KBRA measure going down 

At press time, votes were still being counted, but 18-80 was failing

By TY BEAVER

H&N Staff Writer

November 3, 2010

   Those who wanted the county to remain involved in the Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement pulled ahead by 277 votes around 11:15 p.m. after being down by four votes in initial tallies.

   A no vote encouraged commissioners to stay involved.  

   The agreement advocates removal of four Klamath River dams, as well as water and power guarantees for irrigators, land for the Klamath Tribes and environmental restoration.   

  Commissioners were surprised by close margin

   A yes vote urged the county to stop participating.

   Klamath County commissioners said late Tuesday they were surprised at the close margin.

   Opponents and proponents had different opinions about the close vote margin, but did agree it revealed the conflicting state of the county.

   “There’s no doubt this is very divisive in our community,” said Commissioner Al Switzer. “We need to bring the community back together, but I don’t know how.”  

   Frank Goodson, a KBRA opponent, said he was surprised at the close margin, adding voters could be asked about the issue again.

   “The commissioners wrote it to be a confusing issue to capture votes and it looks like they’ve succeeded,” he said.

   Becky Hyde, a KBRA proponent, said she was pleased at the level of support, but added the vote tallies raises concerns.

   “I think this shows the community is equally divided and I don’t think that’s a particularly healthy way to operate,” she said.

   Commissioners aren’t bound to follow the results of the vote.  

   Switzer and Commissioner Cheryl Hukill have said they would like to stay involved in KBRA talks, but would take the vote of the electorate into consideration after the new board is installed in January.

   The commissioners and Hyde rejected the claim the measure was written in a way to sway votes.

   Commissioner candidates Dennis Linthicum and Kirk Oakes said they’d seek continued involvement in the KBRA.

   Linthicum, who won the seat in Tuesday’s election, said he wants to be involved from the point of opposition, such as Siskiyou County has done.