Cache Open Space Advisory Committee (COSAC) – 04-06-2026

Wow. Yeah. I saw a picture of it. It looks like it's booming well. I'll show you what we're trying to do over there. To me, would you, please? And me as well. Thank you. Please. One more. One more? Yeah. Let's just let's get you one. Take me two. One off. There you go. And then there's not enough room. Okay.

You guys ready over there, staff? Okay.

Okay. Welcome, everybody, to our April 6 COSAC meeting. We appreciate you being here and look forward to hearing what you have questions about. So let's see. We'll move right into approval of the agenda in minutes. Are there any changes to the agenda? Good to go on that. K. So I'll just say without objection, we'll adopt the agenda. And then has everybody had a chance to review the minutes? Any questions, comments, edits, anything like that? So similarly, without objection, we'll just pass the minutes as proposed for March 2. And then the next item on our agenda, the funding application is in regards to the Paulson family properties. And so, mister Paulson came in and visited with us last month, and so we're happy to see you again. And Oh, he's not here. Oh, he's not here. Okay. Sorry. Who so do you wanna make a presentation on the application?

Was was he planning to be here?

He didn't confirm. Okay. I thought he would be, but I haven't heard of him.

Alright.

Yeah. We can go through and show you the property and

So he's made formal application. Right? Yes. He has.

Is that application in our pack? Yes.

I'm sorry. We didn't get a printed packet out to you, but

I am learning apps.

No. That's okay.

Sorry. I'm trying to find it on the map here.

Okay.

So

there are two parcels?

Oh, here we go.

The first one is 24 acres. This one's the one that's along Highway 30. Yes. Has that, frontage along Valley View Highway, and then the other is a little more inland south and to the, west. K. This property ending in 25, and it is 96.21 acres. So that would be it. Spring break has undone us here, I guess. I apologize.

We are not in a hurry. We should be fine. And maybe while you're pulling that stuff up, I just to acknowledge maybe where we're at in the process, they've they've made a formal application. And so the next step will be for us to arrange a site visit to the property and have them show us around. And then, presumably, at our next meeting, we would, have a first round vote on the application. So does that sound okay to everybody? Anybody have any questions or comments about the process on this one? I think it's pretty straightforward.

Well, it was Dan calls. A little bit about some of the sensitive areas and areas of note on these properties Great. Based on the information that was on the packet, which I apologize is not on the screen. But, Don Wilcox is an authorized person for the LLC, and he signed the application on March 18. It includes two parcels totaling 120.4 acres at 7645 West Highway 30 in Petersburg. Large portions are tilled and planted, while some appears to be hilly grazelands. The Valley View Farm has been farmed by the Polson family since its since its establishment in 1895. They plan on continuing to farm it in the future. And based on the application, there are no toxic or hazardous materials on the property. The property is not subject to any DEQ or APA restrictions. The benefits of placing these parcels in a conservation easements as stated in the application include the protection of scenic vistas, the preservation of open lands near valley gateways, maintaining agricultural lands, maintaining wildlife habitat. There are no plans to allow public access to the land as it is a working farm. And, the applicant is not working with any other organizations or agencies that may agencies that may provide professional assistance or potential for the. We're glad you're here. Yes. This based on the packet, the zoning is currently a 10. NRCS has not classified the soils on most of the properties. There's just a little portion that's classified as farmland of statewide importance. Wetlands, water bodies, and waterways are not present on the properties, though 4 Mile Creek is close to the northernmost part of the parcel next to SR 30. The g I the GIS report does not indicate that it is part of a wildland urban interface, And a trail is planned as part of the SR 30 upgrade project, but the two parcels are not affected by this. There appears to be an apparent old road or railroad track that northernmost parcel. Maybe you can clarify. But the owner does not contemplate public access on these properties as it is a working form. That's what I have.

K.

And and the property owner is here now as well. Okay.

Any questions for staff on this one? Mister Paulson, anything you wanna add or questions you have for us? Anything like that? I'm good. K. Does it look good to you? I think it does. I mean, it it's it's it's within our gateway entry, so we love that. Sounds like you're not currently working with a different organization as far as helping with the easement and that sort of thing. So you're going to Uh-huh. Are you gonna undertake those tasks yourself? Okay. Yes. Okay. Great. Alright. I'm doing it in my own way for another piece of property. Okay. So you're familiar. I'm familiar with the process. Yes, sir. Okay. Sounds good. Well, I think, you know, it's gonna be potentially a first for for the county as far as working directly with the landowner to process the the project and everything like that. So there may be some As an easement. Yeah. As an easement. So there'll there'll probably be some things we gotta figure out on our side as well.

So any any questions for the applicant? How long is the piece of the parcel that fronts S R 30 right there? If you happen to know down there. How long the the piece that borders the highway is that in just a guess.

How many feet along the highway there?

You're gonna need to slide it down further, I think. No. That's it. Right around there. That part? Mhmm. Yeah.

How far how what's the length of that? It's about 18 The front end. The front end. Okay. So almost a quarter.

1,800 feet? But we have the piece on the other side as well. He's got both sides of the Yeah. But we're not gonna do the one on the right. Yeah. Oh, you're not doing the one on the right. He said the two,

the landlocked piece, and the frontage piece.

