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<br />I <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />is accepted that we could move rapidly from there on and not start at <br />that time with the appraisals and negotiations. <br /> <br />MR. HALL: Let me answer you in the affirmative. Yes, <br />begin the appraisal process and it is our intention to <br />contract within the time frame we are talking about. <br /> <br />Does any of my staff wish to add anything to that? <br /> <br />MR. IRWIN: Willis Irwin, Bureau of Reclamation in Denver. We do have <br />the problem of keeping appraisals up to date and in talking with the <br />group this morning, land values are changing and so we do have the <br />problem of not getting too far ahead on appraisals - ahead of land <br />acquisition or negotiations. I would sununarize our position on that, <br />Joe, as that we would get an active appraisal program when the final <br />environmental statement is filed. This doesn't mean we will not be <br />looking at comparable land values and preliminary data prior to that. <br />But probably about the time the final statement is filed we will begin <br />an active appraisal program, which would give us time to keep appraisals <br />ahead of acquisition then. <br /> <br />sir. We will <br />be able to <br /> <br />MR. HALL: That's just so we have it up to date. But as far as being <br />ready, you don't have any problem with Mr. Sparks' premise that we go <br />ahead and do that preliminary work, do you? <br /> <br />MR. IRWIN: No. <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: How many landowners are involved and how much acreage <br />in a general way are we talking about? <br /> <br />MR. HALL: The acreage involved will be upwards of some forty thousand <br />total. The number of landowners, I don't know. I'm sorry. <br /> <br />MR. SPARKS: There are well over two hundred, as I recall. I think we <br />have about two hundred and twenty families involved. <br /> <br />MR. KROEGER: Mr. Chairman, is it correct that we have construction <br />funds available and we can move right along? <br /> <br />MR. HALL: That's correct. There are funds in this year's budget for <br />the beginning of construction activity which, in this case, means we <br />are in a position to acquire lands. <br /> <br />MR. STAPLETON: Any further questions from the board? (No response.) <br /> <br />We scheduled this meeting here in Brush so that the citizens could ask <br />questions. We would like to know of your thoughts and feelings. So <br />I am going to open it up to questions from the members of the audience. <br />I ask that you identify yourself, come up close enough so you can be <br />heard by the reporter and we will proceed in that fashion. <br /> <br />Who has the first question then? <br /> <br />-5- <br />