LAWRENCE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING – January 4 ...

UTILITY PERMIT: Moved-Seconded (Flanagan-Weisenberg) to approve and authorize theChairman to sign the Utility Permit for SDN Communications on Terry Peak Summit Rdapproximately 3.5 Miles from Hwy 14A for construction of communications cable. MotionCarried.EXECUTIVE SESSION: 8:31 a.m. Moved-Seconded (Ewing-Sleep) to go into executive sessionwith Dick Birk and Bruce Outka to discuss personnel issues. Motion Carried. 8:51 a.m. The Boardopened for regular business with no action taken.USFS / MOUNTAIN PINE BEETLE: Rhonda O’Byrne, NH District Ranger was present todiscuss the Mountain Pine Beetle tree removal on Spearfish Mountain and planning and activities inLawrence County. O’Byrne stated they hope to get the contract sold summer of 2012 for SpearfishMountain. The Board expressed concerns that action needs to be taken now and can’t wait untilanother flight takes place. Ewing and Flanagan asked if other agencies and individuals were able tohelp out financially and physically could action be taken this year. Ewing asked O’Byrne to givethem the "blessing to help (the USFS)". O’Byrne stated she will need to check into this option. BillCoburn, Timber Committee also stated action needs to be taken now. Dave Heck, Invasive SpeciesManagement stated that if all landowner’s would ask the Forest Service if they could cut the buginfested trees within 100-500 feet of their property line a lot of bug trees could be taken care of.SPEARFISH CANYON COALITION: Bill Coburn was present to speak on behalf of theSpearfish Canyon Coalition. Coburn stated this is a fight for the Community and they want toconvince the Forest Service that it is worth the fight.Moved-Seconded (Ewing-Flanagan) to approve and adopt the following RESOLUTION #2011-26A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE SAVE SPEARFISH CANYON COALITION and join thegroup: WHEREAS, the Lawrence County Commission understands and appreciates the importanceand beauty of the existing forest in Spearfish Canyon to the county and Northern Black Hills,WHEREAS, the County Commission recognizes the destructive impact that the current infestationof the Mountain Pine Beetle is having on the region, WHEREAS, the County Commissionunderstands the importance of working together with other groups and agencies for the commongood, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Lawrence County Commission requeststhat the US Forest Service and the State of South Dakota work closely with the willing partners tosave Spearfish Canyon's pine forest from the devastating infestation of Mountain Pine Beetles. Be itfurther resolved that the Lawrence County Commission agrees with and supports the Strategy Planfor mitigating mountain pine beetle in Spearfish Canyon developed by the Save Spearfish CanyonCoalition. The goal and the 9 objectives of that plan are: Goal: Minimize the Impact of the CurrentMountain Pine Beetle Epidemic in Spearfish Canyon Objective 1: Develop Coalition of InterestedParties who desire to Protect Spearfish Canyon. Objective 2: Convince the USFS that SpearfishCanyon is worth trying to save from deforestation by Mountain Pine Beetle. Objective 3: Identifyother surrounding landowner(s) to work with to remove infested trees. Objective 4: Develop aStrategy Map for Treating the Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation for Spearfish Canyon. Objective 5:Keep the existing Mountain Pine Beetle population from enlarging their numbers. Objective 6:Inspect and identify all new infested trees. Objective 7: Be proactive in stopping the largeinfestations from moving into the canyon. Objective 8: Establish a plan to protect identified special