September 20, 2007
BLM Again Delays Appraisal of Alamo Industrial Park

By Dave Maxwell

It’s becoming frustrating. It’s becoming ridiculous. And if it doesn’t happen this week, as hoped, then once again the Bureau of Land Management Ely Field Office has delayed the work of appraising the land in the Alamo Industrial Park for the planned direct sale to Lincoln County that BLM themselves have scheduled for October 10.

County Commissioner Wade Poulsen, himself an Alamo resident, says these delays are continuing to be problem for Steel Tech Corporation, the steel manufacturing firm of Corona, CA., that wants to buy 24 acres in Parcel A, in order to build an expansion plant there.

The first projection date for BLM to have the appraisal completed and submitted was June 29th and it still has not been done. Poulsen said, “Whenever you are dealing with the government it’s slow. They don’t seem to hold themselves to deadlines like the private sector does.”

Regarding Steel Tech Poulsen said, “Their whole money situation and budget is based upon how much land they can buy in the Industrial Park. They want 24 acres.” But he went on to say, “The longer the BLM stalls out on the appraisal process then we don’t know how much money needs to be spent (by Lincoln County) to buy the land. They (Steel Tech) are in an expansion mode right now to the point where they are leasing ground in Southern California near their property for storage purposes.

“They are still committed to coming to Alamo,” Poulsen said, “however the longer it delays, the more opportunity it gives to Steel Tech to find expansion opportunities in Southern California.”