Yeah. She took a measurement. You said eight but roughly 1,800 feet. Yeah. Yeah.

Is there any concern that we would have? It looks like there's enough there. If s r 30 do we need to make an allowance? If s R 30 was to have a a a trail put alongside it that they're talking about,

would we need to make an allowance for future? I wouldn't think so because it's gonna be on Udot property. Okay. It'll be on existing UDOT property. Yes. Need to make any acquisition? I don't believe so. They they would as part of the Valley View Highway project, they would've acquired a full

Because you can see the whole ride. I was just driving there a couple weeks ago.

Be what? The trip's already there. No. I'm talking about the he's up above it.

Where? Doesn't go quite to his prod. Okay. Yeah. So should they add it, is there enough there? That's what I'm k. Saying. I I wouldn't you know, u dot's pretty good about making sure they have the width that they're looking for for future expansion and stuff like that. So They're not continuing that trail

now?

Not right now. Not aware. Not right now. So it's a trail that But it but I think it's on the on the u. Master plan. And that's why it makes sense. But it I think we just need to be aware if if we put an easement on it, there you we could

create a little bit of burden in the future In the future when we If we don't allow. When we have a six lane highway there

is what you're saying. Well, the six lane highway we can make go around us. Okay.

It'll be an air highway. Yeah.

Okay. No. That's a great question.

So the the upper area is is now out of question right now.

We're not gonna do all three parcels. That's where the cemetery is, the family cemetery is too. And that's my concern, and Nancy's that that our our kids, you know, will probably be gone, but I want that to protect

Which parcel is the family cemetery on? The North one? The North one.

You may have missed my earlier comments about sort of next steps, mister Paulson, but we'll staff will reach out to you to figure out a time where we can come out and visit the property with your under your guidance, and we can go take a look. And then at our presumably, if that can happen with, you know, within the next few weeks, at our next monthly meeting next month is when we would vote on a first round approval for your project. So That'd be great. That's kind of the time line just to let you know. I can't walk it with you. I have to ride on my four wheeler and show Great.

However you see fit is best. Great. Because we're going on a cruise. As soon as I yell up here, I'll be gone. K. In June. Great.

Great. So you you do you wanna

John, I We can do it on a Monday afternoon, like, these meetings? Sure. Would that work?

In just a couple Like, two weeks from now, typically,

is when we would do that. April 20. Oh, my phone's out. My car I'll put that in. Will you send me a Yep. We'll confirm by email, but we'll tentatively say April 20 at at 03:30 meeting at the site, then we'll identify where that location will be. Yeah. Does that work for folks?

Great. Okay. We'll plan on that, but but staff will confirm. Sure. Thanks, Joe. K. Thank you so much. K. Anything else on mister Polson's application, folks? K. Should we discuss the summary spreadsheets next, Lisa?

Yeah. They'll notice the maps about the property, you mean?

The next agenda

Of item.

Yep. Just whatever you wanted to cover under that. The status summary spreadsheets.

Give me one second, please. No problem.

This will probably come up later, but it looks like seven recent inquiries. That's a good sign. Yeah. I see they're eight. Nice. From the from the March till now?

Which coordinate with the mailer. I'm sure they I don't know that they're all mailer, but they're coordinating. Great. And in fact and and, mister Wilco, this Polson property was, from that as well. Nice.

This one at Birch Canyon.

And just as a point of clarification, that was Don Wilcox who represents the Polson family.

Thank you. I kept calling mister Polson, didn't I? Maybe while we're waiting, I can update folks on I had a meeting with staff last week, and we were able to meet as a group and kinda just talk through packet materials and what what to provide the committee, that sort of thing. And we talked about some next steps of we have a request in to do some mapping of the various projects so that we can pull those up on GIS and get a better sense for where these projects are located in relation to each other as well as in relation to previously completed conservation easement projects throughout Cache County. So staff's working on that as well. Last we saw,

the county's is a little outdated. It may be interesting to get Gabe and a few others that know of some of those involved to Gabe. Close that out.

Yep.

Okay. Okay. I think we can continue. So the inquiries. The first one is Shelly Gilble. She is in charge of a group that wants they have some property off of Route 89 in unincorporated Wellsville, and they're interested in developing a soccer complex with lights. So I sent her some information, but I thought it might be convenient for you to discuss whether or not this is something that would qualify under the guidelines.

Yeah. I think I think her question was, how does this affect us?

Yeah. It's it's just something that we put in our conservation easement, something with lights, like

a a commercial? No. It wouldn't be a developed property. So it doesn't doesn't really have anything to do with our program unless they

decide not to develop their property. Okay. So it would be considered a development and it would not be covered under the conservation? Yeah. Okay. And they they have not yet, but they should be coming in for a conditional use permit for a recreational facility. Okay. So that's something that's imminent, sounds like.

No. I think it's been it for a year or so. Yeah. They've had they've had it for a while. It is it is frontage. They were on the list to receive the mailer. It fronts the highway. I can't remember what's behind it in terms of is there is will it ups I don't think it will obstruct view as it is, but it is right against the highway in Wellsville. South side of the highway. So Yeah.

