What's up with people fencing in city owned land and claiming it as their own? I would think all the folks paying high property taxes on postage-stamp sized yards would take offense at someone getting tax free use of 5-10 ACRES!

Obama told them it was cool.

If anyone knew what you were talking about, someone might be able to respond, but I assume you are just tossing out vague accusations because you know if you "name names" you might get in trouble.

If you're referring to the recently-fenced pasture on the N. side of the so-called Wilderness Area, aka "Honda trails", I've been curious about that, too. It's certainly owned by the City of Miles City yet someone was grazing sheep and cattle in there last summer and I'm not aware of any agreements with the city that provided for it, although I've noticed it's not nearly as abused with slash piles and deer carcasses as the S. side of the parcel.

http://goo.gl/maps/PBwyj

The land is listed with the Montana Cadastral http://svc.mt.gov/msl/mtcadastral/ as:

S33, T08 N, R47 E, OUT OF NW4 N OF MILW RR PART IN SECTIONS 28 & 32

[This message has been edited by Joe Whalen (2/15/2013)]

I am a bit concerned about 'getting in trouble' but not how you suggest. The lack of response validates my suspicion a bit that the people of MC don't care this is happening and I should shut up about it. I am making a cultural faux pax and shall drop the subject... Unless you actually did not know and were actually interested, in which case I would be happy to show you a specific spot or two.

Oh for christ's sake.

Just tell people what the issue is, and drop the drama.

+1 to Bridgier. Either, as they say, put up or shut up.

Joe, me and my husband have see that too! One end of the trail, starting at the river states nothing abut not cars. On the other side, where this person has fencing states no cars, and stay out! But really, it does belong to the city..... So what about it? How can we fix this to that is back to being public?

it sure seems EVERYTHING is somehow connected in yet another conspiracy plot.

or is just me?

or is just you all?

or... or... wait... who's knocking on my door?

I've seen the sheep pasture on city land, as well.

But I know another person, I'll call her Krazy Kristi, who has fenced off several acres of city land to use as pasture for her horses, and a large garden area as well. It's the land just north of the Wilderness Area that isn't supposed to be fenced. I guess she figured she could jump on the band wagon and do it too? She bought that old shack on 702 N. 2nd and "seized" and fenced all the city land in between her house and that one. Then her son went out and pushed her fence line into the property of the gentleman on the other side (to the east) of the slough from her! I bet she has at least 5 acres of illegitimate land there.

Then go to the City and complain. No one on milescity.com can do anything. Only a city official can take action.

Toni:

If you know for certain that someone is encroaching on city property then a letter to the city attorney should provide relief. He or she will confirm if lawful lease agreements exist that justify the trespass and has an obligation to prosecute the public interest if none can be found.

However, if legal ownership is in question, you can use the Montana Cadastral (see above) to investigate on your own or contact the city planning for assistance.

As we've learned in this thread, when one encroachment is ignored more will likely follow.

It wouldn't hurt to bring the issue to the attention of the city council during its next regular meeting.

But like you stated befor. It does look better then the south side. SO there is a damned if you do and a damned if you dont. You kno that they are doing something that they shouldn't, but it does help it look better. I can see that the land that I was talking about was cities. I have used that web site, and used it alot. But it would be nice if there was a way that everyone that wants to do something good with it, could also. Dont really want them to just tell the guy to leave and then a bunch of nasty things happen and it is trashed again.

So, if I illegally seized the rest of wilderness area and made it look better,every body would be ok with that? Even though it means I would be making money off it and you no longer have a place to walk your dog?

I would think this issue would intrigue any honest reporter who found out about it.

How about the people with the problem be the ones to complain about the problem. That seems the most direct method to me.

Amorette, I can support and understand your larger point that citizens should address complaints such as these directly with city officials but do we know that EJR hasn't already done that? No, we don't.

What I do not understand is how encroaching upon several acres of a city-owned park and fencing out the public is somehow not newsworthy. I think it would be worthwhile to compare the newsworthiness of front page stories in the Miles City Star over, say, the past month two against this lead for additional perspective, don't you?

