The following is a brief recap of the NRC Commission held on May 8, 2008 where
Director Humphries signed the Land Use Orders for the revised Concept of Management.
Minutes by Cynthia Kieliszewski
Read as follows:
There was a good group of people to represent horse riders at the NRC
meeting. Rep Casperson came in and stood at the back. The Chair of the NRC
immediately announced that Tom was in the room.
During the public speaking session several of the PRC Advisory council got
up and spoke. They referenced letter from 1991 that they had sent to the
DNR which they said ‘predicted’ what the horse people would do. One said
there was a phenomenal increase in horseback riding in the Pigeon. Another
said that horse riders ride ‘any way they desire” and horse riders do not
follow the rules and horse riders exhibited abusive behavior.
It was very clear that the PRC Advisory Council members were and have been
dead set against any horse riding in the Pigeon.
Many horse riders spoke but it didn't change the outcome that was
preordained. Director Humphries signed the Land Use order.
We spoke to Rep Casperson and he is advising us to get as many people as
possible to come to the May 13th meeting to show our support to the Chairman
He said the next step is to have a law submitted to the House and Senate
that supersedes what the DNR has done. HE said this is how politics is done
The legislature cannot stop the DNR/ DEQ, etc. from passing injunctions or
amendments. When the voting public objects, they go to their elected
representatives. Then the representatives recourse is to create a law that
‘trumps’ what the DNR/DEQ, etc. have implemented.
So, can you pass the word that it is very, very, important to have as many
horse people at this meeting as possible? Apparently, the Chairman of this
committee has some authority to make Director Humphries not implement the
Land Use Order. Rep Casperson said it is critical that there are many horse
people there.
In addition, he suggested we continue to contact our state representatives
to let them know what the DNR has been doing. He also said we should
contact Mike Lahti, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. This
man has the ability to withhold funds from the DNR. Tom said it was a long
shot but the more involvement we can get on the floor, the better.
This will also help when we want the Right to Ride bill introduced.