This is the property here.

It's across the highway from the Cooper property. Oh, okay. Just down the road a little bit. Down the road a little bit. Yeah. So you can see that it it would actually

I mean, having that not develop would be plus if you're gonna see back into that Yeah. The open space back behind.

Yeah.

I think they're they're looking to develop in in the county, not

Yeah. The boundaries are the cities right there, but, yeah. I haven't heard them mention anything about wanting to annex. And typically, if they're looking to annex into Wellsville, they're gonna have to bring utilities and that under the highway, which most people on. The East side of the highway aren't really wanting to do. Yep. Given the expense.

I I think the bigger threat is if they decide that the minus two value to the pool to have in a soccer complex, and they put a bunch of gas stations along there.

Okay. Tell us about the other ones.

David Sorensen has 35 acres. He just needed to speak with the rest of the family, so I haven't heard from back from him. And then mister Olsen of Jay Hat branch, he knows no Nate. Nate Dodds. He said he had spoken with Nate or Nate had approached him on a few occasions, but I have not heard from him either.

It's you. Right? Yes, sir. Okay. You wanna come and tell us about your project? Happy to. Yeah. Please come on up and and state your name for us so we get you on the minutes. Can we, can you go back to the Polson property? Because I think it's right next to that. Yeah. We'll bring it down. Pull up those parcels. Yeah. It's immediately south there. Yeah. Tell us tell us about your interest in the program and what are you thinking.

My name is Larry Olsen. I live in Petersburg, 6791 West Highway 30. Don, who was just here, Wilcox, his wife, Nancy, and I are second cousins. We share the same great grandpa whom homesteaded Petersboro in the eighteen sixties. My grandmother received about 400 acres in her estate, and that's where we live now. It's called the Hagee Ranch. If you my eyes are not all that great, so maybe you can maybe you can see it. I live it on the I live on the North Side of that pipe as you go up the highway. K. And the ranch is basically a 100% on the other side. I can see that now. Yeah. My son's house is that house. You can see going up the private lane. And Yep. This is his son right here now who he and his brothers are now running the ranch along with their dad. I know one of the questions you asked, Don, was is are you involved with any other any other entity? I've been director in the Blacksmith Fork Conservation District for many, many, many years, and I've been I used the word pushed. I ought to do something like that through the easement program, through that part by some really smart people, and I haven't done it yet because, like so many people, I'm a little worried about being tied up forever. Yeah. And, that's why I brought my grandson here to to represent that sixth generation that's gonna run the farm. How much land we have? We we, we I don't know how many yards that is on that North Side, and everything there on the South Side is ours too. All the way up through the Wilcoxes or the Polson plates that you just talked about a little while ago up to his. So we have both sides of the road. We are we are beef production. We run about three, four hundred acres of alfalfa on other properties. We're in about 70 mother cows and pasture along there. I was previously on the committee on the on the project to build Highway 30 from the box other line on in here to into LWs, first of all, down to Highway 23. And at one time, he was talking about here. I do remember that we did suggest that that wide enough for the bar pit, there was a there was a room for a a a trail or whatever they wanted. But that's also a concern that we have in our family. I maybe we're too private. I don't know. I'm not sure I want trails running through my because we always have cattle up there, and we always got a bunch of horses up there too. And I'm not sure that, you know, I've cleaned up enough people all my life. I was a high school principal at Skyview for many, many years, and so I I know what people can do to other people's property. And I don't think you wanna happen to that because this is not just land. It's we look at it as kinda sacred, but I know that's silly to look at that way, but this is this is this is legacy. And this is heritage. But I also look at the park as, you know, like anything, I wanna turn some over to the kids, and money is always a thing to talk about. And I know Joe Furman really well, and I know Elkhorn Ranch. I know John White really well. I know he's he's gone through some other properties that way. And Yep. And I know Nate Dowd's very, very well. I've gone through all that property. In fact, I just talked to Nate. In fact, a couple well, just a couple of times today wondering if I should I have two letters that you gentlemen have sent me, I think, dated March 31 and so forth. I did come in and talk, I think, to you, and she was very kind to me. I didn't learn a lot. I'm sorry. Yeah. I've yeah. I've been doing But we're learning. We're both learning together. And so I even had a and an attorney call me and said they'd represent me. And I don't know how they know all this process, but they said, Larry, if you need some help walking through that, I'm here to help. Great. And so, I feel like there's a lot of people pointing in this direction, but, I'm here to learn. And, Don said that his farm was eighteen ninety five. That's Great grandpa start it goes back to 1866. Our Hat Jay Ranch initially started in 1895. So I'm also a history teacher, so I know this stuff. So Great. If you need some more, I'll be glad to spew it out.

Out. But anyway,

we're here to information. I I just don't know all about it. When I talked to Nate this morning, I said, will they come out and look at the place? Yeah. And will they take a look and see some of this area? As Don mentioned on his, I have multiple grandchildren, and none of them was yet totally indicated other than the boys that work on the ranch and all that. And they wanna build out there and be a part of that farm. And and I'm not gonna be around there forever. So somebody's gonna maybe build a farm out there, continue on, and so forth. So we wanna tie it up to keep and preserve it in the name of the family. At the same time, we don't want to tie everybody's hands that cannot be done like we would like to do it. Like, we continue to run it for the last hundred and fifty years. We continue to run it somewhat the same way, pick up the same rocks that grandpa missed. Yep.

Good. Good. When we were asking Don earlier about, you know, if he was working with any organizations that's specific to land conservation organizations. So there's there's a couple of local land conservation organizations. There's some statewide organizations that you can work with through this process. And so our our request was just in regards to has he approached any particular organization, the like, the Utah Agricultural Land Trust, for example, or Bear River Land Conservancy, that sort of thing. Gonna do that. It's just a

information situation. Like I said, for fifteen, twenty years now, I've been on the Blacksmith Fork. And so I've we've run all that stuff past us on our meetings and talked about it. Yes. Everybody says, Larry, you ought to do it. Yep. So

when these letters came to me and somebody's been looking at it, I guess. Yeah. It sounds like yeah. I mean, you're you're in an area that we're very interested in preserving and are interested in hearing from willing landowners like yourself. So I think the as as as Don knows from a month ago when he came in, this is sort of like your first meeting question and answer kind of thing. And the next steps, if you wanna just fill out the short three page application, then we'll we'll have you on our agenda, and we'll get a presentation from staff about your property. And then we'll arrange to come and take a

look Can when it's convenient for you. Can I ask this if if if he's willing to do that short application, can we look at both properties at the same time since we're out in the area?

I don't know. That's not that far out.

Yeah.

Yeah. It's just to gather everybody together sometimes a little. In fact, I had the application. I didn't break it. I mean, it's not filled out, but I I don't throw anything away. So I've got the application sitting right there that, you know, we could fill it out today, I guess, and hand it right back to you if I

I need some help filling out and doing the right things. Because we don't need to look at that prior to a land visit. It's kind of a simultaneous

thing. That's true.

I don't have a problem with that. Just looking at your piece of land in person is really valuable to us. And, of course, it's me speaking now. But as you turn that corner, make that little curve, everything you see that way is of course, this is my thinking is absolutely beautiful and green. And Yeah. And if you wanna see cattle on the on it, there's, you know, there's right now probably 70 head of cows or 80 cows that's sitting on there now. So Yep. That's where it's gonna be. But, also, some land may be further up further up, further to the west. There may be some there's already two wells already drilled up there that's been there for a number of years that that my sister had a piece of property that we ended up buying from her, but she was going to put homes on it too. And and then we bought the property away from the family. So there's already a couple of wells drilled, and there's real estate people that are really hungry for those wells.

Yeah. I can imagine.

So as we looked at this, you're pointing that you got the letter and it shows the gateway, and there's a lot of landowners that are very small. And I'm saying this for the committee as well. They were, like, 15 acres, really small acreage, and we couldn't make much of an impact. It's very nice to see two of the larger landowners come in, mister Wilcox and yourself, with interest because it would be hard to do something with those very small little parcels down below you,

but these are more impactful. And so Well, that's that's what everybody's told me, and that's what I believe too. It's just the idea of

how does it tie up us and Well, as part generations. Yeah. For future generations, it it allows you to do what you're doing. It would be selling the right to put 400 houses on it, And instead, we buy that right from you.

And We can pull areas out that we want where the kids may wanna Yeah. You just don't include them in the easement. You know? I know. That's what they've told me at the Yeah. Yeah. When I've been to the Blacksmith Park Conservation part thing. They Yes, sir. They tell me, if Larry, you can do this, this, that. Yep. John White sat down with me for hours and other people that are a lot smarter than I am said, you know, this is what you can do. But Just figure out where you want future home sites and exclude exclude those areas from the A little bit of the lives of mine. Yeah. I got 14 grandsons. I don't think they all wanna live out there, but but, you know, I I don't wanna tie up their lives either. But, you know, I also want that possibility if there's a

a Sure. If they wanna move back to the farm. You can you can decide what's included and what's not.

So to be clear, you can't change your mind later. And so you would you couldn't change your mind after the fact. So once you tie up your land,

subtracting out the amount that you may want future generations to enjoy and be able to build houses, you would have to make that decision upfront. You know, I think sometime you're gonna not maybe you, but I I I can't under some place along the line, that's gonna go to court. I can't this is totally off the subject, but say for example, the Mickle property up there between just all Smithfield. Now that's been put in easement. I don't know how I don't know how that's gonna be able to not stay away off from houses at some place. You know? That's a beautiful product. Maybe that make a land, all that all that air between Smithfield

and Hyde Park will stay the way it is. But Well, Bear River Land Conservancy, like, for example, if they're holding an easement, a legal bond for long term that will defend it into the future.

Yeah. The easement's permanent. It's it's a deed restriction. I ask, like,

does this group differ? Or is the same thing that the easement program that we talk about through the through the NCRS and so forth?

