Island Park hosts meeting to discuss national monument status

The city of Island Park hosted a public meeting Wednesday night to discuss the possibility of the area becoming a national monument.

The city’s EMS building was full of residents and many of them planned on sharing their thoughts on whether they would want Island Park to become a national monument.

Island Park Mayor Tom Jewell said the meeting was organized to clear up a lot of misinformation.

“This will give us a chance to hear from the decision-makers in the county and give the decision-makers in the county a chance to hear from the residents of Island Park,” said Jewell.

Before the public had a chance to speak, Jewell welcomed Fremont County’s commissioners. Chairman Leroy Miller said the commission has opposed a national monument from the start. In fact, on April 7 the commission actually adopted a resolution that basically put its opposition in writing.

“We live in a beautiful area that we don’t want to ever see change, due to additional federal requirements,” said Miller. “That’s the purpose of coming today.”

State Sen. Jeff Siddoway and state Rep. Paul Romrell attended the meeting Wednesday night.