Dissapointing new Quimby land purchase eyed in Augusta
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By Francis X. Quinn, Associated Press Writer
AUGUSTA, Maine --A working group that is expected to follow up on a land deal expanding Baxter State Park convened Monday and immediately took up a more recent development -- a 25,000 acre purchase nearby by conservationist Roxanne Quimby.
Members of the ad hoc group brought together by Gov. John Baldacci were careful to note that the new acquisition reported by state officials involved private entities, but called the sale disappointing...
Francis X. Quinn is a Maine writer. He has covered the State House for the Associated Press for many years.
Where was the boob tube media?
In the forest? I didn't hear it either...
Francis X. Quinn is a Maine writer. He has covered the State House for the Associated Press for many years.
Francis X. Quinn is indeed a longstanding Augusta based Maine AP writer. He is also generally on the left side of cultural and economic matters.
A story broken first by WLOB Kevin Crocker on Saturday morning September 9th !!!!
I heard it there first!!!!
He interviewed Rep David Trahan on the subject extensively.
Then he talked more in depth with the president of the Maine Snowmobiler's Association.
There are lots of Medway, Millinocket and other small town motels, gas stations and other business owners who are very concerned. If they have to wait around for a couple of years while trails are relocated it will be the final dispatch shot to their tourist industry. They've all just had a no-snow winter and a summer with high gas prices conspiring to keep tourist dollars away.
It is interesting to note that the first mention of this sale comes from the Boston Globe rather than a member of the Maine press.
The story above is from the Augusta bureau of the AP. Maine Public Radio also had the story tonight.
A story broken first by WLOB Kevin Crocker on Saturday morning September 9th !!!!
I heard it there first!!!
Actually, it was broken on AMG first, as usual. 9/8 by BlueJay
You may have already heard, but Roxanne Quimby has apparently purchased more land east of Katahdin, in fact abutting the Katahdin Lake land potentially being added to Baxter Park. This latest aquisition includes the lower half of T3R8 and upper portion of T2R8. These parcels are being sold to her by Haynes Inc. and the Cassidy heirs.
Bad news, but what could be done about it?
Would people rather have the state purchase it? I assume not.
I think the issue is whether or not the state knew of the pending Quimby purchase at the time they were selling the Park expansion so hard. The piece they "compromised" on, allowing traditional uses on 1/3 of the Katahdin Lake piece, is now essentially cut off from the very hunters, fisherman, trappers and snowmobilers who have been promised access to it.
I think I heard somewhere that the state has been involved in the purchase of some 6 million acres under Baldacci. Anyone verify that? How much of that have traditional uses been restricted from?
Actually, it was broken on AMG first, as usual. 9/8 by BlueJay
Right. That's where I first read about it, too. So does Bluejay get the mug for uncovering the best news story? Sounds to me like a good contender.
The Distributist wrote:
Actually, it was broken on AMG first, as usual. 9/8 by BlueJay
Right. That's where I first read about it, too. So does Bluejay get the mug for uncovering the best news story? Sounds to me like a good contender.
Gee, thanks, Mediadog. That's very kind of you. I didn't think about the contest. I just wanted to get the word out. My pulse was roaring.
GUYS,
THE KEY TO THIS STORY IS THAT THE SECRET COMMITTEE OPERATING OUT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION HAS THIS PIECE OF LAND AS WELL AS A LIST OF OTHERS TARGETED FOR THIS KIND OF PURCHASE, THERE IS A NEED FOR AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE D.O.C.'S CONNECTION TO THIS PURCHASE AS WELL AS THE GROUPS GOALS AND FUNCTION W/IN OR FOR THAT MATTER W/O THE DEPT.
SOMETHING IS DEFINATELY ROTTEN IN AUGUSTA.
Actually I think the real story here might be the possible collusion between the backcountry project, MAGIC, the DOC and others to force the Park issue without ever really having to say park. The people of Maine have been had and they have no one but John E. Baldacci, Pat McGowan and the Legislature to blame for this travest. I wonder if Michelle Anderson has the ability to chime in and tell us how the people of Millinocket feel about Matt Polstein now that Quimby has purchased this land and there is an email from the backcountry project where Polstein suggested she purchase this tract of land.
Rural Cleansing at its best. And just think there is a major push to lock up all this land in the name of preservation when we cannot afford maintain the current government managed and controled lands at both the state and federal level.
Tony
Should Roxanne Quimby not be allowed to buy property because we don't like what she does with it?
Should Roxanne Quimby not be allowed to buy property because we don't like what she does with it?
