*Colorado OHV Grant Program Has Been Ambushed!!*
*BLUERIBBON COALITION URGENT ACTION ALERT!
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED*
Dear BRC members, supporters and action alert subscribers,
Behind closed doors, without any opportunity for the people who fund the OHV
program to comment, the outgoing Director of the Department of Natural
Resources decided to propose drastic changes be made to the manner in which
Colorado's OHV program is managed. *It is very likely that if successful,
similar changes will be made to Colorado's Snow Fund.*
*This is a extremely dangerous situation for Colorado's OHV and snowmobile
community.*
In cooperation with our partners over at the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle
Coalition (COHVCO <http://www.cohvco.org/>), BRC is asking all of our
members and supporters to read the action alert below and take action by May
7, 2010.
Please pass this important alert on to your friends and family, and please
ask them take action as well.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact BRC.
Thanks in advance for your support,
Brian Hawthorne Ric Foster
Public Lands Policy Director Public Lands Department Manager
208-237-1008 ext 102 208-237-1008 ext 107
------------------------------
*BLUERIBBON COALITION URGENT ACTION ALERT!
The Colorado OHV Grant Program Has Been Ambushed!!
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED*
*SITUATION:*
Outdoing DNR director Jim Martin has directed staff to ignore moderate
changes supported by OHV users, department staff and most other key
stakeholders that were presented at the March, 2010 Parks Board meeting and
instead is attempting to force through changes designed to wrest control of
the program from the OHV subcommittee.
The changes the outgoing Director is proposing mirrors those being pushed by
extreme anti-OHV and snowmobile groups. Their plan is to change the make up
of the OHV subcommittee to make OHV users a permanent minority. Changes
include adding 3 non-motorized members to the 9 member committee and
changing the rules so that any project can be stopped by a minority 3 votes.
Changes would also drastically reduce the ability for the Program Manager
(in this case Tom Metsa) and the Trail Coordinators to influence projects
funded by the OHV program. Changes also would mandate certain percentages of
grants to go to enforcement, education and restoration.
*WHAT YOU NEED TO DO *
There are two options for Colorado's OHV and snowmobile community. The State
Parks Board will be reviewing the new proposal at their upcoming Board
Meeting on May 7 at 8:50am in Woodland Park. One option is to attend the
meeting and make your views known directly at that meeting. The meeting is
at the City Council Chambers, 220 W. South Ave. in Woodland Park, CO. The
OHV issue will be addressed at 8:50 am. (Please arrive by 8:30am.)
The other option is to send your comments to the Parks Board via email.
Members of the Parks Board are receiving comments on the proposal via email
sent to the office of the Executive Director. The email address is
trails@state.co.us
Send your comments to:
Dean Winstanley, Colorado State Parks Executive Director
Colorado State Parks Board
trails@state.co.us
*BLUERIBBON COALITION URGENT ACTION ALERT!
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED*
Dear BRC members, supporters and action alert subscribers,
Behind closed doors, without any opportunity for the people who fund the OHV
program to comment, the outgoing Director of the Department of Natural
Resources decided to propose drastic changes be made to the manner in which
Colorado's OHV program is managed. *It is very likely that if successful,
similar changes will be made to Colorado's Snow Fund.*
*This is a extremely dangerous situation for Colorado's OHV and snowmobile
community.*
In cooperation with our partners over at the Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle
Coalition (COHVCO <http://www.cohvco.org/>), BRC is asking all of our
members and supporters to read the action alert below and take action by May
7, 2010.
Please pass this important alert on to your friends and family, and please
ask them take action as well.
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please contact BRC.
Thanks in advance for your support,
Brian Hawthorne Ric Foster
Public Lands Policy Director Public Lands Department Manager
208-237-1008 ext 102 208-237-1008 ext 107
------------------------------
*BLUERIBBON COALITION URGENT ACTION ALERT!
The Colorado OHV Grant Program Has Been Ambushed!!
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED*
*SITUATION:*
Outdoing DNR director Jim Martin has directed staff to ignore moderate
changes supported by OHV users, department staff and most other key
stakeholders that were presented at the March, 2010 Parks Board meeting and
instead is attempting to force through changes designed to wrest control of
the program from the OHV subcommittee.
The changes the outgoing Director is proposing mirrors those being pushed by
extreme anti-OHV and snowmobile groups. Their plan is to change the make up
of the OHV subcommittee to make OHV users a permanent minority. Changes
include adding 3 non-motorized members to the 9 member committee and
changing the rules so that any project can be stopped by a minority 3 votes.
Changes would also drastically reduce the ability for the Program Manager
(in this case Tom Metsa) and the Trail Coordinators to influence projects
funded by the OHV program. Changes also would mandate certain percentages of
grants to go to enforcement, education and restoration.
*WHAT YOU NEED TO DO *
There are two options for Colorado's OHV and snowmobile community. The State
Parks Board will be reviewing the new proposal at their upcoming Board
Meeting on May 7 at 8:50am in Woodland Park. One option is to attend the
meeting and make your views known directly at that meeting. The meeting is
at the City Council Chambers, 220 W. South Ave. in Woodland Park, CO. The
OHV issue will be addressed at 8:50 am. (Please arrive by 8:30am.)
The other option is to send your comments to the Parks Board via email.
Members of the Parks Board are receiving comments on the proposal via email
sent to the office of the Executive Director. The email address is
trails@state.co.us
Send your comments to:
Dean Winstanley, Colorado State Parks Executive Director
Colorado State Parks Board
trails@state.co.us
