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- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Archives Revels Classifieds Real Estate Menu Guide Wedding Weather Subscribe Contact Us July 21, 2005 Council changes forest rule Commission requirement that at least one member must own forest land is tossed out By Vickie Aldous Ashland Daily Tidings The Ashland City Council has eliminated the requirement that at least one member of the Forest Lands Commission be a forest land owner. The council adopted the change at the request of the Forest Lands Commission at a Wednesday meeting. Ashland Fire & Rescue Chief Keith Woodley, who provides city staff assistance to the volunteer commissioners, said they wanted to eliminate the requirement so the mayor — who appoints commission members with council approval — could have a larger pool from which to pick someone with expertise. Ashland resident and forest land owner Bill Robertson formerly had served on the commission, but Mayor John Morrison did not reappoint Robertson to another term on the commission. Robertson’s seat has been vacant since April 30, according to Nancy Slocum, a city clerk who records minutes for the commission. Morrison had proposed appointing resident Daniel Maymar, who lives near forest lands but is not a forest lands owner. The change in the membership rules for the commission paves the way for Morrison to appoint Maymar, who like Robertson, believes logging of commercially sized trees can be an appropriate method for reducing fire risk and improving forest health. Robertson has an outspoken style and was a vocal proponent of commercial logging while on the commission. He frequently pushed fellow commissioners to take action to thin city forest lands that had suffered from crowding and insect infestation. The city commercially thinned 183 acres of city-owned forest lands above Lithia Park in 2004 after the commission and city council unanimously approved the project. But possible logging of the city’s Winburn Parcel higher in the Ashland Watershed could prove more contentious. In an interview prior to his current hospitalization following a Sunday motorcycle accident, Morrison said he believes Maymar will be able to work well with other commissioners. Morrison previously had only publicly said he did not reappoint Robertson because he wanted to rotate new members onto city commissions, committees and boards. Morrison said appointing Maymar would preserve diversity on the commission since Maymar believes commercial logging can be a useful tool. Some members on the commission, which includes representatives of local environmental groups, are more hesitant to use logging. “I’m sure there are some Forest Lands Commission folks who don’t want to do any logging,” said Maymar, a real estate broker with a forestry background. “I think it should be an option.” He said he believes the 2004 thinning project achieved the desired results, although it was a little bit late in being implemented. Commissioners took six years to develop the detailed thinning plan that targeted dry, insect-infested areas with heavier logging while employing a lighter touch on city lands that are more moist and healthy. Morrison appointed Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center staff member Joseph Vaile to the forest lands commission in June to fill another vacancy. Morrison said he believes Vaile, like Maymar, is able to work respectfully with others who have competing views. Along with Vaile and Maymar, environmental activist and logging opponent Eric Navickas had applied to fill one of the two vacancies. In other business, the council: • Made the council representative to the forest lands commission a liaison rather than a non-voting member • Referred a detailed list of proposed Mt. Ashland Ski & Snowboard Resort expansion safeguards to city legal staff for an opinion • Increased fire protection plan review and inspection fees • Indicated support for renewing the Ashland Gun Club lease on city land if the Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission can negotiate with the club to address clean-up issues, preservation of historic mineral springs facilities on the site and neighbors’ concerns about noise. Staff writer Vickie Aldous can be reached at 482-3456 x3018 or [email protected]. DailyTidings.com Home Page Archives | Revels | Classifieds | Real Estate Guide | Weather | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2005 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Deep Muscle Stimulator Ceramic Piggy Banks FREE Entertainment Guide Women's & Men's Slippers Accelerate Weightloss Products Backpacks Online Pharmacy Vegas Travel Guide Search Engine Optimization Student Loans Hotel & Airline Reservations Hammocks Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Online Casinos Community Bonus Casino Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Mailing Lists Click Here Advertisement .:Advertisements:. Site Search: RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams