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Update on Ester trail closures

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 8:37 am
by paulneva
Hi Folks,

As I stated in my posting of 20 August 2012, I am pursuing a legal strategy to protect the public access to the Ester Valley Trail system and the Eva Creek Trail. Obviously, with litigation, there are no guaranteed outcomes, but I feel we have a good position; and if we don’t act, we are setting a precedent and are guaranteed to lose access to these trails.

To be successful, I need financial assistance to move this forward and I am requesting donations at the $1,000, $500, $100 or $?? level. If this goes to litigation, costs could exceed $20,000 per case. To date, we’ve received over $6,000 in donations. All contributors will receive quarterly status and expense reports. Unfortunately, I can’t offer a tax deduction for these contributions.

The bottom line: I have lived in Ester for over 30 years. Like many of you, the quality of life here, including its close proximity to trails, is important to me. Now, looking backwards, a $1,000 donation works out to $33/year… a reasonable amount to ensure access is maintained to this resource we all enjoy.

I would greatly appreciate your support; send donations payable to Interior Trails Preservation Coalition, P.O. Box 74263, Fairbanks, AK 99707. Interior Trails Preservation Coalition is a local non-profit formed in 2003 to preserve and maintain access to our trails. They will act as a pass-through and direct the donations to the attorneys. Write fbo Ester Trails on the For line and cc me so I can track the funding.

If anyone desires additional information, or has thoughts concerning these issues, or this strategy, please contact me by phone or email.

Thanks,

Geoff
--
P.O. Box 22 Ester, AK 99725 USA
v: +1.907.479.0014 f: +1.907.479.0015
Skype or +1.805.624.6360
geoff@straydogs.us

Re: Update on Ester trail closures

Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2012 11:27 am
by Darrell
Can the board look at this and give its recommendation?

Re: Update on Ester trail closures

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 7:11 am
by larry morris
I think we should look at this as a board. I believe this is an important issue.

Re: Update on Ester trail closures

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:11 am
by Alaskan Polar Bear
if the club was to send in a donation maybe some of the other trail issues we have could be adressed?

Re: Update on Ester trail closures

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 11:34 am
by Darrell
Good idea!

Re: Update on Ester trail closures

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2012 4:18 pm
by paulneva
Heather has already put the Ester trail closure in the agenda for our next board meeting. If there are other ongoing efforts to keep specific trails in this area open, I am unaware of them.

Paul

Re: Update on Ester trail closures

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2013 4:26 pm
by paulneva
Here is the latest on the Ester trail closures:


Hi Folks,

As you are aware, I have been working on two important trail access issues in the Ester area: 1) the blockage of the Ester Creek Rd, preventing access to public lands further west in Ester Valley and the Social Security Mine Trail, Fireplug Trail and Tri-Con Mine Road; and 2) the blockage of the Eva Creek Trail, also known as the Ester Village Trail. Both of these trails/roads have had open and in continuous use by the public since the 1950’s; they have either recorded right-of-way easements, likely RS 2477 designation, or prescriptive easements granting public access.

Access on the Eva Creek Trail has been resolved. The landowner has agreed to keep the trail open, and possibly relocate, in a substantially similar fashion, to the western perimeter of his property next year. The Ester Valley Road is still blocked by a locked gate at the entrance, and berms prevent access from the Social Security and Tri-Con (attached aerial photo may help identify the area). We are continuing litigation. A trial date is scheduled for June 2014, and we are exploring filing an injunction to grant immediate access.

With respect to the Ester Valley access, the strategy of the attorney retained by the property owner appears to be delay, delay, then file more paper, and make it as costly as possible. This is getting expensive, but I believe we will be successful with the Ester Valley access, as we were with the Eva Creek Trail. As of 6 December, my costs:

Donations Received 12,406.73
Eva Creek Trail Legal Fees -9,082.45
Eva Creek Settlement Compensation 2,000.00
Ester Valley Trail Legal Fees -5,020.75
Current Balance $ 303.53

This is another call for funding!

Your donations have gone a long way in preserving access rights for future generations; I would greatly appreciate your financial support in this final push. Send donations payable to Law Offices William Satterberg, 709 4th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701-4416. Write fbo Ester Trails Defense on the “memo” line and cc me so I can track the funding.

Thanks all,

Geoff

--
Geoffrey Orth Photography
Stray Dogs LLC
P.O. Box 22 Ester, AK 99725 USA
v: +1.907.479.0014 f: +1.907.479.0015
Skype or +1.805.624.6360
gcorth@straydogs.us

Re: Update on Ester trail closures

Posted: Sat Dec 07, 2013 9:26 am
by cleary
I've known Geoff since he and I were on the Borough Trails Advisory Commission together. He is still a member. He is a hard working dedicated person who has put a lot of time and effort and I suspect lot of his own money into this effort. Any contribution that the club could make would be money well spent.

Chuck :thumbup: