County seeking members for Public Lands Council

The Otero County Commission is seeking letters of interest to fill vacancies for the Public Lands Use Advisory Council committee. The only qualifications needed is that candidates must reside in Otero County.

The Otero County Public Land Use Advisory Council (PLUAC) is being pushed by Commissioner Janet White who said the council is state mandated. PLUAC will advise on uses of state managed or owned public lands.

“The Public Lands Use Advisory Council is a state mandated advisory board to county commissions. It’s my understanding that we did have one some time ago but it hasn’t been functioning for a long time,” White said. “In the process of my being charged with updating the Otero County Comprehensive Plan, I became aware that this council would be very helpful with that project as well.”

PLUAC shall be compromised of a board of nine members appointed by the Board of Otero County Commissioners. It shall also have a mission of fact finding in nature relevant to the natural resources within Otero County and all matters relating thereto and shall make recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners from time to time.

White said the members of PLUAC will be residents of the community who have an interest in how our public lands are being used in the county.

“Since there is a public lands component to our Comprehensive Plan it just seems like a natural that we would be able to use the knowledge of our citizens to advise the council, it’s as simple as that,” she said. “We have not taken advantage of this in a long time. The more input, the better the decision.”

PLUAC will develop a proposed land management system which will acknowledge and protect the split estate of individual property rights which exist on the public lands. These individual rights include recreation, hunting, fishing, wildlife watching, water, fuelwood harvesting, timber harvesting, mining and grazing.

White said when she became aware that the council was state mandated it was apparent the county was not following state law. Aside from being a helpful tool, PLUAC will also place the County in compliance with state statutes.

“When I became aware that it’s a state mandated advisory council, it was apparent to me that we weren’t following state law by not utilizing this advisory council,” she said. “Number one, it’s to get us in compliance with state statutes and the benefit is we’ll have another board to give their recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners.”

PLUAC will have the power to determine user fees, determine land uses, negotiate contracts for uses, hear appeals on disputes between the competing claims, hear appeals of all issues related to the use, operation and management of the lands, oversee management by County employees, enact and enforce rules related to land uses, advise the County Commission on all issues related to public lands and make decisions related to the intergovernmental relations bearing on public lands.

Anyone that is interested in becoming a PLUAC committee member can submit letters of interest by Friday, Nov. 27, at 9 a.m. at the Otero County Administration Building, 1101 New York Ave., Rm. 106.

“Anyone that is interested simply needs to write a letter of interest and if they have any certain qualifications that they feel might be beneficial to the council they should list them,” White said. “They should include any service on any type of board or advisory council they’ve served on and their background in what their interests are.”

These positions hold two year terms. Any inquiries may be directed to the Otero County Administration Office at 437-7427.