This is just a local funding source that can be utilized to make those projects help fund those projects. NRCS is only gonna fund 50% of your easement There's that B Ray McAllister is a state program. They do not, you know, fund that other 50%. They'll they'll fund a portion of that. We groups, local governments, if they have a purchase of development rights program like this one, we can also help contribute, and then the landowner can also, contribute via donation.

What part of what part of that contribution of the local landowner would that be? And then that for a vehicle, say, is it 3%, ten percent, twenty percent? Zero to a 100%.

Each project is unique, but I would say, on average, 25%, sometimes less, sometimes a lot more. So it's really just depends on your circumstances and your motivations and and what you want the project to look like.

You get to make those kinds of decisions. What determines the the the the the amount of money per acre and all that?

It's done through a formal appraisal process. So at some point during this process, you will have to hire an appraiser to do an official appraisal of the property, and they'll determine that difference between, the development rights and and the rest of the value of the land.

So it it just as an example, you know Joe Furman. Yep. Correct? That was funded by NRCS, Lee ring Lee ring McAllister and COSAC, the bond money. So that's the way to maximize what what you're able to get out of the conservation easement is to have the multiple sources.

Some folks don't like to wait that long and go through that those processes. That Larry could do that. Hang on. It's a two or three year project. So I don't know if it's that long or not, but Yes. It is. Yeah. I think

mister Fuhrman's on Working into the third year now. Yeah.

So That's what I've been told, and I Yeah. I

But his is very close. They're they're very close to closing.

Oh, good for Joe. Yeah. Good for Joe. Pam, my grandson, do you have any questions, bud?

And and just so you know, like, it we're not buying the land Yeah. From you. You there's the it becomes it looks at the farm value, what's the development value, not after it's all homes, but before it's all homes, but sold. And then we buy we buy this chunk from you, so you still have the home value the farm value. We don't buy the farm value from you.

And off the subject that my my son actually, my grandson got just got a call from a from a from a contractor and said, the land right next to you, you realize that the man's been called called me and just asked me if I'd be interested in putting 10 homes on a 100 acres. So they called us and said, you know, that land next to you is gonna all be home right behind your house there. And I said, no. I I didn't know that, but I think it's not gonna go quite as easy as he thinks it is. So there's some planning, zoning processes. It's gotta work through that before that all that goes. And That's correct. Yeah. Yep. Anyway, appreciate your time. Thank you. And Yeah. Yeah. Any more questions for me?

Thank you for coming in. I don't think so. Yeah. Any questions more questions for us at this time? You probably will when I hit the car Sure. In the truck. That's fine. We'll we'll work with you, and I think we'd just like to encourage you to submit an application. We'd love to get that application filled, do I just take it up and give to this nice lady? What do I do with it? Or Or you can email us.

I'm all remembered. Besides, we come to Logan every And

and, Lisa, if you could coordinate so that we match up on the time between the two profits. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. If it works out for them, that'd be great. K.

Appreciate it. Thank you. Give a cell phone number. I'm sorry. Pardon? Do you have a cell phone number? Yes, ma'am. 435 Uh-huh. 757-5970.

Thank you very much. You're welcome.

Appreciate your time and your interest.

I'm actually sit on the blacksmith's forehead. Okay. I'm gonna advise you on that one so you'll see once a month. So, you know, I've run a lot since I'm, like, hanging up.

I was at a funeral earlier this morning.

K. And then, Smith family tradition. Oh, Ray stopped by the office, and he has some wetlands that he just wants to lower his tax impact on. But it's basically part of Bear River, if not most of Bear River. I don't I don't think Ray is here. But just for the curiosity's sake, I mean, would something like this qualify?

Oh, wow. Yeah. Oh, wow.

That's awesome. Yeah.

Yeah. And then how would that affect his taxes?

That I couldn't answer.

Refer him to a tax attorney or a good accountant because it there are various ways that it would

affect. Okay. Depending on the the an individual's particular tax circumstances, you know, actually going through this process could be a tool defer or avoid back out. Taxes.

Yep. So can we back way out on this?

I need to see. Okay. Okay.

K. Oh, Malga.

Yeah. It's up by the Richmond area.

So this would really fall in that wetlands, which we haven't done quite as extensively.

It's great. Yeah. Nice flood plain Yeah. Area.

He said something about it not being eligible for greenbelt?

Yeah. He can't farm it. Right. Yeah. No. I I mean But he can't I think develop too much of it either. Exactly. Yeah. So, I mean, this this is certainly a good option for them.

Okay. I will email him again.

That was interesting. Near the Silver Farm too, wasn't it? Near the near the left of Silver. Mhmm. Were they just north of there?

Or south of there. This is west.

Trenton. Trenton. They were on the Cub River, I think. Right? Yeah. And the Silva wasn't Cub.

Silva was out the opposite way. Okay. We do have the we have a couple on the Cubs, though. Okay.

Oh, Silva. Sorry. Harrison's. Harrison's. Harrison's. Harrison's. Harrison's. He about froze to death on. Yeah. That's right. Harrison's.

Froze to death on. Yeah. That's right.

