Updated May 8, 2020.

Issue: Disappointment and anger over clearcutting at a popular overlook area in 2019. WTHR-TV – Drone Video

May 7, 2020. Democrat. One year later: The overlook valley cut  By Suzannah Couch

Who is responsible?   (1) The citizens (voters) for not demanding a strategy for managing county-owned land. This could be included in the county comprehensive plan and master plan for the Parks.  (2) The Judge, County Commissioners, and Council who appoint the majority of members to the Parks and Recreation Board.  (3) The Parks and Recreation Board who oversees the management of the Parks and Rec Department.

Unlike the county and several other boards, the Parks and Rec Board do not have legal counsel on contract.

A Way Ahead? Let’s just not forget and move on.  Review the policies, processes, and timeline that contributed to the decision and the current situation, share results with the citizens, and make the appropriate changes to prevent a reoccurrence. For voters, include “what happens next” as part of the criteria you use in selecting candidates in the 2020 county elections.

Background: The start of the overlook clearing by Parks and Rec

• July 10, 2018, Democrat. Nostalgic view: Bean Blossom Overlook brought back to original vision By Suzannah Couch

Guidance:

• TITLE36_AR10_ch3 General Parks and Recreation Law
• County Ordinance – Parks and Rec “1983”  Brown County Parks and Recreation Ordinance C 6

Deeds

• 135N Property Deed

Timeline

• Jan 8, 2019.BCD. 30 days to file concerns RE: 325-foot tower at 4207 State Road 135 North proposed by Mission 1 Communications

May 14, 2019. Due to restrictions at logged site, tower may cost more A project to build a new communications tower on State Road 135 North has been delayed after the discovery of a deed that limits what can be done so close to the highway.

April 16, 2019. BCD. Overlook litigation still possible; Nature Conservancy makes offer to manage  By Suzannah Couch. Commissioner Diana Biddle told the audience at the April 3 commissioners meeting that the county had received a “threat of litigation” and correspondence from legal firms representing local property owners. … According to online court records, no lawsuit has been filed.

April 16, 2019.  Letter: Forestry organization: 135 logging was not a ‘clearcut’ A true clearcut is a harvest method sometimes used by professional foresters to regenerate a stand of trees while also providing diverse wildlife habitats across a given landscape. 

April 7, 2019. BCM – Facebook Post.  Additional research identified the clear-cutting was in violation of the terms identified in the transfer of the property from the state to Parks and Rec.

• See “Commentary” below on the systemic nature of the issue.

March 18, 2019.  WTHR, Indianapolis. Residents, visitors raging over tree debate in Brown County, by Kevin Rader.  A debate is raging in Brown County over this. A clear cut of trees along State Road 135.

March 15, 2019.  Indiana Audubon Statement on Brown County Logging Cut  Since the news of the recent clear-cutting of a swath of property in Brown County reached the Indiana Audubon Society’s Stewardship Committee, we have been following the events that led up to this unfortunate error (made either on the part of those entrusted by the public with the scenic property there …  While our primary concern is for the area’s nature itself, we are also perplexed by the causation of the event. We feel the communication between the invested parties (Parks Board, logging contractors, and community members) was flawed. Factors include:

1. There was undue haste to complete the project, ergo crossing a line into the appearance of impropriety.
2. There were no efforts to seek out or accommodate public input prior to the action.
3. The contract was not devised to insure the protection of wildlife habitat, nor the public trust. Seen holistically, this indicates an alarming degree of irresponsibility or at the least the appearance of such.

• Brown County Matters – Facebook Post – Kim Clark,  16 reactions, 30 comments, 16 shares

• BCD Facebook Post. 41 comments, 22 shares as of 3/19/2019.

Feb 13, 2019. BCD.  Residents wonder what happened at overlook By Suzannah Couch. Poor communication led to more trees being cleared than planned

• BCD Facebook Post  71 reactions, 56 comments, 24 shares

Feb 4, 2019. Brown County Matters. by Cheryl Ferguson.  178 comments, 1 share as of 3/19/2019.  Has anyone else driven out 135 toward bean blossom.?There across the road from the overlook is a valley of hell, all trees removed deep into that valley. Will anyone come to brown county if the leaves don’t have trees to hang on come October? What about the erosion that haircut is going to cause. Anybody know what’s going on? 

COMMENTARY – “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”

This incident is another example  on the results from ignorance on the importance of planning – a point reinforced by Ben Franklin – “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”

“IF” you expect the efficient and effective use of county assets and tax dollars “THEN” each government office, board and commission need to have a basic plan. In the case of Parks and Rec, to develop a plan, you need to know what you can and cannot do with the land you have been deeded. 

Assessments and Planning Templates — Brown County Leader Network