READ THIS!!! - OHV Funds to help State Parks

[xj-rick]

The state is trying to take OHV money for State parks. Val posted up on co4x4 about it. Vote has been delayed 'till tomorrow.

http://www.colorado4x4.org/vbb/showthread.php?t=145479

Write emails, call, fax, smoke signals, what ever we have to do. I dont know about you guys, but I think this is getting old.

[Kittrell]

NAXJA has responded in an official capacity. Please guys, pick up your phones, or simply send an email. This CANNOT happen.


OHV Funds For State Parks Use

Senators and Representatives,

As you know the Colorado State Parks OHV Registration Program is of great importance to all OHV enthusiasts. The benefits afforded by this program are vital in keeping our trails open, clean, and maintained. I have copied these benefits verbatim from the Sate Parks website as a reminder. This funding makes it possible for current and future generations to enjoy a big part of what makes Colorado a great State. Taking money from this great program to dump into the general fund is ludicrous and unacceptable. This grant program is for the benefit of all off highway vehicle enthusiasts. Reallocating the funds into the state park funds in NO WAY benefits these individuals. How can the program be expected to operate on such little capital? I implore you to look elsewhere for your funds. Leave this money where it is really needed, the OHV community demands it. Please do not dismantle our most prized means of recreation.


Where the money goes: Benefits of the OHV Registration Program

The Colorado OHV Registration Program fees fund trail maintenance, construction, trailheads, parking areas, trail signs, maps, and land acquisition. It also enables law enforcement personnel to identify and return stolen vehicles, encourages safe and responsible OHV use, and promotes respect for public lands.
Many different groups benefit from OHV registration, including:

* OHV owners and operators;
* Towns and counties that want to attract OHV recreators to enhance their local economies; and
* The general public; educated OHV enthusiasts are more conscientious and better stewards of the land.

Registration funds also enable local, state and federal land managers to better manage our natural resources.
Annually, this direct benefit to enthusiasts funds $1.5 million in trail opportunities and improvements.



Sincerely,


DJ Kittrell
North American XJ Association
-National Board of Directors
--Colorado Board of Directors

[xj-rick]

Right on DJ! Here's mine

st1\:*{behavior:url(#default#ieooui) } To Whom It May Concern:

I'm a concerned Mesa County resident who would like to strongly urge you to DENY the request to use the $2.3 million from OHV Funds for the State Parks General Shortfall Fund. This is not what this fund was set-up for, and I really feel that this is a slap in the face to every person in the State of Colorado who has paid into this fund. The purpose of the OHV Fund and MY MONEY reads as follows, from the CO State Parks Webpage-


Where the money goes: Benefits of the OHV Registration Program

The Colorado OHV Registration Program fees fund trail maintenance, construction, trailheads, parking areas, trail signs, maps, and land acquisition. It also enables law enforcement personnel to identify and return stolen vehicles, encourages safe and responsible OHV use, and promotes respect for public lands.
Many different groups benefit from OHV registration, including:

* OHV owners and operators;
* Towns and counties that want to attract OHV recreators to enhance their local economies; and
* The general public; educated OHV enthusiasts are more conscientious and better stewards of the land.

Registration funds also enable local, state and federal land managers to better manage our natural resources.
Annually, this direct benefit to enthusiasts funds $1.5 million in trail opportunities and improvements as well as grants and special funding for:

·Reconstruction of, or enhancements to, an existing trail or trail system
·Trailhead facilities related to trails
·Construction of trails
·Safety, education, and user information
·Capital equipment for performing the above work.
·Support for volunteer labor
·Youth programs
·Equipment used to build or maintain trails
·Insurance for physical damage and theft on equipment purchased with OHV funds that is valued at over $10,000
·Materials and tools for trail work
·Directional, regulatory, and interpretive signage
·Trail grading, surfacing, and drainage
·Crossing structures, bridges, railings, ramps, and fencing
·Bank stabilization and retaining structures
·Trail corridor re-vegetation and erosion control
·Rehabilitation of closed trails and/or damaged areas
·Trailhead development for motorized trails, parking areas, restrooms, and related facilities
·Maintenance for or combined motorized/non-motorized trails
·Trail/system planning, engineering, or design
·Salary and compensation for trail crews
·Programs, publications and videos on safety and OHV recreation
·Signage for OHV routes or combined motorized/non-motorized trails
·Maps and guides of trails and recreation areas
·Support for volunteer programs on safety, education, and information for OHV or combined motorized/non-motorized trails.
·Tuition for Colorado State University OHV Correspondence Course or other appropriate training
·Environmental compliance work required under NEPA or other statutes
·Reasonable grant administration for non-profit organizations such as the Stay The Trail Organization.


