Juniper Acres Bulletin Board #01

Doug Curtis 9/14/07 ip=207.200.116.131
Heading south,Ochoco way ends legaly at its intersection with Sequoia.Ochoco way does start up again farther South.Please feel free to call Undersheriff Jim Hensley if you dont believe me at 541-416-3865.For some time now folks have been traveling across my property and I have made attempts to secure my rights as a private land owner. See my posting on this bulletin board dated june 6th of 2007.My property is now ditched and burmed, I have taken progressively more aggressive approaches to eliminate the tresspass on my property. If you read this please spread my message to anyone of concern you may know.Please respect my private property and please do contact the authorities to verify what I am saying. Thanks Doug Curtis

Colleen Hager 9/2/07 ip=166.129.126.115
Gary has done a wonderful study, and I’m really grateful he shared it with us.
(Juniper Acres: The Third Wave of Oregon Pioneers
Everything is always about gold, land, and who will rule over it.
This starts with World Governments and ends with families.)
My intensions, Building understanding.

The truth, God is sovereign.
Litigation,
In these days promoting Litigation is for (our golden boys and girls, THE educated) that have feeding frenzies over Landlord tenant, Water rights and Boundary lines (zoning). They profit off indifference, confusion, and strife.
NATIVISM,
The next step is to reveal the time tested method the “powers that be” get the public involved in the two party system, “so we’ll take ourselves out to vote.” Namely ( NATIVISM ).
We the People,
When We the People have been manipulated by the politicians, information (lies and half truths) get caught off guard. Apposing parties form. A divisive technique from hell. Our peace is now undermined. Strife in the hood now prevails.
Carnality, We all want peace and comfort and some think it will come from a place or regulations (control). Then we bring all the baggage that made us move from the last spot we contaminated on this earth, only to continue to contaminate our new surroundings. A product of our carnality (rebellion) living in denial.
Denial,
If we allow ourselves to be comforted by the familiar, and resistant to change. The consequences of living in (rebellion) and denial are inevitable.
The sky is falling!
Eventually, a very painful removal of all the burrs, manure (stuff) and parasites will happen in our lives just when we humans (sheep) are the weakest and change is the least welcome. Resisted change will smell like the stuff we have collected over the years whether it be thoughts or possessions.
But….. HE is a GOOD Shepherd! There is a fresh breeze in the desert. That is for ALL a life bearing aroma. It should be shared by those fortunate enough to escape the imprisonment of the stack and pack theology of the politicians who understand that good shepherds do practice annual shearing and dipping. The Truth
If you worship the creation more than the creator you will be turned over to you own depravity. It is time for all of us to put some thought into being kind, practicing mercy, living humbly, being gentile with yourself and others. Resolving issues peaceably without partaking of half truths and lies just to promote political and monetary gain. Our HOPE
As one of the WE THE PEOPLE, I have resolved to walk as softly as possible on this earth while not interfering with anybodies right to choose their own path. In this way I can personally choose life. I pray all of Juniper Acres can find a way to be at peace with your choices of how to live. Sallie forth (charge!) Resolving problems with administrative rules and legislative mandates involves continual involvement and proactive diligence. Supporting each other in this battle is much more important than undermining and doubting the integrity of one willing to use their own time and resources to preserve the peace of private property ownership. Then…………………………. Trust God for the outcome.

Cyndi Wunder 8/25/07 ip=64.136.26.226
Alan Johnston of Ash Lane: your CUP approval was wrongly sent to me. Hopefully you are monitoring this site or a friend will let you know your approval is in the mail!!

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/22/07 ip=67.59.77.123
I Thought this should be on top again;
. Lee
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.From:
Cyndi Wunder 6/27/07 ip=64.136.26.226
There were a few things I did not hear at the recent meeting at the land use meeting.

Absentee owners have as much to gain as residents from road improvements and fire safety. If they are holding their properties for profit both of these increase their profit and ability to sell. If they plan to move to Juniper Acres both of these will assist them in doing so.

Road improvements are less costly than vehicle repair. We currently have five working vehicles in order to ensure we can make to work on time. As the roads are now you never know when you’ll hit a bump the wrong way and knock some wiring lose or break a shock. Repairs are expensive as is the insurance on extra vehicles. (True we live way in the back and not everyone has roads as bad as ours). I would rather pay a nominal fee for road upkeep than wonder month to month if I will have to pay a mechanic an excessive amount to find which wire I knocked lose.

Two years ago, when we had just purchased our property, I lay sleeping in a tent on the fourth of July listening to fireworks being set off downwind and down hill from us. Let’s just say I offered up a sincere prayer that night. The area was bone dry. I have fought wildfire in my youth and know how fast it can move. As a side note without the back road into Juniper Acres many of use could be cut off in the event of a fire near Cascade Road. I would hate to be bottled in watching the fire come up hill. What am I supposed to do? Saddle my horses and try to outrun it?

Also fire safety increases our ability to sell, to build, and to insure our property. Most banks wont loan to an off grid area let alone one without the benefit of fire protection. A local insurance company has refused to talk to me about insuring the small amount of stuff I have on the property currently let alone a house.

Unlike many others I value the offgrid backwoods feel of our community. I don’t want water and power. I like the limit on light pollution and want to see the stars at night. I plan on developing my property to be as discreet as possible as I am aware that I impact other’s views. I appreciate other’s concerns to limit the community’s impact.

However the ability to drive any vehicle to the property and to insure the property would not directly impact this. I want to be able to trailer my horses, to have items delivered such as water, hay, lumber. If some fool lights a fire downwind and down hill from us I want the insurance to cover my losses.

