BISBEE, Ariz. - Cochise County supervisors are moving to create a committee that will advise the county on issues relating to the use of local federal and state trust lands.
The proposed nine-member Agricultural and Public Lands Commission would merely advise the Board of Supervisors and would have no policy-making mandate.
The board itself has no jurisdiction over state and federal land management either, but proponents of the advisory committee say the county does have a "seat at the table" when it comes to the discussion of how public lands are used.
Veterinarian Gary Thrasher, speaking at the behest of the Cochise-Graham Cattle Grower's Association, told board members that a commission is urgently needed because of possible changes in the management of public lands.
Thrasher said that about 90 percent of Cochise County's livestock producers depend on federal and state trust lands for grazing.
