Failing grade on trail plan

I would like to address my comments to the manager of the STA/US Forest Trail Project. I do not know who that manager is, but I'm guessing that it's somewhere between Gary Guttormsen and Kristie Miller. You deserve a grade of D- for your managerial skills.

I have heard Kristie Miller apologizing to Crossroads for her error in "forgetting" to let Crossroads know about the trail, or have any voice in the decision.

I am rejecting Kristie's apology as a false premise.

This was a stealth hit, this was an end run, and this was a secret.

I have spoken with several people who have said that they were told to not say a single word about this project to anyone.

The manager of this project decided to shove this through without taking the time to get the community involved in the process.

A manager should have leadership abilities, and I have seen none of that in this situation.

A real leader would have brought the community together, not torn us apart. With community involvement, all of this dissension could have been avoided.

My understanding is that the trail starts in front of the Sisters High School, right on the curve of Highway 242 and goes into the forest; then crosses the train road; then crosses Road 15 and then back through the woods into Crossroads Bluegrass Fire Exit.

This is extremely dangerous for children at several different points.

First, the curve is a blind area for the cars.

Going up the trail hill, or down the trail hill is greater than a five-percent grade, thereby making it unacceptable for ADA standards.

Sending children through the forest and out of sight along Road 15 is a poor idea.

I ride my horse through the forest and I have met homeless people with mental issues and all sorts of other people.

So, if the trail is really not for the children and is not ADA complaint, then who is it really for?

Until recently, the Sisters Trail Alliance website showed a map of Crossroads with trails coming and going from all of their fire exits.

They stated that Crossroads was an access point for several trails.

The map appeared to be a spider web of trails through Crossroads, with different trail connections at every fire exit.

There were four STA members on the Crossroads board throughout this last year.

Not once did any of those board members bring up this trail proposal.

But what did they focus on? They wanted and purchased a very nice new map of Crossroads, which is now posted at our entrance bulletin board.

It clearly shows all of the fire exits and the 242 Highway and Road 15.

They were very concerned about our park.

They wanted a toilet installed, a garbage can, and some very nice improvements to our park, such as a cover over the picnic tables and a multi-purpose sports court. Why?

The very best solution is to serve the greatest need, which would be a paved path along the south side of Highway 242, crossing from the north side to the south side after Road 15 to minimize the traffic exposure. The trail should continue alongside of Highway 242 until it is past the Crossroads entrance. Although it would be easier to cross over one family's driveway instead of 199 families' driveways, the south path option could be marked with signs and paint to caution all cars and bicycles.

Why does the U.S. Forest Service have the right to diminish my private property rights?

I won't ask how paving the forest is "environmental," or how a country $17 trillion in debt and borrowing money from China can take taxpayer money to pave bicycle paths in Central Oregon, or anywhere else.