December 4, 2006

Chairman Steve Worthley and the Tulare County Board of Supervisors
Administration Building
2800 West Burrel Avenue
Visalia, CA 93291

FAX (559) 733-6898

Re: Agenda Item #8, December 5, 2006 meeting

Dear Chairman Worthley and Board:

I am writing to urge you to reject the special use permit for the proposed Sam Etchegaray Earlimart Ranch Dairy and Phillips Ranch Dairy, due to negative impacts to the neighboring Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park.

We ask you to explore creative alternatives that provide for family ranching while protecting the rich heritage of the park. The proposed dairy will impact users of the park with odors, flies and other impacts associated with the ranches.

As you may know, the Park was established in 1976 because of the rich history of the site that reflects the valley's farming heritage. Allensworth is the only California town to be founded, financed and governed by African Americans. Each year, visitors from all over the country come to Allensworth to learn about the past. We urge you to consider the economic impact to the County if visitation were to be diminished. State Parks are part of the economic engines of local communities; statewide, State Park visitors spend $2.5 billion each year in local communities.

The California State Park Rangers Association is a professional organization of hundreds of State Park employees and retirees from all classifications within State Parks. We respectfully ask the Board of Supervisors to consider the future of Colonel Allensworth State Historic Park and seek other alternatives for the proposed project.

Sincerely

,/S/

Gail Sevrens
President-Elect