October Tricks / Treats ~~ Bear Essentials Oct. 24, 2019

Life in the Rural West

~~Possible Fallout from the "BIG Little Question" on Nov. Ballot

By Bill Keshlear

"However, any eventual change brought about in good faith across party lines could foster a sense of electoral fairness among all county residents – a crucial ingredient in bridging San Juan's monumental divide and successful governance. Democratic Party intransigence, real or perceived, could widen the divide even further than it already is."

"It's a countywide vote, and countywide votes don't go well for liberals in San Juan. The county remains deeply anti-monument and deeply conservative, even with a slight majority of Navajo residents (Here's an under-reported factoid: Navajos can be, and are, conservative and Mormon).

• Not one pro-Bears Ears National Monument candidate came even close to winning a majority of county votes in any race conducted across San Juan in November. For example, county voters handed pro-monument congressional candidate James Singer, a Navajo, a landslide loss. Same with Jenny Wilson versus Mitt Romney for U.S. Senate. Democrats didn't even field a candidate against Phil Lyman, the former county commissioner, in his bid for the Utah Legislature.
• Former commissioner Rebecca Benally, an anti-monument Navajo, lost a squeaker of a primary race last year to Kenneth Maryboy despite winning her district’s two Navajo majority precincts. Liberal voters in and around Bluff put him over the top.
• Tally up the total number of votes countywide that put Grayeyes and Maryboy on the commission. Those two pro-monument candidates got 2,022 votes; Kelly Laws and Bruce Adams got 2,354 (2,957 if you count the write-ins against Maryboy).
• The Aneth Chapter, the largest of the Utah Navajo chapters and the only one wholly within the state’s border, voted against monument designation. It also is closest to Bears Ears."

~~ The Real Question that Needs to be Asked in Presidential Debates:  What about the National Debt?

~~ Socialism has Failed in Every Country Where it's Been Tried

~~ Information ad In Navajo on KNDN  - Information on SJC Gov Study 

~~ County Citizens to Vote on Study Concerning Form of Government

~~ Whistle Blower Reinstated in Nevada Grazing Dispute

~~ Utah's Unemployment Rate Continues to Improve

~~ Judge Rules that Lyman Does Not Have to Increase Restitution Payments

"misdemeanor charge for illegal use of ATVs and conspiracy for organizing a 2014 protest ride through a canyon."

~~ People of All Faiths Invited to Show up for Sabbatt to Show Unity Against Hate 

~~BLM Speeds OIl And Gas Leasing Despite Concerns 

~~ ACLU Claims Navajos Aren't Informed Regarding Ballot Issue

    Ryan Benally disagrees with article: "The county was at every chapter meeting...With TWO Navajo liaisons describing the election. Back in SEPTEMBER...."  

~~ County Officials Considering Tax Increase  San Juan Record

"Despite the fact that San Juan County is already the highest-taxed county in the state by percentage, a property tax increase of 22.9 percent is being considered by three separate entities associated with San Juan County."

~~ Liberals of America Want Public Lands Protected Via More Monuments

                           This is what happened instead: Graffiti at Moki Dugway 

~~ Where are Funds Coming From to pay for False Publicity like this?

~~ How to Handle Overcrowding In National Parks

~~  Moab City Officials Disagree with NPS, Hope to keep ATV's out of Arches

"A recent order by Acting Regional Director of the National Park Service, Palmer “Chip” Jenkins, to allow off-highway vehicles such as ATVs and UTVs into Utah’s national parks is positioned to possibly stall out when it is scheduled to go into effect Nov. 1."