Nowhere does it state that this money is available to cover budgetary shortfalls of the state. Using my OHV funds for State Parks will NOT benefit me as it is supposed to, but will instead take $2.3 million from the OHV Fund, taking almost all the money out. How is the OHV Fund, that does so much for so many, supposed to operate on no money? Please turn down this proposal!!

Thank you for your consideration,

Rick Darnell
Grand Junction, Co.

[xj-rick]

I cannot stress how important this is to all of us. Here is alll the info you need:

Senator Moe Keller
District 20- Jefferson County
303-866-2585

Senator Abel Tapia
District 31- Pueblo County
303-866-2581

Senator Al White
District 8- Eagle, Garfield, Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt Counties
303-866-2586

Representative Jack Pommer
District 11- Boulder County
303-866-2780

Representative Mark Ferrandino
District 2- Denver County
303-866-2911

Representative Don Marostica
District 51 - Larimer County
303-866-2947

moe@moekeller.com

abel.tapia.senate@state.co.us

al.white.senate@state.co.us

jack.pommer.house@state.co.us

mferrandino@yahoo.com

don@donmarostica.com

Greg at RockyMountainExtreme got the email addresses rounded up for us.

[Jawa]

Emailed all six of 'em.

[ColoradoRaptor]

Giving them ALL a call today!! :patriot:

[Jawa]

Haha, I received a bounce message this morning - Moe Keller's email box has exceeded it's size limitation. Looks like lots of people are stepping up! :thumbup:

[xj-rick]

From ColoradoXJ (Justin from Stay The Trail) on Co4x4.org

Originally Posted by COHVCO
UPDATE MESSAGE FROM GLENN GRAHAM, COHVCO CHAIRMAN

I spent most of the day at the Capitol today talking to a few members of the JBC, at the end of the day, they had not brought up the proposal to move funds from the OHV Registration Fund to the General Fund. If they do not bring it up by noon tomorrow, it will die, with one caveat. The proponent - the Department of Natural Resources can find a sponsor in the Senate and get late bill status, the proposal could still be alive. Jerry (Jerry Aboud)tells me that late bill status for a proposal like this is unlikely, and the we - COHVCO have enough supporters in the Senate that we could probably get the bill killed. I am cautiously optimistic.

A little more insight on what happened - apparently neither Parks or DNR created this proposal. It looks like a coalition (gang) of environmental groups came up with the idea to sacrifice the OHV funds, and hired a lobbyist to present the idea to DNR, who in turn brought it to the JBC at almost the last possible moment. We were about 18 hours away from seeing the worst possible outcome.

We will try to confirm that the enviros did, indeed, orchestrate this theft.

Right now we need to swing one JBC member who may be on the fence on this issue. Senator Abel Tapia representing Pueblo County needs to hear from us, especially those of you that live in Pueblo County and call yourselves a constituent. Senator Tapia's email address is abel.tapia.senate@state.co.us.

I have attached a document whose contents were suggested by Jerry. We need to get 50 or more emails to Senator Tapia by 9:30 or 10:00 tomorrow morning. If you are not a constituent, then you may want to change the wording a little, and please add your name and a phone number.

Our call in blast last night was a great success. Most JBC member's voice mail boxes were full by about 10:30 or 11:00 last night, and it sounded like all members had close to 200 messages by about noon today - great work everybody.

As soon as I hear what happens tomorrow, I will pass the word on.

Glenn
----------------

Corey Corbett
COHVCO Manager of Operations


Thanks to everyone who has responded so far. Keep it up guys!