HomeMy WebLinkAbout018 96 State of Washington
COUNTY OF JEFFERSON
SUPPORTING THE WASHINGTON
TIMBER COUNTIES POSITION ON
TRUST RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES
RESOLUTION NO. 18-96
Whereas, Jefferson County contains some 200,000 acres of timber land, managed
in trust by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR); and,
Whereas, the trust respOnsibilities in the management of these lands has long been
held to mean these forest lands will be managed, on a sustainable yield basis, to provide the
greatest possible return to trust beneficiaries; and,
Whereas, this management responsibility and principle was upheld and articulated
by the Washington State Supreme Court in the case of County of Skamania v. State of
Washington, 102 Wn. 2d 127, 685 P2d 576 (1984); and,
Whereas, this principle is at stake, and is being challenged by DNR in a suite filed
by Okanogan County entitled Okanogan County et al., v. Jennifer M. Belcher, et al.; and,
Whereas, a change in the trust management responsibility will have a very real
adverse economic impact to the beneficiaries of the trust; namely state and local schools,
counties and local taxing districts, such as fire, libraries and the like; and,
Whereas, these units of government can ill afford any decrease in revenues
received from trust lands due to a change in the principle of trust management and responsibility.
Now Therefore Be It Resolved, that Jefferson County hereby supports and joins
with the coalition of timber counties in any and all efforts to maintain and defend the trust
responsibilities and principles articulated by the Washington Supreme Court in Skamania (1984).
Approved this~,Xh'fi day of February, 1996.
Lorna Delaney, CMC
Clerk of the Board
JEFFERSON COUNTY
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