Just my two cents...
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leesmock@yahoo.com 8/22/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Sorry ’bout the Type-O in the previous msg; The name is Joan Dudley. Not Joan Dudly....Lee

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/22/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Hello, JA owners,
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This....Just in from Crook County Commissioner Rick Wells.
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Hi,
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Tell everyone to be patient. A lot of behind the scenes work is being done. There is not much point of having another meeting until we have an understanding of what fire district there is going to be along with a road district of some type.
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Rick
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Our Thanks to Commissioner Rick Wells for all he is doing to help us. Working together we can really get something accomplished.
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We all owe a great deal of Thanks to Joan Dudly and Bev Prothro for all the work they have already done to get our roads in driving condition and help protect us and our neighbors from Fire.
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They jumped right in and started moving mountains.
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Bev has taken charge of the Road Improvement Issue and,
Joan has taken charge of the Fire Protection Program.
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These ladies are in control and I am confident our budding Road and Fire Districts are in very good hands.
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Ultimately, it is these two things, Road Improvement and Fire Protection which will enable Juniper Acres to be Re-Zoned. Re-Zoning will enable every owner to develop and live on their own property. Once we get by the States objections to our re-zoning the Conditional Use Permit will no longer be required. The limit on development should be lifted soon after the Fire and Road Departments are in place.
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We need your help. ............We need your vote.
ANY & ALL of your suggestions regarding Fire Districts and Road Districts are important to us.
Please send me your thoughts. leesmock@yahoo.com (good thoughts please). Everything will be taken into consideration.
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You can also leave your comments on the Website Bulletin Board http://www.juniperacres.net
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When the opportunity arrives
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Vote for the Road District and
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Vote for the Fire Protection District:
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...Join....Both of Them ! ! Please.
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We need them both & we need your vote!

Thank You for your Patience and Support,

Lee & Marilyn

& the entire Task Force
& Team Members

Lynn Coleman
Joe Hince
Kathy Kauffman
Bev Prothro
Mel Sallee
Lee Smock
Joan Dudley
Dan Barnes
Sue Taylor
Vernon Banta
Sharon Walleen
Faye Barnes
Jeff Cushman
Vicky Banta
Rob Stevens

Joan Dudley 8/21/07 ip=66.82.9.106
Please don’t call Judge Cooper or make an appointment to see him without discussing it first with Rick Wells for his permission! This is so important. We can’t stress it enough--this applies to everyone, even task force members.

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/20/07 ip=67.59.77.123

8/20/2007
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Hello everyone,
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Keep an eye on your ’mail inbox’ and the Juniper Acres Website http://www.juniperacres.net and US Mail.
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You will have the chance to help improve safety and increase fire protection from -0- to 100%. While at the same time protecting yourself, give everyone in Juniper Acres the same right you want. That is the right to live on their property.
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Sounds like the Great American Dream and it is and WE can do it simply by joining the Road Improvement & Fire Protection Groups when they are formed. These are things we all know we need and the County knows we need them too. They are requirements we must meet before the County will allow us to be re-zoned out of EFU. We will continue to work with the County. I believe they will continue work with us and will help us combine what we have to do with what we want to do which is, keep our rural, Extremely Rural, way of life.
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If we take control of the roads and fire protection now we will control Juniper Acres. Lose them now and obviously, we lose control of JA. The zoning will remain EFU. There may be some changes but not without a great cost to each individual fighting for their cause in court in the future.
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Bev Prothro is getting the necessary information together to put a road program in place that will do everything we’re looking for. Rural, Simple and Cheap. But Most of All SAFE. Emergency equipment such as Fire Trucks and Ambulances should be able to move quickly and safely FOR YOUR SAKE and MINE.
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Joan Dudly is Building us a Fire Department. She can build a lot of it with give-a-ways from the State.
Bulldozers, Graders, Water Trucks and other heavy equipment and light equipment too.
We will not only be able to put out fires we will be able to work on our roads with the equipment we get from the Fire Dept and it’s all legal because they will become fire roads, in a way, which have specific requirements.
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I checked with the State, they hope we do use them to improve our roads driving surface.
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There are a number of people working on this. The entire JA Task Force and the JA Team are all gathering data to add to the final outcome. This will be the result of the work of fifteen (15) Juniper Acres People.
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JA Task Force Members
Coleman, Lynn
Hince, Joe
Kauffman, Kathy
Prothro, Bev
Sallee, Mel
Smock, Lee.
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JA TeamBarnes, Dan
Taylor, Sue
Banta, Vernon
Walleen, Sharon
Barnes, Faye
Cushman, Jeff
Banta, Vicky
Stevens, Rob
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Once plans have been drawn up and show what will be done for how much and why, Then Those plans will be emailed to you and placed on the Website.
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It’s not possible to make a plan that will be the perfect plan for 1000+ people. The people involved, our JA Task Force and our JA Team will work out the best possible options and you will be given a chance to vote on them and/or join them and add your suggestions. We will keep all of you updated as often as possible. We would like to hear from you. Your input does help.
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We will definitly keep you posted on all the legal costs for Roads, Fire and Zoning.
We still have $3905 in the Legal Account.
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Public Meetings at Alfalfa Hall will NOT be held for a while. I know there will be people here from Portland and even further. I want to make sure their trip is worth it by having as much information as possible available when we do. We will Keep You Posted.
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Once we submit paperwork to the County the resistance to our re-zoning will showup. They did seven years ago in 2000, they will again.
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Now we need to know where we are by someone who Really knows.....
A Land Use Attorney... A meeting is being scheduled soon.
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Keep the website Bulletin Board active. http://www.juniperacres.net
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Thank you all who have donated your money, your time and specially your prayers.
Lee
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I emailed following letter on June 5, 2007, to every email address I had at the time.
We have added quite a few more email addresses in the last few months so here it is (again).
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I made a few small changes. i.e (removed "Rangeland" from volunteer Fire Dist./ Association.). The term "Rangeland" does not apply to us.
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Emailed- June 5, 2007
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On May 23rd, Lynn Colemn, Bev Prothro and I met with Commissioner Rick Wells. Two important things came out of the meeting.
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CC will allow FULL development of JA if:1. We form a volunteer Fire Dist./ Association.
2. We form a Road District Association to improve the roads for the school bus, fire, sheriff etc..
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Fire:
We already have a volunteer fire crew. All we have to do is make them official. When we do we also get a lot of free or very inexpensive equipment from state surplus. We may be able to join the "Brothers" Fire Dist.. The cost to join is nominal.
Approval of a fire association will require 2/3 majority of owners.
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Roads:The county will require the Road Association be formed and present a plan to repair the roads in JA meet emergency requirements to the CC Planning Dept.. Building may begin on all parcels once the PLANS are accepted by CC. Construction can begin once the Association has the money.
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Wells said the county was firm on these two requirements.
(end)
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* When the time comes - please join - both the Road and Fire Departments.
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Please Join.
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If they aren’t exactly what you want, remember;
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"You can always change them later"
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Because, you will have them to change.
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Lee