~~ Moab Sun Times Writer, B. Blosser,  Disagrees with ATV's in Nat'l Parks

~~ Public Land Workers Face Assaults and Threats/ Montana

~~ Studies on Arches Traffic May Last through 2020

--------------------------

~~ Discussions / Decisions from Oct. 15  SJ Commission Meeting

 SAN JUAN COUNTY COMMISSION MEETING ADMINISTRATION BUILDING - COMMISSION ROOM AGENDA
                                                      October 15, 2019

  9:00 A.M. Work Meeting

1. Public Hearing - Mexican Hat Special Service District
a. Public Hearing to receive input from the public with respect to the issuance of the Water Revenue Bonds for the Mexican Hat Special Service District and the potential economic impact that the improvement, facility, or property for which the Bonds will pay all or part of the cost will have on the private sector.
2. Economic Development & Tourism Update Regarding Economic Diversification Summit & Tourism Tour - Natalie Randall, San Juan County Economic Development & Visitor Services Director
3. School District Briefing on SITLA and what it does for the School District - Kyle Hosler, San Juan School District
4. Road Department Procurement Request for Spreader - Ben Musselman, San Juan County Public Works Director
5. Jared Kropf Property Reassessment - Greg Adams, San Juan County Assessor
6. Lisbon Valley Mine Property Tax Pay Off Proposal - Greg Adams, San Juan County Assessor
7. Briefing on Potential Property Tax Increases - John David Nielson, San Juan County Clerk
8. Discussion of At Your Leisure State Parks 360 Trail Mapping Project - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
9. Proposed Manti-La Sal National Forest Plan Revision - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
10. Discussion of Utah Back Country Pilots Association Request - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
11. Public lands updates - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
12. Updates - Jerry McNeely, San Juan County Liaison

11:00 A.M. Commission Meeting

1. Approval of minutes - August 6, 2019
2. Citizens' comments to the commission* (Please complete the request form - available at the door)
3. Recognition - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
4. Approval of Jared Kropf Property Reassessment - Greg Adams, San Juan County Assessor
5. Approval of Lisbon Valley Mine Property Tax Pay Off Proposal - Greg Adams, San Juan County Assessor
6. Approval of Grant Application for County Road B127 La Sal Regarding Utah Federal Lands Access Program - Ben Musselman, San Juan County Public Works Director
7. Approval of Road Department Procurement Request for Spreader - Ben Musselman, San Juan County Public Works Director
8. Approval of proposed Manti-La Sal National Forest Plan Revisions - Nick Sandberg, San Juan County Planning
9. Ratify Approval of an Independent Contractor Agreement with Ricky Richardson for IT Repairs - John Fellmeth, San Juan County IT Director
10. Ratify Approval of the annual All Weather Inc. agreement for Aviation Support and Maintenance of Cal Black Memorial Airport - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
11. Ratify Approval of a Google Street View 360 Mapping Agreement - Mack McDonald, San Juan County Administrator
12. Ratify Approval of Notice to Residents Regarding Potential Property Tax Changes - John David Nielson, San Juan County Clerk
13. Consideration and Adoption of A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND AUTHORIZING SAN JUAN COUNTY TO PROVIDE FISCAL AGENT SERVICES FOR THE OLJATO CHAPTER DROUGHT ASSISTANCE GRANT
14. Consideration and Adoption of A RESOLUTION APPROVING AND UPDATING THE REMAINING REGULARLY SCHEDULED COUNTY MEETINGS AND MEETING LOCATIONS FOR THE 2019 ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULE PURSUANT TO SECTION 52-4-202 OF THE UTAH CODE.

~~ 

Digging Deeper for Solutions/ Bear Essentials 8/1/2019

Impacts on the West and San Juan County

San Juan River at Sunset by Jeri Maryboy

~~ San Juan County Fair Starts this Friday, Aug. 3

~~ Commissioners Vote to End Gerrymandering Appeal

~~ No Futher Action on Redistricting Appeal  KUER

~~ Supreme Court Decisions and Local Implications        

~~ Utah to Take More Prominent Role in Managing State    Forests

~~ Moab Bans New Lodging

~~Fowlks to lead Western Fish, Wildlife group

~~Bears Ears Summer Gathering

~~ Transfer of Fed BLM Office to the West: An Idea Whose Time Has Come 

"The BLM has never belonged in Washington DC. It manages 247 million acres, almost half of all public lands, and 700 million acres of mineral rights, with a unique mission. The National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, and Forest Service, for instance, all have very specific uses, but the BLM is tasked with managing its lands for multiple uses, in numerous categories and under a wide variety of laws.

