by Mike Miller, Stevensville
That gate on private property on a road that hasn’t been used in years isn’t hurting anyone.
There are public roads/trails on either side of that private property and above it on the other side of the state boundary line. No one’s desire, ability, or means to venture forth into the wilderness is being denied. Absolutely no one has been denied any wilderness experience whatsoever because of this gate on private property.
If anything, this gate is adding to the very wilderness you and others clamor about protecting and enjoying, for people, nature, and the animals. Think I’m wrong? Put a road through the wilderness these days and special-interest class-action lawsuits abound, even if an ‘environmental impact study’ is done. Seems to me if lazy people want another avenue to the wilderness (making less wilderness in the process!) all sorts of environmental studies need to be done: ground water impact, erosion concerns, noise impact, vegetation reduction impact, multiple endangered species considerations, increased pollution from increased traffic/road maintenance, the carbon offset and carbon monoxide increases, etc.
All of you would be singing a different tune if your private property and means to an income were being violated and invaded just so people could take a shortcut, and you sure complain about when the city/county/state jack up tax rates because they’re being asked to do more maintenance/repairs.
There are plenty or routes already to the wilderness that don’t run roughshod through people’s private property and business. Leave this be. If not, all you’re doing is setting a precedent for government to invade your own property, simply because ‘other people want it’.