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/19/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Legal requirements Cont’d
applies to previous msg.
Read ORS 376.150-376.200
Lee

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/19/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Check out the ’Legal Requirements’ for the "Road Association"
(The Quick Way to Road Improvement)
http://www.leg.state.or.us/ors/376.html

FYI

Lee

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/19/07 ip=67.59.77.123
JA owner email to me:

Lee,
My company rushed into two software projects managed by people who had never had any project management experience developing software. They didn’t want to listen to us, the programmers, who together have 50 years of experience. Both projects ended in total failure and my company is suing one of the vendors because they didn’t carry through with the contract. The projects were completely mismanaged from the beginning by my company and the vendors. Projects need to be broken down into small steps and evaluated at each step. Rushing into this type of project could result in legal costs amounting to hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars. I have owned my lot for 38 years, and a few weeks or months is well worth the wait to make sure it is done right the first time.

The ideal scenario would be to find somebody to advise who has been successful in doing what we are trying to do to make sure that we are meeting all of the legal requirements of the county and at the same time protecting the interests of the landowners.
If my company had done what I advised them to do, which was to retain a consulting company that specialized in healthcare which is the industry my company is in, instead of using a generic consulting company that had no healthcare background, the results would have been much different. After over a year of analysis and programming, they delivered a program that was totally non-functional.

I have really enjoyed reading a devotional book that takes the Pilgrim’s Progress story and breaks it up into daily readings.
A commentary and a prayer... What we are doing in a way is not exactly a pilgrimage, but it is definitely a journey that requires very careful planning and taking things one step at a time so we don’t fall into the ditch!

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/19/07 ip=67.59.77.123

Caution!!!
We need to ensure all our "I"’s are dotted and all our "t"’s are crossed before we install "Districts" of any kind. Once they are established and the tax rate is set it is difficult to make changes, if necessary.

HOWEVER..........
Bev Prothro is working on another plan for the road improvement that can be activated without an election and without any pressing Timetable. This plan will enable us to work on all the roads not just some of them and not just part of them as we did in the past. It is simple to activate and simple to change.

I suggest we follow Bev’s lead on this and get something working right away. Doing it this way will give us the road repair we need now so desperately and still give us the time to do the "District" right and not regret the rush later.

If we are to pursue the "District" then we will have to file our paperwork with complete detail of work to be done and finances required to accomplish it by September 6, 2007, just 18 days.

We hope to have this paperwork ready soon and we will mail copies to all of you via US Mail when it is ready.

We will have to consult with our Land Use Attorney Robert Lovlien, of Bend. If you are so inclined to donate financial please mail your donation to:

Juniper Acres Newsletter
1901 SE Redwood Lane
Prineville, OR., 97754

Make checks payable to:
"Juniper Acres Newsletter"
(Road Use & Fire Protection Fund)

Feel free to email me at leesmock@yahoo.com

scott hamilton 8/16/07 ip=71.121.143.41
We, the homeowners, definitely need to take advantage of this opportunity to work with the county. I support paying now and "fine-tuning" later. We know was needs to be accomplished in terms of roads and fire protection. Everyone has worked so hard on the JA issues throughout the spring and summer. Let’s jump this next hurdle (road/fire protection) as efficiently as possible!

Scott Hamilton

Curtis Coley 8/15/07 ip=164.116.47.226
Just let me know where to mail the $100 check too. I will gladly pay my share of this.

Curtis

Bev Prothro 8/15/07 ip=67.2.56.119
Hi Lee:

My feeling are that no matter how many meetings we have, nothing will get done. We know the county needs a Road Maintenance Agreement and some kine of fire protection plan. We already have enough info to get those approved and can always refine details later.

Everyone know that if we have basic road improvement costs of say $50,000, each person will pay a proportionate share, say around $100 for a $50,000 expenditure.

I believe the main portion of the 512 property owners in JA will trust that whatever road improvements are made will be fair, just, equal, and well worth the money. All landowners will know that these costs are justified and will really increase the value of their property. Yes, taxes will increase, but that is just a fact of life that we all must deal with, and final value will be well worth it when owners wish to sell their property.

Last count, there are 51 improved (houses) properties at JA. There are very diverse opinions on how to get things accomplished. Historically, everyone has an opinion and is not shy about giving it. As a result, nothing happens.

We should already have met with the county to get down to the nitty gritty. If we wait any longer, we are mostly likely looking a next year, or the year after. That will not do. We have an opportunity NOW to work with the county to achieve the goal of making all lots buildable. I am afraid that there are some of you who do not share this goal, and you don’t want to see things change. That is why I am trying to get going and not get bogged down in appointing committee members at this early juncture. Let’s get the main issues (Road Maintenance Agreement and Fire Protection District) going, and work on the finer points later.

Thanks.

Respectfully,

Bev Prothro
Beeve@isp.com

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/14/07 ip=67.59.77.123
PS

Zoning will also be discussed.

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/14/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Hi,
Another public meeting is being planned to update everyone on the progress being made on both the fire and road depts.

Public meeting will allow everyone to input their thoughts on both fire and road districts and select a Road Committee.

I will let you know the date/time of the next meeting as soon as it is set up. Probably in 3 or 4 weeks on a Saturday.

