I strongly support Grant County maintaining public access to use Bald Knoll Road. When contacted by Grant County about the proposed abandonment, The Bureau of Land Management responded that closing the road would deny access to public land managed by the BLM and the state. Specifically, the BLM pointed out that Bald Knoll Road provides access to approximately 5,000 acres of public land.

This is true.

A look at public maps showing land ownership and management boundaries also plainly shows one 40-acre parcel of BLM public land along the western section of the proposed 4-1/2 mile abandonment that is only legally accessible via Bald Knoll Road.

If the road is closed, this portion of public land will effectively become private property. It will be controlled completely by the owners of the surrounding land: The Norris Family Trust and Edwin and Arlene Bradberry. The Norris and Bradberry families are the people who asked Grant County to abandon the road and allow them to install a gate across it.

During the public meeting on May 12, members of the Bradberry family were quoted acknowledging the 40-acre BLM parcel but seemed to believe losing access to it is not important because they don't often see anyone using the public land.

That is not the point.

I empathize with the landowners and their challenges in securing and enjoying their private property.

But that is not enough reason to effectively hand over 40 acres of public land and reduce access to about 5,000 acres of public land.

Please keep Bald Knoll Road open and the access it provides to public land.

Thank you,
-J. Brandon
Silver City, NM