Concerning the Oct. 20 article “Conservation Controversy” in the Cd’A Press by staff writer Brian Walker.

I am a resident of the Blue Creek/Yellowstone area, where the BLM and a group of mountain bikers have formed a proposal coalition to make changes that they have said will lower our property values if it is approved. The residents, when we got word of this happening, even with the BLM’S Kurt Pavlat claiming he mailed out “postcards” to us residents detailing this initial proposal that he spelled-out in a BLM 131 page booklet, during our first meeting at the firehouse, we ask for a show of hands who received “postcards” and out of over 100-plus in attendance, about 5 or 6 hands were held up. That certainly doesn’t indicate much of an effort to advise the populace. We only had one copy of the proposal at this meeting and some of us now have additional copies to refer.

Since that first meeting of local residents, we have had two additional meetings and both have been well attended by 100 plus expressing their thoughts and feelings, mostly against the BLM proposal for putting in “mountain bike” only trails on “public land.” There have been many negatives voiced to Mr. Pavlat since this proposal and we have also found out that out of the 6 BLM employees, two are members of “mountain bike” clubs, which constitutes a conflict of interest which Mr. Pavlat has denied. He said he wasn’t aware of any “mountain biker” employees when he was ask at our last (third meeting) at the firehouse.

As pointed out, the reason a committee was formed, the environmental assessment didn’t address the area residents concerns and the impact on our area wildlife, roads, water-shed, erosion, additional trash and participation control. Discounting the excessive traffic and parking in the two proposed parking lots, during daylight and after sun-down. Most of us who live in the area, purchased our property for a reason and not to be disturbed by out-of-area bikers. Most of us residents have some form of recreation we enjoy, horseback riding, hiking, jogging, bike riding, and observing the numerous types of wildlife.

Bringing in not just a few “mountain bike” riders, but once the trails are designated and posted “mountain bikes only,” the “mountain bikers” won’t be satisfied with only a few riding recreationally, but organizing bike tournaments and that will bring club groups crowding our narrow roads. Along with devaluing our properties, there will be much more trash and who is responsible for picking that up?

Mr. Pavlat has now added his “road concern” and will cooperate with our over-stretched East-Side Highway District to pursue federal highway grants to improve the highways in the area. The narrow winding roads in this area should already be covered with federal grants and take a beating during the winter months. How can Mr. Pavlat say the claim of conflict of interest is “categorically false” when he was asked if any of his employees were mountain bike riders and we have witnesses that his reply was “none that I’m aware of.” He knew then he had a couple of employees who rode “mountain bikes.”

During our three meetings there are other un-truths Mr. Pavlat has stated and changed some of his explanations as to the two parking lot sizes. First one would only accommodate 5 to 6 cars. Then he stated the proposal size of “one acre” was just to set a starting point. During the meeting at the amphitheater-crossroads, he stated the final decision would be made by him and his 5 employees. Now he’s claiming that he will be the only one to make the final decision. Apparently this affair will probably end up in litigation since Mr. Pavlat has had his mind made up from the first meeting. He’s going to show us that him and the BLM can do whatever they want, public land or not.

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Bill Singleton is a resident of the Blue Creek Bay area of Lake Coeur d’Alene