We need to talk before we send anything out. A lot has happened with the fire dept and the Road dept.
Joan Dudley, our Fire District Chairperson is gathering a great deal of info on the fire dept.
To mail anything out at this time is putting the cart before the horse.

The paperwork has changed a lot in both districts. Everyone will want to know what they are voting on and they will want to know how much they are getting for how much money. If we sent anything out now it would be like asking them to sign a blank check.

Bev Prothro 8/14/07 ip=205.208.227.47
Hi Lee:

I have a recommendation on how we can proceed to get the job done. How about we send out the "Road Maintenance Agreement" and the requirement package of the "Rangeland Fire Protection Association (RFPA)" to all landowners. All landowners can review them, and sign their agreement to the basic requirements of each document, sign and return them. We need at least 50% of the landowner’s signatures on the Road Maintenance Agreement and 67% of the RFPA, as to intent of both, and then we can get on with the details in the future. If we work on the details first, we will most likely get bogged down and not make any real progress at all.

This way, we could make our next meeting with the County and get going on the most important issue at hand -- rezoning. We can resolve the nuts and bolts after we get county approval.

I have the samples of both documents and can get them in the mail to all landowners this week. How about it? Let’s get going!

Bev Prothro

leesmock@yahoo.com 8/4/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Update:
1. We have a meeting with the Board of Forestry next week to discuss fire protection options.
2. We should have a road improvement program laid out and presented to CC by the end of next week.
Things are going well. CC Commissioner Rick Wells is going thru a lot of work to resolve the soil questions.
Time and Patience. I know its slow but I believe we will have favorable results before too long.

For those of you who pray for these things. I do.

Mt 21:21: Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Cyndi Wunder 7/23/07 ip=64.136.26.226
I am putting Joan’s Note back to the top of the list:

"URGENT! We need to get involved as a community to get the fire and road committees going in the next 120 days. We may lose our opportunity for re-zoning and future permitting if we don’t."

The question is becoming not do we want to do this but what is our next step and can we get a move on? I can’t think of a better time to address this than right now. We should be ready to acknowledge that not everyone will agree that Juniper Acres should continue to grow but the majority do want road improvements and fire safety.

Lee Smock 7/22/07 ip=67.59.77.123
The following is an email to me that I thought everyone should read.
Lee

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Hello Lee,

first of all, thanks for all the work you and others are doing for the good of all of us who own property at Juniper Acres. I am sorry that I am not able to participate in the meetings since I live in Italy, but I have been following the developments with great interest. The recent fire, which was dangerously close to my property on Hickory Lane, underscores the importance of establishing a common fire protection policy.

You proposed two hypothetical structures:

a community Association covering all of Juniper Acres which would require some kind of civil/local government to run it;
a volunteer based Association that would respond only when members property is threatened.

Whereas both proposals have merit, I believe that it would certainly be in the best general interest to have a Fire Protection Association that would respond to all fires on any piece of land in Juniper Acres. It could become nearly impossible to protect a 10 acre plot of an Association member land owner from a brush/range/wild fire already burning on surrounding land of non-member land owners. Fires usually create their own course and a checkerboard of 10 acre plots belonging to fire association member land owners would not be a viable form of protection.

Fires start small and I think we all would agree that this is the best moment to attack a fire. But if a fire starts on land that is owned by a non-member, and if left unattended, then all of the surrounding land could soon be in imminent threat requiring much greater resources to control it. The bigger a fire becomes, the more it requires drastic fire-fighting techniques such as bull-dozing fire breaks/lines, retardant drops from the air and back-burning. Homes, structures and hundreds of acres could eventually be lost, as well as becoming extremely expensive. Property owners would have to pay for these costs in addition to seeing the value of their property drop.

Therefore, I think the only sensible Fire Protection Association would be one that includes all property owners and one that would cover the entire Juniper Acres. As unpopular as it may be, a fair tax system would have to be the economic base for realizing such a project. Volunteer work and donations of various kinds could be recognized as a form of payment. The initial expense of setting up a Fire Protection Association will not be cheap, but once big expenses such as land, structures, machinery are paid for, successive annual costs would be much more affordable.

In my opinion, the most important elements of a fire protection plan must include:

vigilance – every property owner, family members and guests should be informed of the importance of reporting fire threats immediately to a designated telephone number. Community involvement is essential;
fast reaction – all effort should be given to guaranteeing immediate response to confirmed fires;
centrally located fire station;
well equipped and trained fire fighters - a network of volunteers could be formed and perhaps organized into zones;
basic fire fighting machinery and water storage tanks.

Other important elements could be:

general burning policies
fire prevention policies
emergency exit policies
road improvement
trained paramedical personnel

I trust you will accept this contribution as a sign of my willingness to get involved in some of the topics that are currently being discussed at Juniper Acres even though I am presently on the other side of the Earth. Please keep me informed.

All the Best,
Terrell Stone

P.S. Obviously, I would like to see a vote giving all property owners the right to participate whether present or not.

David Jeffers 7/21/07 ip=72.0.175.93
Here is a link that discusses Villages and Hamlets in Oregon
C L I C K H E R E

Joan Dudley 7/21/07 ip=69.19.14.42
URGENT! We need to get involved as a community to get the fire and road committees going in the next 120 days. We may lose our opportunity for re-zoning and future permitting if we don’t. I am commited to helping with this cause to protect our investments. Please, we need all of the people we can to get involved. Help us.

Lee Smock 7/21/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Juniper Acres Meeting
Alfalfa Community Hall
7/21/07
Fire Protection Committee formed.