That's right. It it's interesting because it would score really highly on some of the portions Yeah. But it wouldn't score well on to in my perspective, in some of the others. A lot of the others. A lot of the others. It's landlocked. It's wild wildlife and wetlands. And people Yeah. Don't necessarily see it. It's not near a really near a a big access road. Trails, potentially, if we could ever figure out how to put a trail along that river. A trail And that's a long journey. The dollar

dollar value may be very low too. It may be easy to put into a conservation. It just

It's it's it's it's checking the boxes in some of those other categories that He mentions that he

uses it for fishing and family outings. You know, if he opened it up to public access, then it might score a little bit better there. He's

surrounded by Utah Power and Light, which would restrict on either side.

So it's a landlocked parcel that we can't really conserve.

It needs to be more just general conservation.

Okay.

Unless it's part of a blue trail?

Mhmm. Yeah. That's a big question mark, but potentially.

I know I don't think this one works for it, but Reagan's talked about creating us helping to create access to the Bear River, but I can't see a major road that this helps do that from. But Yeah.

K. What a let's talk about the Mendenhall project.

There are several properties. She was just curious, wanted more information about the program.

K. Let's see. Do you know any of these the Mendenhalls and their land along Highway 91?

I see the the the name is familiar.

I'm wondering if they're north or south.

They're smaller. It must be smaller parcels. There's

if it takes that much to get to 20. Yep.

Maybe they're bordering some of the other parcels that we've had or that have applied. What highway around? It says 91.

Near the Christians, please?

It's off of 91 going north.

Can you back out a little for us?

Thinking it's time, isn't it? Yes. It is.

End of the day. So is it North Of Richmond? No. It looks like it's south kind of by where that that Rafton property is that Walnut Grove

Okay. Our tourism citizen. Okay.

So so this is this is interesting because if it is frontage, it does make a difference for us in terms of the value of it. Especially On whether you can see back end or not. Especially there where it's sloping downhill,

and we wanna keep things out of the forefront so we can see all the stuff across the valley.

If if I look at that combination right there That is Yeah. That's incredible.

Yeah. So Great.

How did it end?

What's the sliver just below sorry. Up north a little bit, there's a sliver that looked like u dot right on the left side. Oh, yeah. Then the rest is Mendenhall? Yep.

I swear that's They have they have both sides as you get down as you get down there. They had both sides of the highway. Oh, I see. Yeah. Okay. If you keep going down,

right there. Right? Yeah. Their farm is right here. I don't know what this is. So

12.

Yeah. There's quite a few parcels there. 345. And it's all right up there. More than 20 acres. How's it in relation to the Christiansen property? Christiansen is on the north side. Side of Richmond. This is on the South. So before the big curve, kinda near where the oh, it's near where the gravel pit and all that was. The proposed. Proposed. Yeah. This is close to Erickson.

And this would have been this would have been received mailers based on the fact that it up that it is that view app to the one side. Great. There's a long,

long string of parcels there for an uninterrupted view. Yeah. One, two, three, four. And the parcel on the inside didn't do too bad. The Department of Transportation, that looks like that old train track, potentially, like we saw on the north end. There's just a skinny sliver.

Yeah. There's a track there. Mhmm. Yeah.

Yeah. So that gravel pitch, that's Crow Mountain area. So it's just the north and east or west of Crow Mountain. Yeah. Okay.

That's cool. That is. That's a that's a compelling project. How did it end? How did the conversation end?

I sent her some information, and I have a turn back. Okay.

How do we go about if if they're highly desirable? Yeah. Letting them know that we're very interested around them. Could we call them?

Could we request a site visit?

My sure. We we we could. I mean, we haven't I guess, we haven't done site visits you know, an application or something like that. But We have to gauge their interest. Why not? I think having staff reach out to them and inquire as to their you know, if they're gonna come and possibly, you know, come to one of our meetings and let us talk to them about their project.

I think she might be watching us right now. K. K. Great.

And something maybe that is just automatic with inquiries like this is a follow-up at a certain time frame after the initial contact a week later, say. Yeah. Two weeks later, whatever. I think it's a definitely something

I I was interested in in discussing with the committee sometime soon here is, you know, what on our active list of folks who have come before us, what should we be doing as a follow-up, you know, if we haven't heard from them in a while? Or in some cases, we gave them first round approval, and we haven't heard back from them. Yeah. That sort of thing. Do you have it interesting to find out more about why we haven't heard from them? Or

Discover any concerns or questions.

Like, this one for staff to call and say that it was discussed and they are very highly interested in your project. Yeah. That would be a great That's a good start. Yeah. Yeah. I'll be happy to follow-up. That'd be great. Thank you, Lisa.

Let's see. What's the the next one on our list? What's that? Mister Robertson's?

Yeah. It's the Birch Creek one.

So I see KOs here.

Yeah. Did you call that up, please? Yeah.

KOs. Doesn't look like we have a parcel number on it. There's a parcel number on the

I think that is Smithfield.

Well, we could go right to the canyon, and you could point out where your parcel is. It might be quicker.

So I think they found it because it's about just about six acres, is it? Half a dozen acres?

That's probably

on that. So the orange is the Birch

Road, the dirt road. Okay. So Beth Callan, you're you're right on it. Yes. Okay. Okay. So there's a 5.5 acres. And for the past eleven years, gonna take that on as a, for me, a very interesting project. That and about six acres is what the county just purchased.

