Editorial: Let’s give mediation a chance

Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999 | 9:43 a.m.

On Monday a replacement was named for Gloria Flora, the embattled supervisor of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest. Flora announced her resignation recently after saying an atmosphere of "hostility and distrust" was being directed against federal workers in Nevada. Flora's successor is Robert Vaught, who now is the supervisor of the Colville National Forest in Washington state.

Jack Blackwell, regional forester who oversees the Forest Service's Intermountain Region, said that Vaught has a reputation of working well with others. Blackwell also noted Vaught previously worked in both the Humboldt and Toiyabe National Forests. "We heard loud and clear about the importance of selecting a new forest supervisor who understands the people, issues and culture of Nevada," Blackwell said in a statement.

Considering the hostile environment that Forest Service employees face in Elko County, the agency is going to extraordinary lengths to be accommodating. It remains to be seen, however, whether the same can be said for Elko County's elected officials. According to an Associated Press account, about two weeks ago the Elko County Commission voted 3-2 to try to get the permits necessary to rebuild the South Canyon Road on national forest land. The issue of whether or not the road should be rebuilt has been the flash point of controversy between the Forest Service and Elko County officials that prompted Flora's resignation.

Elko County's deputy district attorney, Kristin McQueary, warned the commissioners that trying to get permits now might hamstring Elko County getting a resolution through mediation. A federal judge ordered the Forest Service and Elko County to participate in mediation in an effort to resolve their dispute. "Let's go into the mediation with clean hands and open minds and give the other people confidence that they can deal with us in good faith," McQueary said. Mediation often has successfully resolved what initially has appeared to be an intractable issue. The key for this to work, though, is a willingness on both sides to give it a chance.

If there is a silver lining to be found from the Elko County Commission meeting, it is that at least one of the five commissioners backed McQueary's level-headed reasoning (the other commissioner who voted against seeking the permits did so because he doesn't believe the county should get permission from those individuals he feels don't have the authority to issue them in the first place.) Rather than continuing to fan the flames of discontent in Elko County, the commissioners should stop acting thickheaded and instead allow mediation to go forward.