“A Handbook for Wildland-Urban Interface Communities” (Federal CWPP)
Step One: Convene Decisionmakers for:
Preparing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Saturday July 21, 2007 10:00-11:15
A Meeting of the local JA residents and neighbors was called at Alfalfa Community Hall @ 10:00 am to form a Fire Protection Committee.
This committee of four was formed to explore the Fire Protection options available to the Juniper Acres Community and Neighbors of Juniper Acres.
The Committee will prepare a list of options available.
They will also prepare a “Committee Recommendation” for community fire protection.
They will meet with Gordon Foster at the Oregon Bureau of Forestry in Prineville in the near future and discuss the alternative methods of dealing with wildfire/urban fires.
Certain things were obvious:
1. We have to be able to fight Structure fires like houses, garages etc. We need training and equipment to handle the chemical smoke involved and:
2. brush fires and:
3. trees, - Forest Fires
Other things were not so obvious. i.e.:
1. How do structure it? Will it be structured as a political entity and able to levy taxes? Or, will it be a voluntary base? If it is political and everyone is taxed then everyone is included and protected.
If, however, it based on volunteers then only those who join the Association will have fire protection. The law is structured in such a way that if a NON- Member’s home were on fire our fire dept COULD NOT HELP unless the owner signed a liability release. A lot of that has to do with Private Property Rights. When a person joins this type of Fire Association they sign an agreement giving the Fire Dept to enter their property for the purpose of putting that fire out. Without it the fire dept won’t go in except in the case of life in danger.
Either way we are going to need 67% of the voters. The topic of Voters was discussed. The question is: Who are the voters? Are they the people who attend the meeting when the vote is required or are the voters “The Property Owners” approximately 385 nationwide and England and Italy?
These questions and others will be answered soon. ¹

By the way---What is the difference between a “Village” and a “Hamlet”, in Federal Law, Oregon Law and Crook County Ordinances?

Lee

Lee Smock 7/15/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Community Meeting
Saturday - July 21, 2007
@ 10:00am
Alfalfa Community Hall
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Fire Protection for Juniper Acres
and
surrounding area
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A committee consisting of at least three individuals will be selected at this meeting.
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The responsibilities of this committee will be to investigate the various methods of community fire protection available.
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Please attend this meeting and support your community fire protection.
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This meeting is to address FIRE PROTECTION ONLY.
The current zoning issue with Crook County will not be addressed.

Lee Smock 7/13/07 ip=67.59.77.123
For those of you not familiar with Juniper Acres, The #2 photo shows the southern outskirts of JA in the foreground. You can see the blue drum and the fenceline. JA continues past those items about another 1/2 mile toward the fire.
Both pictures were taken from the same place, Cascade Way and Maple Lane.

David Jeffers 7/11/07 ip=72.0.175.93
I have posted the Fire pictures. You can click here PHOTO1 PHOTO2 or go to the archive section.

Lee Smock 7/10/07 ip=67.59.77.123
If you have not been receiving email updates. Please email me and let me know you want on the email list.
leesmock@yahoo.com

Chad Lockwood 7/10/07 ip=66.213.203.44
Thank you lee. I have talked to Crook County even they were not sure what the law regarding this was? I asked if perhaps i could buy the rights from another lot if i were able to find someone willing to sell the credits. They did not know if that could be done or not! Seems they having making it up as they go regarding JA. I was hopping this issue may have come up in the meeting. Im sure im not the only owner in JA wondering about this issue. On another note i look forward to the creation of a Fire Dept for JA and improved roads, I for one would be be glad to see this for a reasonable fee. Thank you and the others for your efforts in this area.Chad

Lee Smock 7/10/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Hi Chad,
Juniper Acres property has sellable building rights for one reason. In 2000 Crook County wanted to REDUCE JUNIPER ACRES DEVELOPMENT. So...they legalized selling that right.
I doubt you will ever be able to get them back while we are zoned EFU. I don’t recall any provision for buying them back.
I do not recall anything saying that it is permanent. It may be possible to get them back when JA is re-zoned to Residential.

Good Luck
Lee

Chad Lockwood 7/10/07 ip=66.213.203.44
Hi I have a question i hope somebody could answer.
I own two lots in JA which i have a small cabin on. These lots had their development credits removed just prior to my purchasing them. Crook county has said these lots are zoned recreational property, meaning no buildings over 200 sq ft and no more than six months occupancy. Does any body know what impact the proposed rezoning of Juniper acres would have on my lots if any? Ie would i then be able to apply for a building permit or occupy longer than six months? Would i, could i buy the missing credits? I have looked and not found any information about this.
Thank You

Lee Smock 7/10/07 ip=67.59.77.123

There’s nothing to do right now except talk to all the JA neighbors/residents you know and encourage them to vote for or join the RFPA when the time comes.
The first thing is to have a JA public meeting, coming soon, and choose a comittee to draw up the paperwork. People need to know what they’re voting on. A comittee member does not have to be a resident or JA property owner. The comittee membership and fire agreement paperwork are both open to all JA owners/residents & neighbors.

Lee Smock 7/10/07 ip=67.59.77.123
There are obviously two points we have to deal with.
1. Fire. A very real threat as we have seen this week.
2. Roads. Good roads are necessary if those fire trucks are to get where they are needed when they are needed to save lives and property.
Cyndi wrote about saving automobile repair costs if the roads were improved. Truer words were never spoken. It probably costs each JA owner more in car repair than it would for road repair.
These are two common sense item that should be on our community agenda even if Crook County did not require them.
Also, we need a road association in place before the county will release the 5000 cu yds of gravel.

Greg and Stacy Emele 7/9/07 ip=71.107.141.184
As a community resident or absent owner, we need to address the current road conditions and participation in a fire protection district. How can we do this? Let’s communicate with each other and discuss ideas on how to accomplish this important need. We all will benefit from improved roads and fire protection.

The gravel offered as a donation to JA by the county should be accepted and stockpiled ASAP. Where can we store the gravel for later use? Better, accept the grave and apply it to the roads as it is delivered. Perhaps we hire a company to do this. Stacy and I are willing to support financially this endeavor.

I would like to hear other opinions, please.

Greg and Stacy Emele

Lot 70, JA

Absent owner

Vishnu Benkert 7/9/07 ip=66.39.166.42
Fire update - For those who may be away from home (Juniper Acres), but able to get to the internet.....