The whole area

it's been about a hundred years of abuse and a monoculture about five different breeds. I've spent about $3,000 and many more hours than that, and it's we've been the most successful thing I've ever done, which is just luck, not because I know it. I learned a lot. We're not looking for money. I don't know whether that tosses us out of consideration, but what we are looking after is to do our best to maintain the land. As it is. It has open space with a priority for wildlife habitat. Okay. And I know there's a lot of dickering. There's 18 different users on Birch Canyon, but not all compatible. Yeah. And I don't think there's any doubt that it will become more like Green King. There's a stream that's intermittent, and there's a very healthy riparian zone that could change very quickly. That's something that I would be interested in talking about. We're not in a vast hurry up, but I don't know what your situation is. I know that area really well, and I've always appreciated,

you know, just kind of the area to the south of the road where it's just kind of open and wild, lots of trees, lots of Yeah. The the parcel we pay taxes on goes up on the

south facing slope, which is it's a lot of sun. Mhmm. Pretty bare. It's not cheatgrass, but there have been some invasives for the goat grass and but, yeah, I I know that, you know, the future, everything is kind of out of hand. And I do know in the valley, a lot of people who turn to land of to government agencies, be it, town or this or that with open space in mind

Yeah. When those people are gone. Yeah.

It's over development. But yeah. If you'd like to

So you mentioned some work that you did, successful work. You mean in in weed mitigation?

Well, the the prior uses of the land which are remaining very, very heavy in grazing. I had extra paid in that up 20 species

of native plants.

I believe Wow. Lots of seeding, lots of failure,

Did you work with Dave Wallace on any of that stuff? I'm familiar with Dave Wallace. I was actually gonna

contact him later when maybe I'll have some more time. That's his passion, for sure.

Right at what we both learned about how we called weeds. My background is from a trail access perspective. I was part of the founders of of, Cash Trails Alliance, the nonprofit. So we worked with and it took a a federal thing to change the wilderness area enough that the bike trail that was put up there illegally without permission

was able to stay open. Yeah. I mean, like I said, there's 18 different users. Yeah. A horse family with horses. Yeah.

An awareness and education campaign could be really great, and I think Castro's alliance may be willing to kind of help you or, you know, initiate some sort of trail education campaign. Like, they have another sign. I've seen this in California where Yeah.

No. I I I think what I would encourage you to do is to go ahead and make a formal application into us, and let's take it from there. And I think, make sure, you know, I heard you say that money was maybe not a primary driver in this whole project or whatever. And so maintaining

the land Yeah. As something that isn't developed during the baseball diamond. Right. And particularly, you know, since I I mean, it's just the past ten years. I

Yep. Great. Yeah. I think I think we're interested in more wildlife oriented

projects. Are are you interested in just for a last clarification, are you interested in owning it and putting a conservation easement upon it, or

research

So it could end up Cache County owning it or yourself owning it. That that doesn't matter. What matters is the intent. And I hate the word enforcement, but the enforcement

Yeah. So it sounds like it and whoever owns it, you'd like to see an easement on it so it's protected as is.

Yeah. As I say, imperpetuity.

Imperpetuity. Yeah.

And then you control you still control the access. Obviously, not the the county road through it, but you would decide, well, eventually, I'd like to put a little trail that goes through here, or maybe you have no open for discussion.

Okay.

And, you know,

part of it depends upon what you folks are looking for.

A new piece is that, like you mentioned, the the the county parcel that was purchased just south of yours. Investigated

that. It says open space, but it doesn't say much more than that as far as what the intention is of that 500 acres or something.

And the Kronkis aren't going anywhere. I know they're pretty protective of their land up there. They're our neighbors. Yeah.

Good. Good.

Yeah. Well, it's interesting. I don't know. We don't know yet, I think, what the county intends to do with with that land. It's new enough that there are some conversations.

But it was it was purchased with open space funds. So Yeah. That's all. Yeah.

I think. So what's the next step?

For you?

For, yeah, for the negotiating Site visit.

I have the application. Okay. So the so he submitted an application. Okay. Great. So they'll reach out to you to schedule a site visit. So we like to go and visit each property before we take action on it. And so we'll arrange a time and day that works for us and for you. Wonderful. Does that sound good? Yeah. Good. That's a nice place to walk around and look up to John. Good. Well, we appreciate your interest in the program. Thank you very much. K. So I think there was just one more on the list to update on. Gleason.

Yeah. I don't have much information. It's

30 acre parcel.

I I do think I mean, I'm I'm sad to see that we're not seeing any, South Gateway once, but that's not a bad response from the mailer.

Maybe they're still coming.

Yeah.

Yeah. The more the more people get engaged in it, the better. Yeah. There's that one. Okay.

I think I looked at this one, though. Yeah. That was that is the one on the

West Gateway, near the West Gateway.

No. This is this is coming from the North, isn't it? Oh, yeah. Oh, wait. Wait. Wait. Well, there's Yeah. It is. That's right. Bear River. West Gateway. It is? Actually, it's all the highway. It's one of those small parcels that is a little bit difficult to figure out how to make that work.

Who owns the land in those northern three next to it? It's it's different landowners.

Okay. So Oh, no. It's all the same. The Fletchers.

All the same. So their score would go up if they had any interest with partnering or convincing the Fletchers to apply.

Yep.

Is that a road to Cache County? It looks like slippery there? It looks like

Wondering how long that is.

My guess is that dates back a long time ago. It looks like not a paved road. It looks like it's may have been a road in the Uh-huh. Years ago.

Well, what what's to the west?

Looks like it continues It's a landlocked piece. It is next to that water area. By the way and I don't I don't think it's been discussed at this meeting, but a gentleman, Ron Campbell,

and

I got a gentleman named John both from Wellsville Mendon. Older gentlemen were very are really looking at alternatives for getting from Mendon into Logan on trails. Right. They've been looking at they've been looking at maybe out of out to the south of this area. And this came up because I don't think this would help their property with their with their goal. But they were also looking at even a a nature trail that kinda goes out through that area south of where we're at right here. Mhmm. They were talking about closer to the Mendon Road. Right? 600 South. Closer to the they were looking at both a Mendon route through all the way and a a nature type trail. So a cup they own some land through their they also there's a crossing, like an old railroad crossing out there Yes. That they could incorporate into this. But Emily, were you in that you were involved in that meeting. Right? Yeah. So it'd be interesting if we had a landowner at some point that, like, that might connect in with this. But, it's it's it was good to see some individuals looking at reaching out, and they know a lot of the landowners. So Yeah. They were seeing what they could do out there.

Pacificor is the property that it borders to on the east side, which is all the Yeah. A lot of the wetlands Yeah. Accessed by that. It's probably a county. I don't know what it is. Parking lot Yeah. Where you

put in your canoes and Trailhead. And boats. Blue water trailhead. Little boats. Yeah. Yeah. We go out there a lot with common ground. It's it's busy.

Yeah.

Yeah. Well, great. Let's I appreciate you tracking those for us, Lisa, and I guess we'll see how the follow-up goes by the folks that end up applying. So thanks for following up on those with us. Any other questions on our mailer? I love that. From our mailer and other I'm very pleased. Yeah. I think it's great. Okay. So comments or other business? Did you wanna say something about the UALT?

Oh, just a reminder that there is this fundraiser on April 18. She performs in Garland. K.

And Deborah Mendley just sent us all those invitations to hand out. Okay. Yeah. Thank you for doing that.

And then well, I guess there's no further updates to this, I assume.

There it looks like there have been some just shading and other things to indicate statuses

Yeah. Again, the the the yellow highlights. So this is just the the same as it was at our last meeting, if I'm not mistaken. The yellow highlighted items are the under 30 acre parcels, 30 acres or less, that have come to one of our meetings. And then there are a couple in there that came to our meetings, but haven't applied. So that's the other two on the list that are highlighted yellow. So I just highlighted the pre application ones for the most part there. Okay. As you can see, a small parcel of pre application. So again, just to I've been advocating to the council for these projects, and I think several of the ones that have come before us tonight who are just interested in COSAC only funding. Right? They're not necessarily pursuing other funding sources, and so

So Dan Wilcox and the gentleman here would both be in that category is what you're saying. I would say so. Yeah. That we could we could do without a land conservancy, so to speak.

Potentially without other funding sources. And and so what does that mean? How do we move those kinds of projects forward? How is there a role for the Green Belt rollback tax mechanism? I I think there's a strong argument for that funding source for these smaller projects and Cache County only type projects. But so we're advocating for that, and we haven't received much feedback yet from the council on that. So any any questions on any of that? Anything for next month that you're aware of already worth mentioning?

Do we wanna get time in the future in the council both maybe if we maybe enough time for us to review the the the projects in Petersburg, but maybe also use that time with the council to talk about how to how to address some of these.

Yeah. I I I would like the council to put us on their agenda for for these kinds of conversations. Yeah. I think we're ready. K. And so if Keenan was here, I would ask him that. So I'll just follow-up with him after the meeting and Okay. Make that request, see what he thinks, see what he recommends.

Will you keep me updated so I can put that in the I'd probably say have it after our next meeting.

But but personally, I don't know. Chris, what are you thinking?

Yeah. I think as soon as they're willing. But, yeah, it would surprise me if they're able to fit us in right away.

Upcoming May meetings would be the twelfth

I'll see what Keenan says or thinks, and we'll follow-up with everybody.

Site visits.

Yeah.

K. Great. Anything else? Else? Emily, I don't know if you have anything, updates for us or anything. Okay. Thank you.

Any update on the, UDOT purchase in Wallsville Canyon?

It's been completed.

Completed.

Great.

Yeah. There's a lot of other cash companies. With open space funds.

I believe so. I'm not I think that was discussed at a closed session with the council, so I'm not exactly sure where the funding came from.

Yeah. If you look at the here's

that property. You can see it's under cash cow. Wow. That was quick. That was quick.

No delay there.

Great. Anything else, folks? Good meeting. Thanks for being here. Good questions. Thanks for your time. Without objection, we'll stand adjourned.

And Jared, nice to