BLM rejects offer for Wendover land

Wednesday, Dec. 31, 1997 | 10:48 a.m.

"I'm surprised that the BLM is not willing to consider an offer double the value they have placed on the land," Gerber told the Elko Daily Free Press.

"We were willing to buy more than 75 percent of the land involved in the exchange at double the price. I'm surprised they made such a quick response to our offer."

Elko BLM District Manager Helen Hankins said she had to reject the higher offer because the lands are closed to any other bids until a final decision is made about the exchange.

The 5,571 acres Gerber and Dahl bid on are involved in the proposed exchange between BSR Associates and the BLM. About 70,000 acres of ranch land in the Pequop Mountains is being offered for about 7,000 acres of public land in and around Wendover.

Gerber and Dahl said they made their offer in an attempt to derail the BSR exchange and stem the flow of private property into government control. They also said their offer calls attention to the artificially low value placed on the Wendover land by the BLM.

The Wendover land was valued at $25 an acre by the BLM and Gerber and Dahl offered to pay $50 an acre.

Hankins said if the exchange were not approved by the BLM, then the land could be opened up for bidding. She also said the higher bid would have no effect on the agency's ultimate decision concerning the exchange.

Hankins said if the exchange goes through, the BLM would offer other public lands for disposal within the next year in an effort to equalize the disparity of the BSR exchange.

"It all depends on what people are willing to buy," she said.