Recorded  9013   
in [Se-4.x LI ?55 IL   nurnmt-rer, WY

RESOLUTION N0. N0.  .. Jeanne Wagner, Clerk

A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE FULL AND PRESENT
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LANDS ACT or
SUPPORTING THE AMERICAN LANDS COUNCIL.

WHEREAS. at statehood, the federal government promised all states that it would
transfer title to the public lands within the newly created states; and

WHEREAS, the US. Supreme Court has called these promises ?solemn
compacts." ?bilateral agreements," and ?trusts? that must be performed ?in a timely
fashion?; and

WHEREAS, Wyoming and the other western states are still waiting for the
federal government to keep the same promise to them that it made and kept with all states
east of Colorado; and

WHEREAS, states such as Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Florida, Louisiana,
Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi were once as much as 90% federally controlled for
decades; and

WHEREAS, these ?western states" of 1828 (as they called themselves at the time)
succeeded in compelling the federal government to transfer their public lands because
they understood the duty of the federal government to dispose of them and they joined
together and presented the federal government with a basis to dispose of the lands since
federal control prevented the states from generating tax revenues to educate their
children, (ii) growing their economies. and responsibly managing their abundant
natural resources; and

WHEREAS, despite the fact that the promise is the same to dispose of the public
lands upon being admitted as states, states east of Colorado have less than 5% federally
controlled lands, while the Western States (excluding Hawaii) have more than 50 
federally controlled lands; and

WHEREAS, in Wyoming, the federal government controls nearly 50 of our
lands and 76% of Lincoln County; and

WHEREAS, withdrawals of public lands from use and economic activity, through
such federal action as monuments and wilderness designations, constricts the value of
Wyoming's School Trust Lands and reduces the funds available for educating our
children; and

WHEREAS, state and local government of?cials have a crucial responsibility to
manage our abundant lands and resources strategically and prudently for the health,
safety and welfare of our citizens; and

WHEREAS, under the Transfer of Public Lands Act, federal public lands will
become state public lands to be managed through local planning for the multiple-use
(including traditional uses like hunting, fishing, recreation, grazing, open space,
economic activity, etc.) and the sustained yield of our abundant natural resources on state
public lands; and

WHEREAS, the Transfer of Public Lands Act has received broad support from
governors, attorney generals, state legislators, members of many Western States
congressional delegations. and other public of?cials located throughout the west, and
many other and private individuals and organizations within the many neighboring
western states; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of the Transfer of Public Lands Act will require
the persistent and relentless efforts of Wyoming?s governor, attorney general, and
legislature along with the unwavering support of local governments and public and
private individuals and organizations.

Mo

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE BODY
OF LINCOLN COUNTY supports the passage of the Transfer of Public Lands Act in
order to hold the federal government to its long-overdue promise to transfer title to public
lands to the State, to protect the State's public education system and economic vitality,
and to preserve the important historical and cultural contribution that our public lands
provide to the Ste of Wyoming, the nation and world; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT LINCOLN COUNTY calls upon its
fellow towns. cities, and counties to do all in their power and influence to support
Wyoming?s elected including particularly Wyoming?s governor, attorney general,
legislature, congressional delegation and county commissioners to exert their utmost
abilities, in?uence and authority to fully implement the Transfer of Public Lands Act and
secure the transfer of our public lands to the State, with time being of the essence.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS 4th day of December, 2013.
By: 

I 
Paul c. Jenkins?,LEhairman

3; ?in lg,
T.Deb Wol?ey, Co 'ssroner

. .
Kent bonneliy, Co ssmner

 

. 1 u! a
agner, County  ?