DNR reschedules Beltrami Island public meeting for Feb. 17 (2005-01-13)
Citing the need to get better information and maps out to the public
about its motorized use proposal for the Beltrami Island State Forest, the
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is postponing its public
meeting in Warroad, which was scheduled to take place on Thursday evening,
Jan. 13 at the Warroad High School.
"Given the enormous public interest in this proposal and the frustration
we're seeing over our maps of the proposal, we really feel that some
additional time is needed to clearly explain what we're proposing and to
produce some better maps of the proposed routes before we hold a meeting,"
said Paul Swenson, Northwest regional director for the DNR. The DNR is
seeking specific comments and recommendations on the routes it has
identified for motorized use, which includes designations for
highway-licensed vehicles and off-highway vehicles (OHVs).
The meeting has been rescheduled for Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005 from 6:00 p.m.
to 9:00 p.m. at the Warroad High School, which is located at 510 Cedar
Avenue NW, Warroad, MN.
In addition to clarifying the mileages being proposed for different uses and
the reasons for the designations, DNR staff are already working to produce
new, cleaner versions of the maps and will make them available by Jan. 21
for public review. The new maps will be created at a better scale, will be
easier to understand, and will identify landmarks within the forest to
better orient users, according to Swenson.
Copies of the proposals, road and trail designation plans and all of the
related maps will be available at area DNR offices, select public libraries
and on the DNR Web site at:
www.dnr.state.mn.us/input/mgmtplans/
ohv/designation/status.html.
In order to accommodate the new information and meeting schedule, the public
comment period for the proposal has been extended.
The DNR will now accept public comments on the proposals until Feb. 28,
2005. Written public comments should be directed to Helen Cozzetto, DNR
Natural Resources Planner, 6603 Bemidji Avenue N, Bemidji, MN 56601; Fax:
(218) 755-4063;
helen.cozzetto@dnr.state.mn.us.
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