The Courier
News
Chamber Person of the Year
The Camas Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Shari Simon as the 2018 Person of the Year. Few people are as involved in their community, and still seem to blend into the background as much as Shari. She is constantly involved with school activities: volunteering in the school library, organizing crafts for the kids, and helping fundraise for playground equipment. Shari also makes sure the Caboose Information Center is running smoothly each summer during the tourist season. And, of course, many of the chamber events that you enjoy throughout the year would not be the same without her input and support. Thank you, Shari (and all our volunteers) for making our community a great place to live.
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
August 22, 2018
Vol 42 ~ Num 34
Back to School
Kids are Back in School learning new and exciting things about the world we live in.
Keep Your Eyes Open!
Some of the younger students may not be careful about crossing roadways as they walk to and from school.
Let’s have a Fun & Safe year.
County Considers Road Abandonment
In 1935, a forty foot strip of ground was deeded to Camas County as a Right-of-Way from what would become Highway 20 to Lanman Road (100 North) about three quarters of a mile east of Princess Mine Road (10 miles east of Fairfield). For the last 80 years, that right-of-way has been all but forgotten. Last month a public hearing was held by the Camas County Board of Commissioners to consider a request to abandon that right-of-way. The strip of land has never been improved and clearly has no value to the county as a potential roadway. Even if there was interest in putting a road at that location, the rightof-way is too narrow to meet the county’s road standards. At the public hearing (held on July 23rd) the commissioners listened to a room packed with people against the proposal. The primary reason for the opposition seemed to be the landowner making the request - Ix-Nay Investment Trust. Apparently, the opposition group believes this action has something to do with the infamous “airport” that could be build by Ix-Nay in that general area. Some of the public at the hearing became abrasive and impolite towards the commissioners, but no substantial reasons were presented as to why the commissioners should not vacate this right-of-way. On Monday of this week (August 20th), the Commissioners met to deliberate on the proposal. Unlike the hearing, only two members of the public were present. The deliberation, however,
did not take place because a letter from Ix-Nay’s attorney was received that morning which withdrew the request for abandonment. Given the hostility shown at the public hearing and the apparent overwhelming desire to keep that right-of-way available to the county, the letter asked if the commissioners would consider a dedication of an additional twenty feet along the entire length of the right-of-way. This would allow enough room to meet road standards should the county wish to build a roadway at that location. Ix-Nay is making this offer in hopes that it will defuse any tensions that may have arisen due to the original request, and to avoid any additional hostility from the neighbors. Road & Bridge Supervisor, Mike Gill, said he didn’t see any need for a roadway at that location. There are other roadways that access the property in that area, and he added, it would be a difficult road to keep open in the winter given its north/south orientation. The County Commissioners made no decision regarding Ix-Nay’s offer.