That includes 18,000 grazing permits, 220 wilderness areas, 27 national monuments, 600 National Conservation Areas, 200,000 miles of streams, 2,000 miles of Wild and Scenic Rivers, 6,000 miles of National Scenic Trails, 63,000 oil and gas wells, 25,000 mines, and 50 million acres of forests. Not a square inch of that is in Washington, D.C. It is in 12 western states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. It has never made sense for the leadership to work 2,000 miles away, insulated by the inevitably different perspectives of life inside the Beltway."

~~  No Black and White Easy Solutions in San Juan County   Canyon Zephyr

~~ Native Woman Warns of Dangers of Socialism  Video

~~ Conservative Lawyer Named BLM Deputy Director of Policy 

"Pendley is a prolific author. Among his books is “Warriors for the West: Fighting Bureaucrats, Radical Groups, and Liberal Judges on America’s Frontier.” It chronicles the efforts of Western state leaders and residents to fight environmental laws, according to a profile of Pendley from the Property Rights Foundation of America.  Pendley is also wrote “War on the West: Government Tyranny on America’s Great Frontier” and “It Takes A Hero: The Grassroots Battle Against Environmental Oppression.”

~~ Moab/San Juan Needs a Truck Stop

~~ USDA To Help Fund Water System Upgrades in San Juan County

~~New Farm Bureau Agent in San Juan County

~~Photo/ Video Project Focuses on Navajo Shepherds

~~ Reliance on Foreign Mining/ Minerals Must End

~~ San Juan and Commissioners at at Monumental Divide  by Bill Keshlear

~~ Why We Can't Support Patagonia

~~ A "Hole" Lot of Problems with San Juan County Roads

~~ Getting to the Heart of the Recapture Canyon Debacle 

 . . ."I was interested in obtaining public documents related to the controversial “Recapture Canyon Protest Ride” on May 10, 2014. In fact, the story goes back even further, to 2006, when two San Juan County residents were accused and convicted of building an illegal ATV trail across public lands and damaging archaeological sites. The trail was closed by the BLM, subject to review.: Jim Stiles

~~ Grizzlies, Wolves, and Cattle Are a Poor Ecological Mix

~~ Environmental Groups Call for End of Uranium Waste in the West

~~ Federal Government Bungels Chaco Canyon Facility

~~ Environmentalists Blast SJC Bears Ears Management Plan

San Juan Record 7/31/2019

Tariffs, Tourism, Texas Tour, SLC Tribune in the News; 6/8/2019 Bear Essentials

Warm Weather Finally Arrives in San Juan

* Edge of the Cedars Museum -- A great place to visit

~~Recordings of 6/4/2019 commission meetings~~

* 20190604 Commission Work Mtg.MP3 - 6/4/19

* 20190604 Commission Mtg.MP3 - 6/4/19

* Supporting Documents of 6/4 Commission meeting

* Salt Lake Tribune Planning to Dump Newspaper Print Version 

*A Tour to the Texas/Mexico Border and What it Revealed

~~Utah Attorney General Reviewing SJ County Open Meeting Complaints

~~ Trump Returned Nat'l Monument Public Lands to Former Status 

~~ How Decent People Can Save America from the Culture of Contempt

~~Utah's New Energy Plan May Change US Energy Grid

~~ Peter Stirba an Advocate for Rural Conservatives in Utah

~~ Trump Tariffs Could 'Devastate' Outdoor Gear Companies

       ~~So Should we Care?? Remembering the Past:

                    ~~Outdoor Gear Companies Tried to Sabotage Utah 2017

                    ~~ Patagonia Leads Boycott in Utah Feb. 2017

    ~~ Deja' vu How Many Feel about Outdoor Gear Companies

~~Industrialized Tourism and its Impact on Moab  -- Canyon Zephyr June 2019

~~ Transfer of Power in San Juan Commission Makes for Rough Ride  Bill Keshlear

~~ Solar Panels also Produce Toxic Waste

~~Socialism: A Substitute for Community Self Governance?

