Dodge City Land Use Convention Notes

By Donna Singer

NOTES FROM MEETINGS HELD WITH KNRC IN KANSAS -- MARCH 29-30,   2017

Taken by Donna Singer

Jim Carlson:  KNRS Goal:  Change America:  The organization has accepted a vision to change America back to what it was supposed to be.

 ~~Congressional Research Act:  Purpose is: Changing laws back to Real America.

 Re-establish a government “of, by, and for the people.  All people – not just the rich.

Power should flow from the bottom to the top---Not the Top to the bottom.

Yesterday an Executive Order was developed to get rid of the E.P.A.  Environmentalists no longer  have power or authority.  We need to be gate keepers.  We have to do the work to make positive changes.  (He is the one who encouraged us to write to those 29 DOI people)

Trent Loose:    Linger on language we use to communicate!

Take information home and communicate with local people in a way they understand.  Current Executive Orders are creating a great opportunity to change and make changes.  We must be engaged to make a Difference.

We need to develop and support a Representative Republic that depends on local input: individual input,  County and State Input.

Karen Budd-Falen:  Develop a guide for Local Influence on Federal Decisions (applause) Karen worked on Transition Team on Trump’s election with Transition as a Motto.  We need to push on all levels of Federal administration

Don’t go Home and Do Nothing       Write to the 29 Dept. of Interior people e-mailed this week)

Local governments will have significant influence on Change.

Local governments must be ready and DOING something

            Look at: Agencies, Manuals, Handbooks:  Review and make changes. Use Task Lists

Main Statutes To Become very familiar with:

  National Environmental Act – Statutory Authority and Federal Land Agency

Consistency Review:  If local government has a land issue policy, Federal Agency MUST reconcile any inconsistencies.  Caveat:  Local government can’t violate Federal law.  But otherwise, local laws take precedence.

1.     VISION:  Local Environment and Culture and economy

a.     Define the local Environment

b.     Determine what you want to see in local environment

c.      Resource utilization

d.     Management Plans

     

2.     CUSTOM AND CULTURE    =    Who We Are

a.      Local people and local Government processes

b.     Examine Jobs, Recreation, Shopping, Hunting, etc. that is important       

and common to area.

c.      Determine local tax base:  Forecast impact on tax base by local             

Government

d.     Introduce policies based on Data.   Reconcile County and state policies

e.     Demand legal rights to consistency and results:  Environmental, Cultural, and Land use policies with Accurate Descriptions and Consistency Reviews

MEET WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES CONSISTENTLY

      Develop Relationships!!

--Come up with ways that will work for local people and meet  federal and state  policies.

COORDINATION PROCESS:   Using relationships with other entities that would be impacted.  How can each organization provide input and support? Solve the problem locally. 

Cooperating Agency = The Local government!!  Charged with protecting local people and communities.  Coordination of tools of each Government / Public/Private Entity

              God gives Us Rights

Constitution was set up to keep the government from taking People’s Rights.  It binds all Federal agencies.  Currently,  Federal Agencies can do anything that is not prohibited by law. It should be individuals can do anything.    Ask “What statutes supports what a government agency is doing..” 

Intent of the Bill of Rights :  To Protect the individual and their private property and their individual Rights.  This is our Chance to Make It Right----If we don’t Take Action, We will lose the Chance.  Develop a Local Work Plan.  If funding for the plan comes from the Federal or State Government, the plan must follow Environmental Policies.

FEMA:  Define Custom and Culture:

History of the Area

·       WHAT DO THE LOCAL PEOPLE DO

·       Description of the local people over time

·       Current Use of land by local people

·       Benefits to the land by the rotation of utilization and cattle rotation, minimizing fire hazards with rotation of grazing, and Sacred use of herbs, berries, and firewood by generations of Native people.

·       How will this be affected by federal regulation or action?

Federal agencies have hi-jacked “environment” in many areas with National Monuments using Environmental Impact as a threat.    But desecration has increased in these designated areas  significantly .

                                   

If a local/County Sheriff is elected by the people, this individual has number one authority over Federal agents in Counties.     Check Old Records How will this affect Federal Agency policy?   Currently, FLPMA seeks to control land use by stripping away local control.