Pioneer Forest pursuing Shannon Co. citizen suit
(This letter to the editor, printed in the Current Wave and Summersville Beacon, is reproduced here with the permission of the author, Terry Cunningham.)
Dear Editor:
Last month we wrote about damages to Big Creek as a result of actions of the Shannon County road crew. This happened in January at the Birdie Hole and Big Creek and just north of the old Cedar Hill School at Mauser’s Mill. We want to update everyone as to how we are seeking to resolve this matter.
Pioneer Forest has been a part of this community for more than 50 years, providing jobs in the timber industry and land which has always been and will always remain open for hunting and fishing. As private landowners we strive to be good neighbors and good stewards of our timberlands. We have always taken pride in the management of our lands which contribute to the economy and beauty of Shannon County.
In January, the road crew entered our property, mined boulders, clay, gravel, and rock well away from the county road without permission and placed these materials into Big Creek. They also used a track-hoe in the creek without permission creating a new channel while depositing large piles of gravel on the banks of what was once a a beautiful creek bottom. We have a real mess on our hands. Anyone who visits the site has agreed with that.
These actions violate both Missouri and US laws which protect streams, and associated private and public land. An engineer has also provided us with an estimate of the costs of materials, equipment, and labor that were used to create. the mess. The damages are substantial and extensive. In the opinion of those most knowledgeable, the county’s project did not even fix the problem. There were at the time proper, legal, and less expensive alternatives available; but those alternative approaches were not pursued, and so now the damage has been done.
We have notified Shannon County officials that we will pursue a citizen suit to remedy the harm they have caused. We are sincere in our desire to resolve the matter with the county in a fair and respectful manner. We also seek the support of all of the County’s residents, especially those who also have their own property rights to defend.
Terry Cunningham
Pioneer Forest
