plan,” Chamberlain said.

Commissioner Zylawy then made a motion to reactivate the Resource Use Plan Group, which was approved unanimously by the county commissioners.

The current version of the plan is available on the Mineral County website.