Dear Rick,

As promised, here is an official response regarding Willow’s position on the 5 year Schedule of Timber Sales in our area. Those in attendance at the July 6 WACO read the comments I have already sent you and concur. In addition further feedback was offered.

The current criteria and requirements for logging make it very difficult for local, small and family owned logging operations to compete. The specific elements that we ask you address in your process are:

1. Smaller bonds - the amount of money required is too large for a small logging business
2. Smaller parcels - 40-50 acre parcels are a size better suited to small logging business, especially for business’s that selectively log trees for highest wood value
3. Longer amount of time - 4 to 5 years are suggested as more reasonable for the small logging business to achieve the lease intent.

We would like to continue to work with loggers through the Willow Trails Committee and the Willow Dog Mushers Association to advance local hire, and to protect our wonderful trail system and our beautiful rural setting. In this way the economy of tourism and outdoor recreation is also protected.

Please let me know if I can further answer questions, etc.

(Signed “Linda Oxley)