Graphic by Devin Bayles Hancock@2017

The Deceitful Land "Protection" Network (2017 Revisited)

--Wyss Foundation and other Big Funders Seeking to Control Public Lands  by Bill Keshlear 2019

"William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, whose endowment is in the neighborhood of $10 billion, is apparently not a direct contributor to UDB. However, since 2006 the nonprofit has directed $5.225 million to Grand Canyon Trust, which has greatly assisted the Bears Ears project with organizational sophistication and communication expertise."

Other Businesses Working against Multiple Land Use :

ArtPlace America, Colorado Plateau Foundation, Conservation Lands Foundation

Patagonia, Inc. , Conservation Alliance, Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation

                       First Nations Development Institute, Community Foundation of Utah

Lush Cosmetics, Chaco Sandals, Wigwam, Marc Toso Photography

April Showers Concern over Committees and Commission ~~ Bear Essentials 4/26/2019

Reflections on the West

Book on Bears Ears Available  $40 -- Back and Beyond in Moab

 Reflections on Bears Ears

"The idea, however, that the federal government would simply take over land in the possession of others through a designation of a national monument is not unprecedented. Just south of Bears Ears, Canyon de Chelly National Monument is still disputed ground. The Park Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs maintain ambiguous control of the area rather than the Navajo Nation, despite the fact that none of the land is technically owned by federal agencies."

~~

KUER Assigns Reporter to Cover SE Utah

"Kate Groetzinger (Southeast Utah Bureau) is from Austin, Texas, where she is completing a master's degree in journalism at the University of Texas at Austin's Moody School of Journalism. She has worked for Austin’s NPR station, KUT, and her work has been published in the Texas Observer, The Austin Chronicle, Quartz, Rhode Island Magazine and Artsy. She has also worked for the Voces Oral History Archive at the University of Texas, collecting and preserving the stories of Latino/a civil rights leaders in Texas. She holds a degree in English from Brown University."  However, SJC remains gun-shy! 

~~

Amy Irvine Takes On Edward Abby: Interview by Andrea Ross

"Amy Irvine: We all objectify landscape—because we have this idea that it’s our church, our refuge, our aesthetic. We feel entitled to use it as a surface for recreation, or entertainment.       Our impacts on public lands is something that I don’t think the environmental community has not been very honest about. I want to take this moment to ask: What do we do now? We have to admit that we are loving the land to death. For example, the numbers of people flocking to the Bears Ears: it has no management plan in place. And the government’s been furloughed, so even if they could staff it, that’s not happening; nothing is in place to protect it. On such vast and vulnerable landscapes, we must better police ourselves."

~~

Senator Mike Lee Pod Cast: Rediscoverng the Declaration of Independence

"Abuses of federal power, including federal overreach and over-regulation, balance of power between the legislative and executive branches, along with issues within the judicial system are rampant. All the issues appear rooted in the neglect of the Declaration of Independence. Could rediscovering the declaration renew the nation and restore power to the people? Utah's senior senator, Sen. Mike Lee, explores the issue on this edition of "Therefore, What?"

~~

Three of the most Telling Failures of Socialism

1. Socialism has never succeeded anywhere --including the Marxism-Leninism of the Soviet Union, the National Socialism of Nazi Germany, the Maoism of Communist China, the Chavez-Maduro socialism of Venezuela. It has never come close to anywhere near Marx’s ideal of a classless society.

2. Marx has been wrong about nearly everything he predicted. The nation-state has not withered away. Capitalism didn’t break down as a result of the Industrial Revolution.

3. Socialism denies the existence of an essential human trait—human nature. Marx borrowed from the Enlightenment to declare that human nature was malleable, not constant. Christian theology with its idea of a fixed God-given nature infuriated Marx.