Does the alleged encroacher:

1. Own a business that advertises in the Miles City Star?
2. Subscribe to the Miles City Star?
3. Have a family member who is employed by the Miles City Star?
4. Drink coffee with someone who is employed by the Miles City Star?
5. Drink coffee with someone who advertises in or subscribes to the Miles City Star?

Is it possible that sheep n things are on the allowed things in the city ?
It seems that all the hay n feed would attract pests like rats n mice.
Then that may explain why connected property of sheep owners has traps out that are catching peoples house cats in the area... Hope that doesn't go along with the poisoned dogs in the neighborhood too. Who provides unattended traps around here anyway ? So the captured can die of starvation and dehydration ?
Just wondering ....

Update: The squatter on this parcel is in all likelihood a former Ward I city councilman and a current appointee to the Miles City Zoning
Board.

I called City Hall today and learned that there is no lease agreement concerning that piece of property that has been extended by the City of Miles City to anyone. Therefore, whoever erected that fence and stocked that pasture has been occupying city property illegally for the better part of a year.

To put this matter into perspective, it's common for the city council to wrestle, sometimes heatedly, over encroachments of 2' or less onto city right-of-way by property owners. The former city councilman currently squatting on these several acres was among the most vocal critics of both keeping livestock within the city limits and right-of-way encroachment, often arguing about a dangerous precedents being set.

I'll be contacting my councilpersons, the mayor, and the deputy city attorney, Jeff Noble, to call for an investigation and encourage others to do the same.

Thank you Joe both for info and for actions the original post, by supplying NO DETAILS, did nothing to help the situation or start any actions like others accused of being a cover up. If you want action you need to be an adult, say what you know and stat things in motion. Making blind no fact accusations is just spreading school yard gossip.

ummmm...it got Joe started.

FH

The fencing of the Honda trails started a long time ago when the Honda Trails were still used for Honda's. I remember riding in the Honda Trails when the fencing first started probably somewhere around 2002-03. But it has gotten worse since. About 3-4 years ago it was housing someone's hay stack and farm equipment. Now I'm curious to walk the couple blocks to go look at it. I would hardly call this a "city park". Since you can't ride in there anymore it's been taken over by the dog walkers, it's hard to navigate on foot without hitting a doggy mine. And while I'm on my rant can we have the Spotted Eagle riding area back? That is full of doggy mines also.

So I just checked the Honda Trails, err the "Wilderness Area". I must say that it is unacceptable. The fence now runs along side the road along almost the whole rode except a few hundred feet on the rver exit side. The fence has been slowly moved out over the years which has always bothered me but this is over the top. On a side note I see it's been run over in a few spots by vehicles and must say I had a good chuckle over that. Oh and it's just not sheep and horses contained in the fences I'm pretty sure that big black animal mooing was a cow.

On another note I see there is a large clearing now made by some heavy equipment with a large pile of cut down trees and under brush. Now this may be the city preparing to use it for other purposes. But since when can we just change the use of public land with out consulting the public first. For instance like the shutting down of the Spotted Eagle riding area. I know it was VANDALIZED! And those vandals need punishing. To bad your only punishing all the good people that like to ride back there and would like to teach there kids to ride back there. Whoops did I get back on the riding area rant again?

But since when can we just change the use of public land with out consulting the public first.

A piece of land owned by the City of Miles City does not necessarily mean that it carries "public access". You seem a little confused on that point. And just because a piece of land has a traditional use (for example the honda trails) doesn't mean it is a legal public use of that land.

If I am not mistaken, there are multiple jurisdictions involved here and insufficient information about what is truly occurring here to make reasoned and rationale decisions or comment.

Nope pretty sure I understand that, however a public recreation area shouldn't undergo substantial changes in use without the public's opinion. Like for instance when it was changed to no vehicle's that was mostly public driven. With the aid of a car fire.

The whole point of this thread Richard was to find out what is going on and bring awareness seems to be working. I'm sure answers will be posted soon enough when someone goes to City Hall and gets answers. I know I'll be looking for some.

Perhaps the clandestine use of some sort of wire cutting device might bring the offending animals into public view.

Disclaimer; The author does not condone, encourage nor participate in any form of the above mentioned actions or similar actions. I was out of town. I swear, honest, I was.