Prairie Dog Meeting, July 12thFrom:Robert O"Donnell
To:OSBT-Web; Robert O"Donnell
Subject:Prairie Dog Meeting, July 12th
Date:Wednesday, July 12, 2023 3:59:15 PM
External Sender
Good afternoon OSBT,
First, thank you to the two members who came out and visited our property (Brewbaker/Sorenson)
and now have a good understanding of the problems we are facing. For those of you who didn’t
respond and didn’t get a chance to view the issues we have, we don’t understand how you can
“blindly” make recommendations to the City Council based on information from staff. Very
disappointing!
There are a few suggestions and comments we have:
1) The prairie dogs are only now a small part of the problem. The change in the ecosystem
(i.e. the natural grasses have been eradicated) and now we are left with weeds, tons.
Thistle is the biggest issue and needs to be addressed either through cultural, mechanical
or chemical control measures with a time table. The plants have to be managed before the
flowers bloom and release thousands of seeds. The golden eagle has nothing to do with this
issue.
2) Collaboration. I’m a board member of the Boulder Regional Fire Training Center and
have been a firefighter for 30 plus years. The board consists of members from some of the
city fire agencies, i.e. Boulder, Longmont and also includes the Sheriff’s office and myself
and another member who represent the 20 plus volunteer fire agencies in Boulder County.
We work together to ensure all users have use of the training center and training is in line
with the needs of the community. In other words, we are all on the same page, whether
county or city.
The City and County Open Space have got to get together and work together. For example,
there is an imaginary line at the SE corner of my property that goes due east. All property on
the north is County Open Space; all property on the South is City Open Space. Really? When
I sent my last letter to all the OSBT members, one member said he forwarded my concerns
to staff. A month ago I saw a “staff member” and asked if they could get a tractor out and
mow down the thistle before they flowered. They were hesitant and obviously never
followed through as nothing happened. Thank goodness for my good neighbors at the
County Open Space as they came out and mowed down all the thistle and yes, they went
into the south area next to my property (City Open Space) and mowed there too. Why can’t
the City Open Space respond? Are the City and County going to work together once the July
15th deadline has passed and control measures can start? In addition, the County has no
problem with putting up barriers. Maybe the City Open Space legal should talk with the
County and see how they are accomplishing this. County Open Space put up the chicken
wire barrier all around my property.
3)Finally. Please hold the City Open Space staff accountable to the charter as it is stated.
The prairie dogs are not allowed on irrigated lands (Brewbaker/Sorenson). Designated lands
are designated lands. When the lands were purchased, there was an understanding the
lands would be managed as they were in the past and managed such for future generations.
Given an area a new “designation” is the easy way out.
Thank you all for your time and as always the invitation is open to come visit our property and see
our struggles.
Regards,
Robert and Lynn O’Donnell
7634 North 41st Street
Longmont, CO 80503
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Robert W. O'Donnell
odbrfd@gmail.com
303-551-2790