News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
The land swap proposal involves about 250 acres now owned by the U.S. Forest Service adjacent to the middle/high school and some county land between Sisters and Bend and more land in La Pine area.
All three commissioners voted January 29 to initiate the exchange despite opposition largely focusing on the need to protect Peck's penstemon, one of 15 or more penstemon species in the region.
Botanists and Forest Service officials estimated that 10 percent of the entire Peck's penstemon habitat lies on the acreage involved in the exchange, mostly near Trout Creek which courses along the northern end of the parcel. The land the school district might acquire is on the south end, adjacent to school property and along McKenzie Highway.
Peck's penstemon is not officially listed as endangered or threatened, but opponents of the exchange have expressed concern that further encroachment on the habitat could lead to Peck's penstemon being declared endangered.
Former Sisters District Ranger Karen Shimamoto told the commissioners that the agency's plant monitoring budget is limited.
Commissioner Linda Swearingen said perhaps the forest service doesn't want to deal with the plant.
Commissioner Nancy Schlangen said, "I believe we (the county) could protect the land better than the forest service at this point."
Swearingen and Commissioner Bob Nipper agreed.
The protection plan sought by the commission would cover about nine acres along Trout Creek, the area deemed most sensitive for the flower.
The 80 acres on the opposite end of the property have been mentioned as a potential site for a future Sisters middle school. Sisters middle school students are currently combined in the middle/high school which at present is 5 percent over capacity.
Howard Paine of Sisters opposed the land exchange. He said the current high school building is designed to be enlarged, inferring that no additional land is needed. He also argued that forest management should be left in the hands of the forest service.
The land exchange was proposed "a few years ago" by members of the Sisters School Board, according to school superintendent Steve Swisher.
Swisher said there is not much land available in the area for additional schools and that, while there is no immediate plan for the exchanged property, it is important to have land available when the district expands its facilities.
He noted that the 30 acres presently owned by the district on the north side of the industrial park cannot be used for schools because of a Federal Aviation Administration ruling that the property is in the airport approach.
Swisher said the 30 acres could be sold as industrial land and the proceeds used to purchase school furnishings, computers and supplies, a significant revenue source in light of restrictions imposed by Measure 47.
The measure, under present interpretations, would prohibit the use of bond money for anything other than buildings and built-in features -- not including furniture, computers, books and supplies.
With regard to the rare flower, Swisher said it is hoped the school may also acquire the 170-plus acres remaining in the exchanged parcel. He said it would be turned into an outdoor study area where Peck's penstemon and other plants would not be disturbed, but protected and studied by biology and other classes.
He said the school would develop only the 80 acres which contains no sensitive plant species.
Reader Comments(0)