Community activists have fought for months to preserve trees that are said to be interfering with operations of the Little River Airport, and as of Tuesday, the trees will live to see another day after the Mendocino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to consider alternative management plans of the nature parcel instead of harvesting the trees, for the time being.
However, the original issue still remains for the airport and day-to-day operations, which are apparently being disrupted by the trees themselves, along with people visiting the area which isn't fenced in, according to county officials.
"There is a need to separate the public from the operations area of the airport," Howard Dashiell, director of the Mendocino Department of Transportation, told the board. "It's not just a safety issue for people on the ground, but for the aircraft."
In August 2007, the board rejected received bids to harvest the area, and again in 2013 before appointing the Executive Office to solicit new bids.
On Aug. 12, Mendocino Forest Products came forward with the sole bid, and the board accepted it, meaning the timber harvest would proceed.
But at its Aug. 26 meeting, the board reconsidered to allow more time for conservation groups to work with the Board of Supervisors on a long-term management opportunity of the timber area at the airport, a request which was made by 2nd District Supervisor John McCowen, and 5th District Supervisor Dan Hamburg.
According to the board's agenda for Tuesday, Cal Fire filed a "major amendment" on Sept. 12, requiring an on-the-ground inspection of the site, which rules out any type of harvest at the location until 2015 at the earliest. Public comment on the amendment will be taken by Cal Fire until 5 p.m. Oct. 27.
On Tuesday, Board Chairman John Pinches said some of the trees that are causing safety concerns at the airport would likely need to be harvested in the future.
"As long as there is an understanding about that, I don't have a problem with this motion," Pinches said.
Citizen Linda Perkins, an advocate to keep the trees, spoke during public expression and seemed aware of the airport's concerns regarding the tree location.
"I'm hoping through this process we can resolve some of these safety issues," Perkins said.
With Tuesday's motion, McCowen and Hamburg are looking at establishing an ad hoc committee to oversee the Little River Airport project.
- Source: http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com
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