SHOSHONE: County decision a poor one

I would like to thank the Shoshone County Commissioners for the Christmas present they forced upon the people of Shoshone County and particularly, the St. Joe Valley. The present requires the taking away of our county property (40 acres) close to Calder. A place we take our kids sledding, snowmobiling, and snowshoeing in the winter, picnicking, hiking, and shooting in the summer and hunting in the fall.

For this functional land, the commissioners traded for 40 acres of extremely steep, logged off property up boulder Creek, which will never be used by the people. The Commissioners say it’s a good trade because of a very small (less than an acre) dumpsite used many years ago, making it a liability; a majority of the liability, the commissioners admit, will remain the county’s even after the land swap. If that was a serious concern, it could easily be dug up as we were developing the rock pit (the only county owned rock pit on this side).

This came up a couple of years ago and was put aside for whatever reason (votes possibly) and doesn’t mean diddlysquat now that two commissioners are leaving (lame duck session). This is wrong, very wrong. This is Washington DC politics right here in our own county. We need to take a very, very close look at what is going on at the Shoshone County seat in the next few weeks and most of all remember who is responsible.

TOM WEEMS

Calder