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Land use in and around Kearny is in the spotlight. The town council has been asked by the railroad to evaluate the current agreement for the use of the OHV access trail that allows non-licensed off-road vehicles a way to enter and exit town without using the public streets.
This access is typically used by our citizens, and/or visitors, that have four-wheelers or dirt bikes that are not street legal. There have been numerous citizens that own and ride horses, who use this route rather than riding down the public streets. It was under consideration by the Town Council to just abandon the current easement. I asked for a time to obtain public input. The Council Members said they would love to have your input, so, I volunteered to put out petitions.
The construction of this trail was paid for with grant funds that created the Mescal Mountain OHV Park and Trail system. In light of all the recent land closures, in and around Kearny, marked by the red and white no trespassing signs and new fences, this access is one of the only remaining access routes that allows anyone who goes horseback riding, motorcycle riding, ATV riding, a safe way in and out of town.
We need to keep this access route to avoid the problems that my friends and I had riding our motorcycles in and out of Kearny in the 70s. The very route that is now the current trail was the one where we had to use excessive speed to flee the pursuing local authorities, who thought that we should push our motorcycles all the way to the end of city limits. This sometimes ended well and, other times, ended with tickets and unhappy parents. The purpose of this trail was to create a safe and legal access for our citizens.
Over the years, we have lost so many of the things that were placed here for our kids and grandkids that we cannot afford to give up this access. Petitions will be placed around town, asking for your support to keep this easement open. Residents and non-residents who use our parks, land and lake are encouraged to sign the petition. A video of the access trail can be viewed by going to YouTube.com; then, type in the search box: Kearny Land Access.
Please share this letter and the video on Facebook, Twitter, etc. Please understand: the Kearny Town Council is aware of this petition and would like your input. Also, they would like to have some volunteer help in maintaining the brush on the trail.
/s/ James Hosea
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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