"They're Fighting Over This?"

EDITORIAL - Thursday, May 07, 2009 - Yesterday afternoon one of our photographers took the pictures posted above. This is the prized "caves" area that everybody is fighting over. Anyone claiming to have used this property on a regular basis -- whether they are responsible for the mess or not -- should be ashamed of themselves. City-owned land is land that belongs to each and every one of us. If you made the mess, shame on you -- clean it up! If you didn't make the mess, but knew about it and did nothing, shame on you too!

One of the main discussions at Tuesday night's workshop was how the "caves" area could best generate income for the area. The motorized trail users argued that 4 wheelers and snowmobilers bring money into the area. Non-motorized trail users argued the same thing for cross-county skiers, bikers, snowshoers, hikers, etc.  Who would ever travel miles and miles to see this filth? Can the City really be proud of what's become of this area? Why would anybody want to purchase property that is so blighted and treated like a dump?

Ironwood has been working to clean up its image. The City's main issue in recent years is blight! The trails in the caves have been primarily used by snowmobilers and four-wheelers. If they weren't responsible for the mess, didn't they ever see it? Why has nothing been done to stop this? Is this the respect people have for their community and for public land? It was very clearly stated that motorized trail users would respect the rights of the non-motorized trail users? Is that really the case? The photos below show how little respect they had for the gate the City put in place to stop illegal trespass.

To be honest with you, initially I had no real opinion on the Motorized/Non-Motorized controversy. But I will say this, I don't appreciate people calling me up at home -- calling me names, threatening me, my business, and my family -- just because I state the FACT that four wheelers have been illegally trespassing on City-owned property.

At face value, one might think the "motorized" trail users had a valid argument for being allowed to continue to use the caves area. However, how do you justify using a trail you had no permission to use, and have violated for years -- and how do you have the nerve to insist that you have the RIGHT to that land? Furthermore, if this property has been the "motorized" trail users domain for so long... how do you account for the mess? I sure wouldn't appreciate people dumping trash in my playground! Where were the complaints? Or are the same people who ride through this area the people who treat it like their own private dumping grounds?

Jim Albert