Letter: Thank you to those who turned out

The Pierce County Conservation Futures Board public hearing (July 13) produced a good turnout (75+ people). Our group, the Friends of Cherrydale Woods, desire Parcels A & B of the Cherrydale School Surplus Wooded Areas be purchased by the Board for permanent preservation. Present at the meeting was Ron Lucas, Mayor or Steilacoom; three Town Councilmembers (Marion Smith, Lowell Bier and Steve Stovall); Mike Winkler, President of Steilacoom School Board; Kevin Callanan, Steilacoom School Board member; Bill Fritz, District Superintendent; John Cohen, Steilacoom School District Communications Director; Brad Randall, a member of Steilacoom's Planning Commission. The Mayor spoke a great deal in favor of the project and fielded questions from the Committee.

The Conservation Futures Advisory Committee will continue with public hearings on other properties into August after which they will forward their recommendations to the County Council for review and priority assignment. At that point, appraisals are completed and values established and negotiations with the actual owners commence. For example: The School District has declared the property in question surplus but are bound by State regulations on what they can accept. Incidentally, the district has also indicated a strong desire to preserve the woods if possible.

Thanks for your support.

Gary & Karen Duggins & The Friends of Cherrydale Woods

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