I just talked to a friend, at my house on Acacia, who is watching the fire with a strong pair of binoculars. He said that ground crews have a large presence right now, a helicopter is dropping water again today, and a slurry bomber is making runs. The slurry bomber is a bigger plane than they were using to bomb yesterday.

On another note, we may not be out of the woods yet. Weather alerts are showing very hot temperatures throughout the rest of the week, and a warning about a system that will be over Oregon Tuesday or Wednesday through Friday. This system isn’t supposed to bring much (if any) rain, but is supposed to bring strong wind gusts and quite a bit more lightning.

We have been watching the fire, the firefighters, and their airborne efforts very carefully since seing the lightning strike Thursday night. I believe that they hitting the fire hard today, before the weather comes in over the next few days.

I am working in Bend, and have not found any other sources for updates. Could someone post something here if they know of a place to get information?

Doug Curtis 7/8/07 ip=207.200.116.131
I own property bodering JA. Some folks have begun using my property as a short cut in recent years.I have posted my property to no avail. I recently fenced and gated this short cut that takes off at the corner of Ochoco Way and Seqoia. The gate was promptly removed and stolen. I posted my name and number in an attempt to answer any questions arising from my efforts to secure my private property. If you know anything or were responsible I would appreciate the chance to explain my position. Please call me if you have questions or can provide me with info on whom I may contact regarding these recent events. Thanks Doug Curtis 595-6456

Lee Smock 7/8/07 ip=67.59.77.123
FIRE!...FIRE!...FIRE!

Support “Rangeland Fire Protection Association”
(RFPA)

For the last three days, July 6th, 7th & 8th, there has been a fire 4 or 5 miles south of JA. It took BLM two days to get it under control. . The fire burned several hundred acres. If that fire had been in JA, BLM & Crook County would NOT have helped put out the fire until it was close enough to threaten BLM land.
We were lucky the wind was almost calm. As dry as it is out here it doesn’t take long for a fire to move 4 or 5 miles if it has a good wind behind it. It could have been in JA in a matter of minutes.

This is a wake up call.
We need fire protection.
Please get behind this very necessary need.

“Rangeland Fire Protection Association”
(RFPA)

Lee Smock 7/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Fire under control at 9:15pm Pacific

Lee Smock 7/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
It looks like the fire is under control and JA is not in danger.

This is typical of what could and did happen here in JA this time of year. Lightning strikes started over 20 fires in central Oregon in the last few days and this was one of them. Next time it may be a lot closer. We need to be prepared.
Lee

Lee Smock 7/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Time of last bulletin 7:45pm Pacific

Lee Smock 7/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
The fire has crested the ridge just south of Walnut Lane (juniper Acres)
If you’re in the area you might want to think about coming out to JA and bring firefighting equipment. Shovels etc.

Lee Smock 7/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Correction It is called the "Millican East" fire

Lee Smock 7/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Update on the 虠 fire"7/7/07 5:40pm Pacific Time.
Called the 400 fire because it has now consumed about 400 acres.
It is about 2 miles north of Hwy 20 and 6 miles east of Millican Rd. intersection headed east.

Lee Smock 7/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
For those who ask, "Do we need a fire dept". I say, "Look south about two miles from Juniper Acres and you will see the smoke from a fire.
It has been going all night. It is on BLM property. Last night, for a while, the fire was headed in our direction".It Is still, very much, burning.
"YES! We need a Fire Dept of our own".

Cyndi Wunder 6/27/07 ip=64.136.26.226
There were a few things I did not hear at the recent meeting at the land use meeting.

Absentee owners have as much to gain as residents from road improvements and fire safety. If they are holding their properties for profit both of these increase their profit and ability to sell. If they plan to move to Juniper Acres both of these will assist them in doing so.

Road improvements are less costly than vehicle repair. We currently have five working vehicles in order to ensure we can make to work on time. As the roads are now you never know when you’ll hit a bump the wrong way and knock some wiring lose or break a shock. Repairs are expensive as is the insurance on extra vehicles. (True we live way in the back and not everyone has roads as bad as ours). I would rather pay a nominal fee for road upkeep than wonder month to month if I will have to pay a mechanic an excessive amount to find which wire I knocked lose.

Two years ago, when we had just purchased our property, I lay sleeping in a tent on the fourth of July listening to fireworks being set off downwind and down hill from us. Let’s just say I offered up a sincere prayer that night. The area was bone dry. I have fought wildfire in my youth and know how fast it can move. As a side note without the back road into Juniper Acres many of use could be cut off in the event of a fire near Cascade Road. I would hate to be bottled in watching the fire come up hill. What am I supposed to do? Saddle my horses and try to outrun it?

Also fire safety increases our ability to sell, to build, and to insure our property. Most banks wont loan to an off grid area let alone one without the benefit of fire protection. A local insurance company has refused to talk to me about insuring the small amount of stuff I have on the property currently let alone a house.

Unlike many others I value the offgrid backwoods feel of our community. I don’t want water and power. I like the limit on light pollution and want to see the stars at night. I plan on developing my property to be as discreet as possible as I am aware that I impact other’s views. I appreciate other’s concerns to limit the community’s impact.

However the ability to drive any vehicle to the property and to insure the property would not directly impact this. I want to be able to trailer my horses, to have items delivered such as water, hay, lumber. If some fool lights a fire downwind and down hill from us I want the insurance to cover my losses.

Just my two cents...

Lee Smock 6/24/07 ip=67.59.77.123

The following is an email from a JA owner.

1. Create a homeowners Association: This will help satisfy CC’s interest and in the long run will help maintain JA to whatever standard is desired. We can make these as strict or liberal as people want. I currently live in development with a HA and our property value is consistently higher than those that don’t. I understand the "rub" people have with HA, but it allows the residents to expect some type of standard. I believe this is a fair compromise and will require some work on behalf of the JA residents. These associations are only successful if they are run with a board that is fair and objective and realistic goals that are attainable.

