Free brush clearing?

[stumpfield]

I just got a letter from the county's Fire Safe Council (a non-profit org.) said that they will paid to do the survey and hire a contractor to clear brushes 300 feet wide to create a fire break along the road that's on my property. It's a little over 1/2 mile long on my property which translates into about 20 acres of clearing. My initial thinking was... this is great! free brush clearing. Then I picture this long strip of bare dirt and wonder what it looks like afterward.
Is this a good thing or do I need to weight the pro's and con's. It sounded too good to be true at 1st. Then I contacted them by phone and they said yes. All you have to do is to sign the consent form then we'll send a forester out to do the survey. You don't have to participate if you don't want to.... I got a little suspicious when the letter read like this....

...your property is within the project area. We hope you agree with us that this is a great opportunity for you to improve your property without any cost to you. Should you agree to participate, the resulting hazardous fuels clearance should make your property more fire safe and possibly more valuable.

Why would anyone contact you to make your property more valuable What do you think?

 

[randy41]

i would ask them for references from people they have done this for before and then contact those people.

 

[MrJimi]

I smell scam??
If its to good to be true thing
Jim

 

[HomeBrew2]

Our area's Fire Safe Council was recently formed. I don't participate so I only know what they told me when I asked about it and minutes of meetings that they sent me.
They are a non-profit org that essentially coordinates fire related activities amoung the public, CDF, Park Service, Forest Service, etc. They have to devolop a Fire Safe Plan before anything can really happen. Then they can apply for grants to fund "projects". Projects might include fuel reductions, like yours, or a public info campaign, or any number of other things in the plan. The plan obviously included a fuel reduction project in an area that your property just happens to be in.
In my opinion, you hit a little jackpot. It's definately a legit deal.
For further info, you an request to be put on their email/mail list or ask when the next meeting is and attend. They are usually once month around here.
If you think it's a good deal, and want to make a donation, I'm sure they'd gladly accept it and it should be tax deductable.

 

[HomeBrew2]

Here's the main Fire Safe Council page

Here's the Mariposa County sub-page

Here's the separate Mariposa County Fire Safe Council page

One should be able to find everything there is to know about it, names, addresses, phone numbers, minutes, bylaws, e-newsletters.

 

[stumpfield]

..................................
In my opinion, you hit a little jackpot. It's definately a legit deal.

Your are right. I did a little research and found they are legit. They got grant $$$ from california Prop 40. So, our tax dollar funded the project. They are doing the entire road all the way to madera county line. That's about 10 miles from the hwy.

Usually, I would expect the fire dept to tell me clear the brush or they will get someone to do it and make me paid for it or file a lien against the property. This letter sounded too nice....

 

[Doc_Bob]

Read the contract to make sure you are not obligated to do any work or have any future "duties". If it is a one time deal, with no strings attached, go for it.
Bob

 

[SnoFalls]

Why would anyone contact you to make your property more valuable What do you think?

The higher the property value the higher the property taxes ...

300 feet wide sounds like a huge swath being "taken care of" ... I'd be wary of what restrictions will be put onto the land in question going forward as well.

 

[HomeBrew2]

The higher the property value the higher the property taxes ...

Not exactly in Kalifornia. We have the famous Proposition 13 in effect from the 1970's.
Property is initially taxed at 1% of appraised value.
Tax can only increase at 2% per year thereafter, until sold.
However, any improvement, usually triggered by a permit, will be taxed and added to the exosting tax. That is, no full re-appraisal.
A full re-appraisal will occur upon sale.

 

[Highbeam]

Are you required to maintain the stripped area as a stripped area? Do they get all upset if you let the fuel grow back?