Public is invited to comment on three ordinances proposed by Washington County commissioners

Three ordinances covering the usage of public lands in Washington County are being considered by the county commissioners and, if voted in, will be added to Washington County code.
 The language in the ordinances also defines the enforcement and penalties if an individual or federal agency violates any rules in such ordinance. The sheriff of Washington County will have the authority to enforce the law and sets a penalty for each violation. The charges will be a misdemeanor and each is punishable with a $1,000 fine or 1 year in jail or both.
 Ordinance 86 regulates prescribed burns on public lands. Ordinance 87 is in regards to road closures on federal lands and requires federal land administrators to obtain written permission to close a road. Ordinance 88 will ensure property rights on split estate lands.
 A public hearing has been scheduled on Monday, Sept. 21 at the Vendome Events Center at 2 p.m.
 The purpose of ordinance 86 is to promote the health, safety and general welfare of the people of the state of Idaho.  Under the Land Use Planning Act of the State of Idaho, the intent of ordinance 86 is to protect life and property in areas subject to natural hazards and disasters, to protect fish, wildlife and recreation resources and to avoid undue water and air pollution.
 If passed, all prescribed burns on federal lands shall comply with State of Idaho DEQ air quality rules and burns will have an approved start date and an out cold stop date.
 The Forest Service shall limit spring burning due to smoke from burning wet materials and the ability to control fires burning into summer. No prescribed burns will be allowed during wildfire season, June 1 to Oct. 20.
 The person designated to start and oversee the prescribed burn shall be personally responsible for any damage to private property.
 Best management practices shall be submitted before an area is burned, such as logging, thinning and targeted intensive grazing of the prescribed burn area.
 Written permission from the rancher will need to be obtained in order to do a prescribed burn and all burns shall be coordinated with the county commissioners and the sheriff to proceed.
 The sheriff will have the authority to enforce prescribed burn rules and the penalty for violating the code will be a misdemeanor with a fine of $1,000 or 1 year in jail or both.
 Ordinance 87 defines rules regarding road closures within federal lands.
 It will require federal land administrators shall obtain county commissioners and sheriff’s written approval to close any road under their management in the county where the federal land is located. It will give the sheriff  authority to open roads and areas on federal land that are needed for public access and safety.
 Ordinance 87 states that federal law enforcement officers operate under the sheriff’s authority and they shall not enforce any laws upon citizens of the county without permission from the sheriff.
 Ordinance 88 will ensure property rights on federal lands. The ordinance cites the Curtis Act of 1898 which addresses split estate land disposal where timber and minerals are retained by the United States and tribes. The Homestead Act addresses land that is valuable for grazing and raising forage crops.
 Ranchers are granted use of public lands in forest reservations to pasture their livestock as long as it appears that injury is not being done to the forest growth. If a person willfully or negligently interferes with the legal herding, grazing or pasturing of livestock or with fence, gate, water development or other range improvement of private base property or on an adjudicated allotment will be guilty of a misdemeanor.
 The ordinance will put into place that allotment holders will have the right to manage, refurbish, repair and improve their grazing preference lands by thinning timber, planting grass, and improving the water plus other practices that improve their grazing value as with any other private property they own. The rancher will be allowed to use the timber and stone resources for personal use.
 The hearing will be available via Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/499630910 with meeting ID 499 630 910. Written comments may be submitted to the county clerk’s office at 256 E. Court St., in Weiser.