County Lands, Agriculture and Forestry Committee

Joseph Allen

Bernie Blackmore Chairman

Eugene Dawson

Minutes

February 03, 2003

Members Present:

Bernie Blackmore, Joe Allen, and Gene Dawson

Members Absent:

None

Staff Present:

Howard Yamaguchi

Others Present:

Mike Meriwether, Janet Person, Russ Blasdell, Jack White, Laura Stanek, Chris Howser, Don Schuiteman, Jim Wilson, Ken Stead, and Patricia Drollinger

1.         Meeting called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Bernie Blackmore.

2.         Little League Field

Don Schuiteman briefed the County Lands Agriculture and Forestry (CLAF) committee about the letter from the Bellaire Village to the County requesting a lease of a 6-acre block of property behind the proposed Animal Shelter, where the decommissioned sewage lagoons are currently located.  The Village would lease the property from the County, and the Village would in turn allow the Little League to use the field.  The Bellaire Rotary Club will work with the Little League to raise funds for construction of two Little League fields.  The location is ideal because of the existence of a walkway from the Village to the rear of the property.

In response to questions from Bernie Blackmore, Gene Dawson and Russ Blasdell, Mr. Schuiteman stated that the Village was well aware of the need to provide parking.  Most of the games will be in the evenings in the summer, so no lighting is necessary, and it is anticipated that after-workday Animal Shelter parking space can accommodate parking needs.  Ken Stead noted that parking was always a concern with the Village, and the need was stressed for a parking lot on the same side of M-88 as the baseball fields.  In the event of a reversion of the lot to the County, the Village investment would have been not much more than water supply and other minor facilities to the site. 

Bernie Blackmore requested the architectural drawings for the site to review together with the Animal Shelter drawings.  Howard will provide Mr. Schuiteman with a copy of the Animal Shelter site plan, and Mr. Schuiteman will incorporate the data into the drawings of the proposed fields for discussion at next month’s CLAF meeting.

3.         MCN Oil & Gas Lease

Chris Howser of MCN presented a proposal from MCN to CLAF and the Board of Commissioners. This proposal would provide access to a pipeline from properties lying to the south of Stover Road along the south end of the Jabara property (Cedar River Natural Area [CRNA]).  The proposed alignment of the buried gas pipe would use a strip of land 25 feet from the Stover Road right-of-way (ROW) along Stover Road (on the County land side) for eventual connection of an existing well to the north and east of the Cedar River Natural Area, and would necessitate a buried pipe crossing across Cedar River outside County land.  Mr. Howser indicated the proposed alignment on a map.

Responding to Bernie Blackmore, Laura Stanek voiced her opposition to this proposal on grounds that the Jabara purchase mandates that CRNA be kept in a natural state.  Mike Meriwether noted that the pipe would cross the pine plantation portion of the CRNA.  He also noted that he was not familiar with the deed restrictions stipulated in the Jabara property transaction.  He will research the deed restrictions using information provided by Howard (originally meant for use in developing the resource plan for the CRNA).  Mike felt that the biggest opposition would center around the Cedar River crossing proposal.

Laura Stanek and Chris Howser discussed the nature of the adjacent landowners’ opposition to the proposal.  Jack White noted that Abdeen Jabara had some agreements with the Land Conservancy.  Joe Allen noted that some gas pipeline alignments use public road ROWs, so this prohibition was confusing.  Mike Meriwether noted that historically Board of Commissioners has allowed pipeline easements if there were no environmental concerns, and if neighbors all supported the project.

Bernie Blackmore then stated that the matter would be tabled until next month’s meeting, by which time Mike Meriwether or staff will have researched deed restrictions.  In the meantime, Chris Howser will send alignment plans (and river crossing details) to CLAF.

4.         Ritt Road Timber Sale

Mike Meriwether briefed the new commissioners on the role of the Antrim Conservation District in managing the County’s forestry program.  Ongoing projects include Hawke Lake pine sale, Vandermark Road firewood cutting, Ritt Road timber stand improvement and sale, Valley Road pine sale, Skaff Property management plan, and Jabara Property management plan.  Mike noted that Janet Person and Jack White opened bids for the Ritt Road timber sale, as CLAF was not yet organized at the time of the bid opening.  Bids were: Silver Leaf (Elmira): $5,300; Lake Forest (Mancelona): $13,301; Paris Sawmill (Paris): $13,721; and Janes Golf (Vanderbilt): $650.  The contract was awarded to Paris.

5.         Mark Bryan Property

Mike Meriwether briefed CLAF on a purchase opportunity for a 40 ac parcel on Lewis Road, contiguous to an 80-acre landlocked county forest property.  The GT Land Conservancy is not interested in this hardwood stand.  Owner will ask for $80K on the open market, will sell to County for $60K.  This purchase will not gain access to the existing 80 county-owned acres.  There will be no timber value until 25 or so yrs in the future (after area re-planted).  Mineral rights will not come with property.

Joe Allen noted that $60,000 is high for a landlocked, stripped property with no mineral rights.  Laura Stanek suggested purchase if price were lower.  Jack White opined that even so, the price is high.  Gene Dawson agreed that the price seems high, but with fewer public lands available, we should take the opportunity.

Motion by Gene Dawson, supported by Bernie Blackmore, to recommend to the Board of Commissioners to offer Mr. Mark Bryan $40,000 toward the purchase of a 40-acre forest property adjacent to the 80-acre county forest land. Yea:  Blackmore, Dawson.  Nay:  Allen.  Motion Passed, 2-1.

6.         Member/Public Comment

Howard briefed CLAF on upcoming master plan activities in subject areas under CLAF’s purview.

Jack White discussed need to save funds for purchase of less marginal areas.  Laura Stanek briefed CLAF on recent activities by the state and individual oil and gas rights lessors to investigate MCN and other oil/gas company dealings.

Meeting adjourned at 10:40 a.m.