12/03/2008: "Adding To Odlin Park"

(L to R: Rep. Jeff Morris; Councilman Bob Myhr; Rep. Dave Quall, and Councilman Alan Lichter -followed by Council elect Lovel Pratt- in Odlin Park)

It may be wet, and it may have been logged in 1990, but the San Juan County Land Bank and representatives of Odlin Park are joined by many in an effort to obtain land from the DNR (Department of Natural Resources) to increase the size of Odlin Park on Lopez.

The Land Bank has printed and distributed a brochure.pdf (2914\k file) on their desire to “purchase this land from the DNR with private and public monies for public, for nonmotorized recreational use by all.”

A field trip to the property on Monday (Dec 1, 2008) with state Representatives Dave Quall and Jeff Morris was set up by Councilman Bob Myhr. There was some gentle but persistent lobbying to obtain state financing to help move the sale of the land from DNR to the County.

The land, known locally as “Odlin South” is not untouched by man, or by the government. The DNR logged the land in 1990, and today it still shows the scars of the operation to remove the timber to help fund schools in the state.

Now that the land no longer has timber value, the DNR would like to sell it. The timber value may be gone, but for others the land still environmental and recreational value. There are wetlands, a stream, and a rare but large aspen stands of trees.

The two state representatives seemed willing to help, but stated the obvious problem of where to find state money to help in the purchase. Morris said there may be some money that was to be used for another project that may not happen, and perhaps it could be a used. In response to a general question on the state budget -and where will more money come from- Quall said “we have already taxed everything we can…”

Myhr said it was possible that the model used to purchase Turtleback on Orcas could be used to obtain the money needed to acquire Odlin South. In the Turtleback case, both public and private groups, and a number of private donors. all worked together to purchase the land.