2. I would like to see better roads period! These roads don’t have to be custom black top, but they definitely need to be level and not full of potholes. Not only would emergency vehicle access improve, but so would the general appearance of JA. I don’t mind paying a increase in road tax for better roads.

3. Fire protection: As a career firefighter I have an obvious interest in this topic. In addition, I have a special place in my heart for rural fire protection. In 1992 I started my career with Prineville FD. These days training is very time intensive and equipment is very expensive. It is possible to create a well trained group of volunteers and I am sure CCF&R would be willing to help. Perhaps we could consider building a substation in JA like they did in Juniper Canyon and Powell Butte. We may have to pay an additional tax, but nothing in life is free.

I continue to get more excited about the prospect of "modernizing" JA. At the same time, my wife and I want to preserve some of the traditional values of CC and the surrounding landscape. We would eventually like to see water and power to the area with roads that are easy to access. We can visualize 5 or 10 acre minimums and homes that have a variety of central oregon landscaping. We would oppose true residential development or light commercial. JA needs to retain some of the high desert charm coupled with some modern conveniences. Thank you for all your hard work and feel free to respond with your thoughts.

Lee Smock 6/23/07 ip=67.59.77.123
The following are minutes from the June 21st meeting.
Please post your comments on the bulletin board.
Thanks Lee

Juniper Acres Land Use Meeting June 21, 2007
Alfalfa Community Hall Alfalfa, OR.

“On February 21, 2007 The Court appointed seven members to the Juniper Acres Task Force.
The seven members are: Crook County Planning Commission Member Rick Wells as chair, Juniper Acres residents Lee Smock, Kathy Kauffman and Joe Hince as members.
Non-residents of the subdivision nominated by Court members as follows: Judge Cooper’s nominee Bev Prothro, Commissioner McCabe’s nominee Mel Sallee and Commissioner Lundquist’s nominee Lynn Coleman.
The role of the committee is to recommend solutions to facilitate helping residents of the area who have unpermitted dwellings on property within the subdivision become compliant and to recommend how future and further development within the subdivision should be addressed.”

MEETING ATTENDANCE:
All seven members of the Task Force were present at the meeting.
Approximately 75 persons in attendance.

COMMISSIONER WELLS OPENED THE MEETING:
Judge Cooper wants to resolve JA issue. CC wants to be free of responsibility of JA
Everything, home improvement, road improvement and fire district, done for Safety reasons.
Crook County would approve of the development of all JA properties if JA residents would form a Fire Association and a Home Owners Association which would include a Road Association.
Even if CC would approve JA would still have to deal with DLCD and ODF&W.

ROADS:
Improve roads to handle Emergency Vehicles, School Buses and emergency egress of residents in case of wildfire.
The first requirement to form a road association is to form a home owners association. A Home owners association requires 50% of property owners to sign on.
5,000 cu yds of gravel will be donated by Crook County to the Road Assoc.
CC will oppose any additional CUP’s over 150 until fire and road assoc’s are formed and road improvement plan presented.
Luthy Road access thru BLM to Four Corners. Safety fire exit through BLM land.
Will property taxes go up if the road is improved? I believe that as long as the roads remain dirt with some gravel they will not increase taxes. I will have to check into this one.

RANGELAND FIRE ASSOCIATION requires 66% of owners to sign on.
10 acres in JA to be giver by CC for fire dept
Training and equipment for little or no cost
Mike Cade offered his fire fighting experience to the fire dist
Volunteer fire dept very expensive / Rangeland Fire Dist is less expensive

ZONING:
Zoning restrictions for EFU is one home per 40 acres - JA is EFU (Type 7 & 8 soil) and winter deer range. (80% of CC is winter deer range)
JA should have been zoned something other than EFU-1 in 1976
Wells- In retrospect the TDC’s were not a good idea.
Do Not Disturb the Green Area, JA. -- (All Solar and Wind Power area)

HOME IMPROVEMENTS:
No time limit set yet on completion of improvements
Community cooperation helping with labor etc for improvements
Engineer or architect to sign off on existing buildings with minimum, county wide standards.

UN-PERMITTED DWELLINGS:
CC began cleanup in 2000
CC to come down hard on all new illegal/unpermitted “dwellings” in JA
CC has a list of all those who are not compliant

SOIL TEST:
The results of the soil testing by NRCS which began in 2000 is not yet approved and will not be official until all of Crook County has been tested. The soil testing for JA is complete but the results cannot be used until they are approved.
Commissioner Rick Wells will check on the status of the soil testing by NRCS. Larry Thomas, JA resident, volunteered to assist commissioner Wells.

CONCLUSIONS:
Simply Re-Zone us and we will handle the rest as JA grows.
Commissioner Wells said he would look into it.

Some of those speaking:
Mike Cain
Dan Donaldson
Joan Dudly
Glenn Green
Dave Jeffers
Wesley Richie
Larry Thomas
Maria Yankus

AGENCY’S
DLCD: Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. http://www.lcd.state.or.us/
ODF&W: Oregon Dept of Fish & Wildlife http://www.dfw.state.or.us/agency/
NRCS: Natural Resources Conservation Service (Dept of Agriculture) http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/about/
BLM: Federal Bureau of Land Management http://www.blm.gov/wo/st/en.html

*EFU: Exclusive Farm Use (Oregon zone)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

COMMENTS: (by Lee Smock)
As long as we are zoned “EFU” any new application to build will need to first apply for a “CUP” (Conditional Use Permit). A CUP is subject to “Appeal” by anyone and that’s where the “Conditional” comes in. You can build on the CONDITION everyone agrees to you doing it. If someone disagrees they can appeal your application. Their appeal may result in your application to build being denied. The appeal can be made by people who don’t even live in JA and may not even own any JA property.

WE MUST BE RE-ZONED OUT OF “EFU”

WE MUST BE RE-ZONED TO A RESIDENTIAL/RECREATIONAL USE AREA.

WHEN WE ARE RE-ZONED RR- THEN THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT WILL NO LONGER BE REQUIRED.