~~ Dry Wash Reservoir Pipeline Increases Amount and Distribution of Water

by Scoot Flannery: The expanded storage in Dry Wash Reservoir highlighted the need for a more efficient conveyance system from Dry Wash Canyon. That's when the Blanding Irrigation Company went to work. Funding was procured, permitting was completed, and the project was constructed during one of the driest years in memory... just in time for one of the best water years!

Although they didn't have to build a tunnel from Indian Creek to Johnson Creek, the work, effort, and volunteer time that went into this project is proof that the spirit of those who came before us is still alive today!

  (See article in Good News Blanding) 

 Video showing run off from Dry Wash April 22

Summary of April Meeting with State AG's Office 

By Cheryl Bowers, Blanding City Councilwoman: 

" - A quick update on the training with the Attorney General's office today in Monticello (April 23). I wanted to get this out in case anyone (like me) was waiting to see the results of this training before writing additional letters.

The Assistant Attorney General, Scott Cheney, and the Director of the Utah Records office conducted the training. They were both gracious and very helpful at answering questions.

1. Bruce Adams was the only commissioner there. I'm not sure why Commissioners Greyeyes and Maryboy weren't there, but they missed out on some good information. Kendall Laws and the new Assistant County Attorney were there, along with John David and a Spanish Valley resident (I believe her name is Ms. Fields).

2. They only emphasized two areas of concern: the Open Meetings Act (OMPA) and GRAMA requests.

Items most people may not be aware of:

(1. The Assistant AG's determination was that having 4-6 meetings a year in other parts of the county wasn't a violation of the law (to have "Occasional meetings" outside of the county seat). In fact, he recommended it.

(2. Texts received during the course of a commission or public meeting are subject to GRAMA requests and have to be produced if they were about county business. They recommended public officials don't text during a commission meeting as then it becomes public information.

(3. The Assistant AG recommended that during public comment, the Chair of the board allow back and forth discussion, including answering questions, so there is no misperception of secrecy. They recommended that if we have a concern about why, how or who initiated an issue, resolution, etc. that we ask that question during public comment and the public body should respond. (The Chair does still have the ability not to answer or to stop discussion that he believes is beyond time, etc.).

(4. I spent a lot of time on- two members of a public body meeting together as there will be change to this starting in July. The assistant AG, said that if the meeting (without proper public notice) meets the definition of OPMA then it can be a violation- Definition - "The convening of a public body with a quorum present, whether in person or electronic communications, for the purpose of discussing, receiving comments from the public about or acting upon a matter over which the public body or specific body has jurisdiction or advisory power."  (More information about Utah Open Meeting Act)

~~Advisory Committee for Bears Ears SL Tribune Version 

~~SJ Record Version of New Advisory Committee

Adams, Maryboy, and Greyeyes: SJC commissioners - KUER photo

~~Utah, Colo, and Ute Tribe Hope to Benefit from "Liquid" Assets

~~ Conflicts Voiced at April 23 County Commission Meeting

~~ Senator Mike Lee's Congressional Concerns  Live stream video

~~The Problem with Affluence (and Influence) in the New West by Stacy Young

"The New West is also where virtually every successful company that comprises what we might call the Recreation Industrial Complex (RIC) now primarily sells sanctimony and only secondarily sells the good or service that keeps its owners and executives well-fed. In a way, it’s an ingenious twist on Robinson Crusoe: we should speak only of our arduous journey toward self-actualization but, yeah, by the way, we also happen to be fabulously wealthy thanks to the Brazilian plantation we own.

In canyon country, specifically, we can observe how the RIC manufactured both the demand for “Bears Ears” and the satisfaction of that demand. In statistical terms, approximately no one seemed to need to visit “Bears Ears” before December 2016, but now every outdoor athlete with a shoe contract and a Personal Brand to burnish — an “influencer” in the postmodern vernacular — seems determined to make an Insta-pilgrimage to “Bears Ears” or to at least engage in a bit of slacktivism from afar. The hoi polloi cannot be far behind."  April Canyon Zephyr

~~ Opposing view on Spanish Valley Development by Kerry Behunin 

~~ Kelly Pehrson, County Administrator Gives Two Week Notice:

Pehrson will be the new Deputy Director over Utah Department of Agriculture and Food in Salt Lake City. The Petroglyph

~~ Moab is Drowning in Tourists --Why are they Advertising?

