Below comes exactly from the Maine Government website. I have highlighted text that Maine residents deserve further explanations and factual details before we spend one red cent on lands owned by Roxanne Quimby.
Governor Baldacci Applauds Land Deal
December 10, 2007
AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci joined Millinocket and state officials this morning to applaud a deal that will mean more predictable land use in the Katahdin region for the future.
In the deal, the State has signed an option to acquire 11,500 acres of land in the Katahdin region from a corporation owned by Roxanne Quimby. The state must raise $3 million within two years to purchase the land. Additionally, Quimby has purchased the 8,900-acre Wassatquoik Valley from Gardiner Lands for $6.1 million. Quimby has granted deeded access to the public for specific purposes, such as pedestrian hiking and snowmobiling along specified trails on some of her various properties. Quimby has also committed to further dialog regarding ATV trails on the land.
“For the people of Maine and for those who come to Maine to enjoy our outdoors, this agreement creates more certainty for trails, recreation and hunting,” Governor Baldacci said. “For the option period, lands optioned will be open to hunting and motorized recreation.”
Governor Baldacci applauded the collaboration between the town, State and private sector to reach a deal that achieved everyone’s goals. Millinocket Town Manager Gene Conlogue, Gardiner Lands, Roxanne Quimby, Trust for Public Land, the Bureau of Public Lands, the Department of Conservation and Commissioner Patrick McGowan all worked cooperatively to achieve the end result.
“This simply couldn’t have happened without the Trust for Public Land,” the Governor said. “Their contribution of negotiators and lawyers and interim financing was absolutely necessary, absolutely valuable. We all brought to the State a shared vision, and with that vision, the details then were able to be negotiated in a way that everyone wins, especially the people of Maine who have enjoyed and now will continue to enjoy recreational pursuits in this part of the state.”
1. Absolutely, will someone come clean and explain to the people of Maine just what “more predictable land use” means!
2. If this deal is anything like the Baxter Land Swap deal, the people of Maine will probably never learn exactly what the “option to acquire” is. By that I mean we will never be told about the restrictions, covenants, etc. Those will be conveniently swept under the rug – typical of the MDOC and the Baldacci administration.
3. Ms. Quimby, our hero. She has granted deeded access to the public. Oh, yeah, don’t pay too close attention to those other three words – “for specific purposes”. How long before any Maine residents are allowed to know what those specific purposes are? Is this like the Baxter Land Deal? In other words, we still haven’t found out.
4. And once again, Gov. Baldacci bows down to Roxanne Quimby and painted a picture of hope by saying that she has “committed to further dialog”. That’s promising isn’t it.
5. These are Baldacci’s words, “agreement creates more certainty for trails, recreation and hunting”. More certainty? If this isn’t political double speak, I don’t know what is. Is this kind of like telling the man condemned to death not to worry, he will be hung with a brand new rope? More certainty? What a clever use of words to cover up the truth behind Baldacci’s companion in land scams. God, I feel better now! Well, at least I’ve created more certainty in how I feel.
6. For the option period the land will be open. Oh really! Once again, would someone please explain to the people of Maine exactly how open that land will be? Please. Try it once Baldacci before you leave office!
7. Hurray for John Baldacci. His tiny little world shows him that this process and the agreements reached “achieved everyone’s goals. Sorry Governor but I think you might have omitted one tiny group here that might actually have some importance in the state of Maine – THE PEOPLE! Oh, yeah, this is politics at its best. It’s never about the people. It’s about who owes who what and for how much. All the nasty little players that have been involved in this since many years ago when they began secretly hashing out a deal for Katahdin lands behind the backs of Mainer, are still involved and it looks like they all got what they wanted.
Makes you wonder though. I heard via the grapevine that the DOC Commissioner, Patrick McGowan is lining up his ducks to make a run for governor after Baldacci leaves. Are any of these efforts working toward that end for McGowan? Just asking!
8. In this last highlighted part, Baldacci is trying to convince us all that everything will be better than it was before the land deals. Like his road to nowhere, he is promising that Mainers will continue to have recreational opportunities. But once again, you and I will never know the many restrictions that will come from that land deal……now will we.
I’m sorry to readers if I come off here harsh and real sour grapes but there is absolutely no reason that any sane Maine resident should believe that there is anyone or anything believable or trustworthy in this whole deal. It began with the Baxter land swap and continues today and who do you think is right smack dab in the middle of it all? Roxanne Quimby, John Baldacci and Pat McGowan.
Until someone can prove to me that this entire land deal, beginning with the Katahdin lake purchase, wasn’t orchestrated by this trio, I cannot and will not support using public dollars for anymore sweet land deals.
For those who might think this is good, I’ve got some swamp land in Florida I’d like to sell.
Tom Remington
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