Juniper Acres was created in 1962. JA was zoned EFU-1 in 1976-77 because Crook County officials simply BLANKET ZONED huge areas as a matter of convenience and lack of funds to do otherwise.
JA should NEVER have been zoned EFU.
Unfortunately, as long as we are zoned EFU, the creation of a Road Association and a Fire Association will not help us that much for full development. Even if CC will not oppose JA development there are a lot of other people who would.
HOWEVER, even though the creation of Road and Fire Associations is not the silver bullet we would hope for they are definitely things we need especially if we are to grow in population. Currently there is NO Official fire protection for Juniper Acres. We could have Fire protection and better roads for probably around $50 a Year. That would give us improved dirt roads with some gravel. It would also enable us to build a structure to house our fire trucks we obtain from the state for no more than $750 each.

Please let me know your comments

Lee

David Jeffers 6/22/07 ip=72.0.175.93
The audio recording for the June 21, 2007 Meeting has been posted in the Archive Section. Land_Use_Meeting_2007_06_21.mp3
This section works better if you save the files to your computer before viewing.

Lee Smock 6/9/07 ip=67.59.77.123
ATTENTION!
USDA LOW INTEREST LOANS
• One percent interest rate loans
• Repayment up to 20 years
• Loans may be made up to $20,000
• Grants available for essential repairs for qualified applicants

Example: A $5,000 loan = $23 per month payment

Come to the meeting at Alfalfa Community Hall on June 21st and learn more.

Lee

Lee Smock 6/8/07 ip=67.59.77.123
MEETING ON JUNE 21st....
Two things on the agenda. These two things are Crook County’s main concerns because of fire safety for the resident’s of JA.
1. Roads that can handle safe fire evacuation of resident’s of 500 homes in JA if and when needed.
2. Volunteer fire dept in JA for supression of any fire in JA or nearby fire that threatens JA.

If these two things are resolved then Crook County will probably open JA for full development.

Come to the meeting on the 21st and learn more.

** There is currently NO FIRE PROTECTION FOR JUNIPER ACRES.
Crook County WILL NOT respond to a fire in JA. They are limited by law.
Lee
leesmock@yahoo.com

Lee Smock 6/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
P.S.
If you are not sure if I have your E-mail address then please e-mail me. Just say "Put me on the JA list".
e-mail:leesmock@yahoo.com

Lee Smock 6/7/07 ip=67.59.77.123
There will be two people taking notes and Dave Jeffers, our webmaster will be recording the meeting. The notes will be posted within 1 or 2 days. I will have the next Newsletter mailed out a few days after that and Dave will put it on the web site. I will notify everyone by email as they are posted.

Lee

Doug Curtis 6/6/07 ip=207.200.116.131
Good evening. Although I intend to attend the meeting in Alfalfa on the 21st I may be out of town. Iam sure there are probably others in similiar situations. Is there anyone willing to take minutes of the meeting and post them so we can all stay informed. thank you for your consideration in this important matter. Doug Curtis

Lee Smock 6/5/07 ip=67.59.77.123
Hello everyone, I hope you can make the meeting at Alfalfa Community Hall on June 21st. I’m sure it will be a lively meeting AND I think what Commissioner wells has to say may surprise you.
PLEASE BE THERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Greg Emele 5/29/07 ip=71.107.134.169
Hi. We own parcel 70 located in Unit one of Juniper acres. We plan to visit the area June 1, 2007. Is there anyone that can help me navigate the paperwork to apply for a coditional use permit? My email address is emeleg@verizon.net

Buz Quinlan 5/7/07 ip=66.236.16.146
I was wondering what the status is with
the zoning and planning issues. Please let me know. buzq@comcast.net

Lyle Curtis 4/8/07 ip=207.200.116.131
I am sending you 50 dollars to help your cause. I own 10 ac. (lot 4100) on Myrtlewood that I purchased a few years ago. This land has a real history for me, as my grandparents and family homesteaded about 1200 ac. of this land from 1907-1919. They were the Wilson’s and Curtis’s and most of their land was in sections 4 and 5. My 10 ac. is a small part of my great grandfather’s(Lewis R. Wilson) acreage. My two sons have purchased lots which are part of the old homestead also. Their lots are on Redwood and Oak.

I have pictures taken during the homestead years, as my grandmother(Lillie (Wilson) Curtis had a photo studio in Prineville prior to marriage to my grandfather, Ellsworth Curtis.

Buz Quinlan 3/5/07 ip=66.236.16.146
I want to thank all the people who are working towards the protection of our property. Along with my donation I would also like to offer my support of time. Keep up the good work.

jonathan lunger 3/3/07 ip=71.56.139.105
We own a lot there and want to say thanks for all you’re doing, we’ll be adding our good thoughts and prayers to our $50.00

Jessica Arendt 3/1/07 ip=131.252.189.49
We own a lot way back on Ash. Thanks for all your hard work with the rezoning and the newsletter/website. We will be sending in our $50 along with many good thoughts and prayers for our cause.

scott hamilton 2/26/07 ip=71.112.163.162
I used to live in Prineville and now live north of Seattle. We own 10 acres in JA and would be happy to donate money for the cause! Keep up the hard work.

Wayne Lannen 2/26/07 ip=208.100.136.100
Hi As you can read we have a great leadership team working on the re-zoning for Juniper Acres. It is now up to us, the land owners in Juniper Acres to provide the finacial assistance to complete the task at hand. I hope we can raise the money!
I am donating $50.00. Pual Kenninston is also donating $50.00. I hope the rest of you can do the same. We all need this to happen!!

Wrenn Beadle Gooding 2/3/07 ip=64.12.116.139
Hi My brother and I own a lot on Redwood. My father was one of the first owners of property in Juniper Acres and always dreamed of retireing there. My parents have passed and now it is my dream to live in this little piece of heaven.

David Jeffers 1/7/07 ip=72.0.175.93
Read the Bend Bulletin Article on Juniper Acres H E R E