AID - What are rural Lawrence County's strengths and weaknesses and what should it look like in the future?

Does it have its own unique economic development potential? And if it does, how can it best be developed? Or, is it better left as farmland and wilderness?

Those questions were on the table Thursday evening when the Lawrence County Economic Development Corporation hosted a public meeting to get citizen input on what they think is the future of outlying areas.

"We do not have an agenda," LEDC Executive Director Dr. Bill Dingus said.

"We're trying only to think what it could look like in five, 10 or 20 years and how to move it in that direction."

In August, the LEDC, in conjunction with the Governor's Office of Appalachia and the Foundation for the Tri-State Community, began a study of economic opportunities in rural Lawrence County. The study will ultimately recommend strategies for the best uses for the county's available resources. The Potential Enhancement Study, conducted by the Cincinnati-based Edwards and Kelsey, Inc. should be completed by Spring 2005. The study is being guided by a steering committee that includes representatives of many Lawrence County organizations. Last night's meeting was the first of two public meetings to obtain citizen input.

"I'm a great believer that none of us is smarter than all of us. If it can happen we can all nurture it along," Dingus said.

Many in the audience agreed that while the Wayne National Forest is an asset to the county, it could be more than just a pretty place on the map, but it seemed that forestry officials were unwilling to make it more user-friendly. A contingent of horseback riding enthusiasts attended the meeting and some of them expressed dismay at the condition of horse riding trails at the Wayne National Forest and at the lack of facilities for people to use while they're visiting the forest.

"This is something that could bring people into Lawrence County," Renee Jones, of Scottown, said. "Last year Paddle Creek was full. If they ever got the trails fixed, that would be nice, but you still don't have places to park and stay. And the trails need to be cleared."

"Where are you going to put people if they come?" another horseback riding enthusiast, Vicki Jenkins, of Scioto County, said. "We're sending them to Kentucky, West Virginia."

Wayne National Forest spokesman John Brown said a law passed in the 1960s prevents the forest service from competing with local merchants, although businesses that cater to tourists can be developed on private property surrounding the forest.

He said the condition of horse trials can be blamed on excessive rain during the last two years and the February 2003 ice storm.

Others in the audience expressed concern that if the Wayne National Forest continues to purchase land in rural Lawrence County, there

will not be any land available for private or commercial use.

"Why does the federal government want to buy and control all the land in Lawrence County?" Phillip Belville, of Waterloo, asked. "We don't have enough land for the people now." Belville said he was upset that forestry officials recently announced plans to purchase 4,200 additional acres of land in Lawrence County. Belville said he was also angry about some roads in the forest being closed to public use.

Brown said

the U.S. Congress allots certain amounts of money for specific purposes and directs the forest service to spend money for only these specific things, such as land acquisition. Those who oppose seeing more lands acquired should contact their federal lawmakers and seek changes. Brown also countered that the WNF officials had only purchase land that had been offered to them.

Dingus countered that if the county had a strategic plan for rural lands, perhaps it could be used to save more parcels of property from being acquired by the forest service. Earlier this year, WNF officials announced their intention to purchase some 4,200 additional acres of land. Dingus said that announcement

in part prompted local officials to seek this study of the potential of rural areas.

Others said they prefer to keep rural areas exactly that: rural.

"I'm not interesting in strip mining or timbering or destroying the land like it was destroyed in the 1800s," Jo Huff, of Chesapeake, said. "As far as economic development, I'm not interested in that."

Some who attended expressed concern about recurrent flooding, particularly along Symmes Creek, and about illegal dumping, both of which would hinder any plans for rural areas.

"I've lived in this area my whole life. The creeks are full of cars, trees, tires," Karl Jones, of Scottown, said. "Someone has got to take control."

Is there untapped economic development potential in outlying areas? More than a few audience members said indeed, there was, and tourism was a strong possibility. Tom Folsom, of Ashland, Ky., said he was impressed with the recent Rally on the River that brought thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts to Ironton for a weekend. "I think someone ought to study what they did and see why it was such a success."

Others agreed that rural areas could be a drawing card for tourism and other ventures, and a little planning could turn dreams into reality. "If you build it, they will come," Dan Landrum, of Chesapeake, said. … "If you fix it they will use it, and we need to be able to use what we've got and do what we can to create revenue. It's time for the people to stand up and take the county back."