~~Big Money Funding the Environmental Left

~~Fossil Fuels and Sage Grouse: Interior Dept Targeted in Law Suit

~~ How Instagram Ruined the Great Outdoors

~~Development in Spanish Valley May be Halted

~~ James Adakai Letter to SL Tribune

SJ Commission, Legislation, and Litigation ~~ 2/15/19

News in the West

San Juan County Commission Meeting

Tuesday Feb. 19 -- Monticello

Bluff Town Hall Meeting  

John Curtis is hosting a Town Hall meeting on Thursday, March 21st and wants to hear your perspectives and feedback. Please join him at the Bluff Community Center from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Follow link to reserve ticket.

Follow Bills in the State Legislature

Lee and Romney See New Lands Bill Differently

State Legislature Considers Bills Impacting San Juan

San Juan Record Live News Coverage Feb. 13

Fired Editor Starts Indian Creek Observer

Canyon Echo Revives

Newest Edition of Canyon Zephyr

==================

Week-long Poll garnered 782 Responses

Asking Should San Juan County Be Divided? Results: 

 68% voted Yes, Divide

32% Voted No

         ==================

~~ Laws/Greyeyes Suit Appealed to Utah Supreme Court

~~Rep. Bishop Confront's Patagonia Falsehoods 

~~Aneth Shuts Down Maryboy's Effort to Change Position on Bears Ears

~~ 4X4 Event Raises Money for Public Land Use Organizations

~~Colorado Commissioners Environmental Lobbying Spurs Recall Effort 

~~States Deserve a Voice When Determining Endangered Species

~~Native Group Fights for Jobs and Wise Use of Resources

"National environmental groups Sierra Club and Grand Canyon Trust are behind the campaign to stop NTEC from acquiring Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine by spreading false information and pitting Diné against Diné. Their desire to close both facilities threatens the lifeblood of our Navajo Nation – our tribal sovereignty."

~~Twitter Senator Mike Lee

~~House Bill Would Expand Bears Ears Monument Back to 1.9 Million Acres

~~Despite $500 Million in State Benefits, Friends of Cedar Mesa Sues Over BLM Leases

~~Oil and Gas Lease Money Pose Contradictory Reactions

" Hypocrisy at work in Bluff? CIB (Community Impact Fund) money has been used by the Bluff Community for years, ALL of which comes from The Utah Permanent Community Impact Fund (CIB) which is 100% directly appropriated from [tainted?] Mineral Extraction on Federal lands and BLM lease royalties.

iRONICALLY, we learned this week that Bluff’s Friends of Cedar Mesa filed a lawsuit against the very federal oil and gas leases that help fund the CIB. Is this an example of "Biting the hand that feeds you? or a game of Extreme Double Dipping? 

Suggestion: Use the lawyer fees now being paid to Advocates for the West lawsuit, to pay for Bluff improvement projects, instead of draining tax payer's money from two directions for extreme no industry agendas. JW"             

Summary of Bluff CIB Projects below: 

~~ More Irony, New Green Deal Won't Allow Mining of Required Minerals

"The Green New Deal proposes a massive expansion in the use of renewable energy technologies that rely on critical minerals we are not allowed to mine in the United States."

~~Conflict over Canal Roads/ vs "Urban Trails" in Colorado

~~LaPlata Commissioners At Odds With Ranchers/ Farmers

~~Vultures: the Emerging Federally Protected Livestock Scourge 

~~ Urban Vultures Use SL Tribune to Attack Representative Phil Lyman

~~ Four Corners Free Press:  Overview on Greyeyes Hearing