Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer(s) or any of my affiliations. Greetings Commissioner Waldref, Thank you for your continued service to District 2 and for your leadership on quality-of-life issues across Spokane County. I am writing to express my strong support for the proposed acquisition of the Fancher Property through the Conservation Futures Program and to encourage your vote in favor when the Board of County Commissioners considers this purchase. The Fancher Property has been the number one priority on the Conservation Futures acquisition list for five years, and the completion of appraisals and availability of funding represent the culmination of years of careful planning by County Parks staff. As you know from your background with the Lands Council, this is exactly the type of acquisition that Spokane County voters envisioned when they approved the Conservation Futures levy in 1994: preserving open space, protecting natural resources, and enhancing quality of life before development permanently forecloses the opportunity. Before I became a parent, the trails on and around Beacon Hill were my go to destination for mountain biking and trail running. Now, in this season of life, I am introducing my daughter to mountain biking in those same ponderosa pines and balsamroot meadows. There is something irreplaceable about watching your child discover the joy of riding through a forest that you have loved for years. Protecting the Fancher Property ensures that families like mine, and those who come after us, will have that opportunity. I also want to acknowledge the broader context. The Fancher Property is one piece of a longer, multi-chapter effort to preserve the natural experiences on Beacon Hill for public access. While this letter is focused specifically on the Fancher acquisition, I want to express my support for the longer-term visions of connectivity and continued investment in public land access on our rapidly developing eastern edge. As Public Works Director Kyle Twohig noted in the Spokesman article, the Avista easement already provides a diagonal connection between the Fancher Property and Camp Sekani, and with thoughtful planning, these preserved parcels can function as a connected system rather than isolated fragments. The cost of inaction here is permanent. The Department of Natural Resources could sell this land to a private buyer, and once it is subdivided, no amount of future funding will reassemble 80 acres of contiguous ponderosa forest adjacent to existing parkland. Acting now, while appraisals are complete and funding is available, builds long-term value. I respectfully ask that you vote in favor of the Fancher Property acquisition and continue championing public land access in Spokane County. Thank you for your time and consideration. Respectfully, Travis Nichols Spokane County Commissioner District 2 1704 E 14th Ave, Spokane, WA 99202 509-720-8899 (cell) References: Colin Tiernan, "Spokane County to consider purchasing 80 acres on Beacon Hill for conservation," The Spokesman Review, April 8, 2026: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/apr/08/spokane-county-to-consider-purchasing-80-acres-on-/ Colin Tiernan, "Spokane County looks to acquire 78 acres of ponderosa pine forest for free," The Spokesman Review, October 5, 2023: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2023/oct/05/spokane-county-looks-to-acquire-78-acres-of-ponder/ KHQ, "Spokane County moves to acquire Fancher property to protect hiking area," February 19, 2025: https://www.khq.com/news/spokane-county-moves-to-acquire-fancher-property-to-protect-hiking-area/article_afd66976-ee5a-11ef-bcd9-8fa0342bf9d5.html Spokane County Conservation Futures Program: https://www.spokanecounty.gov/1592/Conservation-Futures DNR Trust Land Transfer Program: https://dnr.wa.gov/land-transactions/trust-land-transfer/proposed-and-current-transfers