And therein lies the problem. Sure, we'd like to see traditional access preserved. But at what cost?
The problem is that the piece she purchased now leaves no access to get to the piece of land that was "so graciously" :roll: kept open for public access for sportsmen as part of the legislature's Katahdin Lake project. Now, we can't even get to that piece, so we get screwed again.
GunGirl~ That was no accident.
Should WalMart not be able to buy property because we don't like what they're going to do with it?
Isn't this just another situation like "WalMart?"
GunGirl~ That was no accident.
No crap. Didn't say it was.
A missing piece of this puzzle: Government money skewing the normal give-and-take of North Woods real estate. Federal programs, i.e. Forest Legacy, Land and Water Conservation Fund, and also State programs (often with fed matching dollars) i.e. Land for Maine's Future - give NGO's and the government multi-millions of dollars with which to scoff up this land. Not to mention the power and intimidation by government/NGOs on private landowners.
skf
"John Baldacci’s re-election campaign cannot spin this simple fact: Sportsmen in Maine have lost access to thousands of acres of land in the North Maine Woods under John Baldacci’s Katahdin Lake Project. It was a bad deal for Maine people when John Baldacci signed the bill, and it is a bad deal today. This is yet another attempt to compensate for poor public policy."
She buys thae land she should be able to do with it and allow what public uses she wants as long as it complies with state law. Isn't that what I've read on this forum many times before?
If she buys the land she should be able to do what she wants with it and allow what public uses she wants as long as it complies with state law. Isn't that what I've read on this forum many times before?
Governor proposes access plan for parcel linked to park expansion
September 22, 2006
MILLINOCKET, Maine --Gov. John Baldacci on Friday offered a plan to guarantee access to 2,000 acres of public land near Baxter State Park in light of a recent purchase of a larger parcel by a conservationist who has barred hunters and snowmobilers from her properties.
plan was designed to hold together a delicately crafted land-use compromise that allows Katahdin Lake to become part of the 200,000-acre wilderness park.
If she buys the land she should be able to do what she wants with it and allow what public uses she wants as long as it complies with state law. Isn't that what I've read on this forum many times before?
Quimby can do what she wants with her land, as Maine Reconquistors, we can do as we wish to gain access to the land. We won't be looking for any welfare or such with our rightful gain of our homeland anywho.
Quimby can do what she wants with her land, as Maine Reconquistors, we can do as we wish to gain access to the land. We won't be looking for any welfare or such with our rightful gain of our homeland anywho.
Are you suggesting taking over private property and using it as you wish regardless of what the owner wants?
It appears to work for our southern neighbors, it was tongue in cheek.
Roxanne is one part of a large problem. The large problem is enviro/NGOs such as The Nature Conservancy working in tandem with the state and federal governments, amassing an enormous database of Maine land, which is then used to cherry pick pieces such as the latest Katahdin land deal. Another part of the equation is the multi-millions of taxpayer dollars funneled to these projects and NGOs from the state and fed governments.
I don't think Roxanne will hang onto her land. I think she'll end up flipping it to the government and/or an NGO.
skf
Scott ~ Isn't that the norm?
Imagine the millions Plum Creek spent on developing their own land while Maine Government Opposes the investment on our dime.
Baldacci's hatchet squad has prevented private landowners from bridging Wassataquoik Stream for years. They also prevented snowmobile clubs from bridging it. The original bridge is rotten and safe only for hikers. Now he claims he can build a road in there for $25,000. Logging roads cost from $7 to $10 a foot depending on the terrain. That country is very rocky so we will be looking at $10 or more. That's a half mile road. It won't begin to reach the property.
Look in your Delorme Atlas on Page 51 There is an existing road going north through the middle of Soldiertown Twp. The next town north is T3 R7. See the cross hatched land there? That is Baldacci's barrier. The bridge across Wassataquoik Stream would be on state land. Now, 45 days before the election he says he'll allow access. He said he would bring high speed internet service to rural Maine too. Don't count on it.
Meanwhile, timber companies had to build expensive roads south from the Matagamon Road and west of the East Branch of the Penobscot becauise he would not allow Wassataquoik Stream to be bridged. Now that their roads are built and their cost of operations made expensive he's talking about a bridge. Don't count on it.
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It is interesting to note that the first mention of this sale comes from the Boston Globe rather than a member of the Maine press. State officials have been quiet about this one. The warning issued by Sen. Paul Davis last spring has come to pass and some are sitting in Augusta with egg on their faces.