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BLM gives Moss notice to vacate premises |
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Friday, 24 April 2009 |
Her facility is supported by 4-H, but not an official site
By Stacey Powells
Mammoth Times Staff Writer
 Submitted Photos Kids get their goats out at Mcgee Creek Pond for their first spring walk and boulder hopping. Lex Quintero, Hayley Moss, Natalie Jarvis and Talia Moss.
During the summer of 2008 the BLM received a complaint from someone who did not want Moss and her animals in the neighborhood.
BLM Field Director at the time, Bill Dunkelburger, determined that the current location of the 4-H facility was no longer appropriate, even though Moss was in compliance under the BLM land use criteria. He said the verbal agreement they had made 10 years prior was no longer valid.
“They have not yet given us a date in which we have to vacate,” said Moss who runs the 4-H club. “The letter requested more information about the facility and I responded immediately but have still not heard back from the BLM.”
Moss told the Times last year that if the BLM forces her to vacate the premises, she will have to shut it down in its entirety.
The 4-H facility provides many benefits for both the local community and visitors: education opportunities, fund-raising events and entertainment for both Mono and Inyo counties. It works in cooperation with schools, pre-schools, youth and service clubs and with the local disabled veterans program.
Also, the petting zoos that have been a staple at Village events and local art shows have been courtesy of Kay Moss and the local 4-H.
“If they shut us down we’ll have to find homes for all the animals and there will be no more petting zoos for special occasions.”
Kay Moss is asking the public for letters of support to be sent to Congressman Buck McKeon as well as other leaders in the community.
“Yes we did send her a notice that she will have to move the animals off the property,” said acting Field Manager for the BLM-Bishop Field Office Steve Nelson. “She doesn’t have a legal authorization to be where she is. We really have no ability within the context of our land use plan to entertain any kind of long-term authorization for that type of use.”
Nelson said that they’ve been proceeding slowly to give Moss plenty of opportunities to take care of what she needs to take care of.
Inyo/Mono County 4-H Director Yvonne Wood indicated that Moss’s facility is not an official 4-H program. In order for it to be identified as a 4-H Farm, where youth members can house their project animals, there should be a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in place with the landowner.
“We establish an MOU with whomever’s land we are using, but for some reason this never happened with the land where Kay now has her animals,” Wood said.
“We understand she had an informal, verbal agreement with someone at the BLM years ago and we don’t want her to lose whatever 4-H activities she has going on, but she does not have an official 4-H facility,” Wood stated.
Wood added that 4-H can’t officially own the animals. It is a program where children can learn about the economics of raising market animals that they have purchased themselves and as soon as the Junior Livestock Auction is over, the animals are removed and their facilities would remain empty until the next round of animals were brought in.
However, Wood confirmed that Moss’ contributions to 4-H are highly valued.
“We want to help support her continued 4-H activities,” Wood said.
Wood also said that Inyo/Mono County 4-H Youth Development Program representative Stephen Park has been in communication with several local entities to try and find land for Moss’ operation to relocate to. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 30 April 2009 )
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