A rear view look at Clagstone's conservation easement

The Clagstone debate in the recently adjourned Idaho Legislature is a window into the politics of Bonner County. Climb through that window and you’ll find Bonner County Republicans divided by those who favor facts and those who favor conspiracy theories.

On March 22, the Idaho House voted 48-21, to approve funding for the Clagstone conservation easement sought by Stimson Lumber Company, despite strenuous arguments from Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, on the House floor.

Around the same time, Bonner County Commissioner Todd Sudick was doing everything he could to achieve the same end. The stated goals of both of these Bonner County elected officials were the same: Stop the funding source and kill the project.

What is the Clagstone project? Stimson Lumber owns 13,000 acres in Clagstone area of Bonner County and has worked with neighboring property owners and sportsmen to preserve the land from development. Stimson is willing to give up its rights to develop housing and a golf course by creating a conservation easement. The easement would allow for public access, including hunting privileges, along with continued timber production.

It is a $12.6 million project that includes $3.1 million from Stimson, $5.5 million of federal funds for a forest legacy project managed through the Idaho Department of Lands, $2 million in federal hunter access funds from the Idaho Fish and Game budget and $2 million from The Trust for Public Lands.

Commissioners Sudick and Glen Bailey — without the knowledge of the Commission Chairman Cary Kelly — signed a letter voicing their overall displeasure with the Clagstone funding process. This letter was sent to Rep. Heather Scott for her use in lobbying against state appropriation of the forest legacy and hunter access money.

Chairman Kelly determined that letter was in violation of Idaho’s open meeting laws, and commissioners rescinded the letter.

In the Senate, several senators spoke against the easement funding, expressing concerns about “locking up” lands.

Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, was spot on with his response: “My gosh, people, let’s just talk sense here. It is just a piece of property that they want to continue to harvest timber on and allow the public access. … There are no spooky devils going to pop out of some closet on this issue. So this issue deserves a yes vote, and enough with the goofiness.”

The bill passed the Senate 22-11 and was forwarded to Gov. Butch Otter for his signature. North Idaho Reps. Scott and Sage Dixon and Sen. Cheryl Nuxoll voted “no.” However, Rep. Dixon may have had some misgivings. Before voting he said, “The more I learn about it, the less concerned I am. My comfort level is growing.”

How did all of this happen? As the Bonner County Republican Central Committee Gamlin Lake Precinct Committeeman here’s my take.

At the Central Committee meeting in mid-March, Rep. Scott called in from Boise to provide her monthly update. She said she was attempting to stop the Clagstone easement because of the extreme radical environmental involvement, the failure on the part of all parties to coordinate with the current Bonner County commissioners, her total opposition for accepting federal taxpayer dollars for this type of project and the connection with what Y2Y (Yellowstone to Yukon wildlife corridors) was attempting to do in North Idaho.

At the meeting, Commissioner Sudick jumped on Heather Scott’s conspiratorial bandwagon and echoed her concerns, tying The Trust for Public Lands to George Soros, extreme environmental interests, the Pew Foundation and Project 21 (an international sustainability initiative).

It’s all nonsense. The Trust for Public Lands is a nonprofit organization that facilitates and funds the creation of parks and protected lands all over the U.S. Since 1992, it has been involved with more than 5,300 park and conservation projects in 47 states.

I suggest interested readers along with all Bonner County sportsmen Google Idaho Heather Scott, a Call to Action, Redoubt News and look at the following: “Clagstone Meadows, A Hot Bed of Crony Capitalism; Corporate Welfare-Stimson Jumps on the Gravy Train.” Review Rep. Scott’s, “District 1 Educate Yourself.” This is how far to the right that some within the Bonner County Republican Committee have gone.

I can only assume that her reference to extreme radical environmentalists at the Bonner GOP party meeting, which she did not identify, was referring to Idaho Department of Lands, Fish and Game, Idaho Forest Owners Association, Ducks Unlimited, Kinnikinnick Native Plant Society, or maybe it was one of the other Clagstone supporters such as Kalispell Tribe, Lake Hoodoo Creek Watershed Council, The Nature Conservancy of Idaho, The Idaho Conservation League.

The April 18 Bonner County Republican Committee meeting will be my last. I’m fed up with the internal conflict and lack of civil discourse that goes on month after month. I have finally figured out that Commissioner Sudick’ s agenda is more important to him than the facts or doing what was right for the majority of the good people of North Idaho. Like Rep. Scott, who likes to see herself in the news, Sudick failed to do his due diligence. My vote will be for whoever opposes them.

For me the issue has been about a private company’s personal property right, continued timber production, outdoor recreational and hunting opportunities for a majority of North Idahoans who support this project. This conservation easement has been a collective act with diverse group of local supporters coming together, which is what makes small towns like Sandpoint special. Commissioner Sudick and Rep. Scott turned the Clagstone conservation easement into a divisive political circus. Voters can put a stop to it.

Tony McDermott is BCRCC committeeman for Gamlin Lake and a former North Idaho Department of Fish and Game Commissioner (2005-2013).