Attorney Believes YFZ Ranch Connected to FLDS
 State Environmental Inspectors Visit YFZ
 
The Eldorado Success
 
Salt Lake City attorney Rodney Parker told the Success on Tuesday that he believes the buildings going up on the YFZ Ranch are "clearly connected" to the Fundamentalist Church of Latter Day Saints. Parker, who has represented the FLDS on a number of occasions, said he was unsure why the group chose to build near Eldorado and that he has no idea what the FLDS has planned for the property.

Parker said that he only knows what he has read about the YFZ Ranch but noted that photos of the buildings, plus information he has gleaned about individuals connected with the property convinced him of an FLDS connection.

Parker represented Colorado City, AZ police officer Rodney Holm last year when the State of Utah brought charges of bigamy and unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year old child. Holm, who is a was eventually convicted in the case, is an FLDS member who admits to practicing polygamy.

Polygamy is the "bedrock of their faith," Parker said of the FLDS. "They are very committed to the practice."

On the other hand, Parker says, members of the FLDS are honest, hard working people who just want to be left alone. He speculated that some of them may have chosen to relocate to Eldorado in order to escape the intense media attention they are now getting in Colorado City, AZ and Hildale, UT.

Parker couldn’t say, however, exactly how many people would be living on the YFZ Ranch.

Sheriff David Doran also spoke with Parker on Tuesday. "It was clear from the beginning that this was going to be more than a corporate hunting retreat," Doran said. "It’s good to have it finally confirmed from someone connected to the FLDS."

Meanwhile, the ranch has attracted the attention of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Mark Finch and Boyd Guthrie, environmental investigators with the TCEQ, carried out a number of inspections last Thursday at the ranch. The men made their appearance after Schleicher County Commissioners expressed concerns earlier in the week that environmental regulations may not have been followed during construction of three large buildings on ranch property.

Finch told the Success later that the investigation is ongoing and that he expects to make a return trip to the ranch sometime later this week or early next week.

Among the issues the state is investigating are air quality standards associated with a bulk cement plant located near the construction site. Also, storm water discharge precautions, water system capacity, sewer/septic system capability and methods of solid waste (garbage) disposal.

Ricky Anderson, TCEQ Region 8 Director, told the Success in a telephone interview on Tuesday that the State of Texas has rules governing a number of issues related to environmental quality in and around developments like the one on the YFZ Ranch. He said that subdivisions, and other large-scale developments outside the city limits have to follow many of the same rules as the City of Eldorado.

Anderson noted that his agency began looking into environmental concerns on the property as soon as they were made aware. "I want people to know that we are on top of this and that we continue to look into it," Anderson said.

Other regulatory concerns at the YFZ Ranch may come from the Plateau Underground Water District. YFZ foreman Ernie Jessop led Sheriff David Doran to believe last week that a new water well had been drilled on the ranch.

Cindy Cawley, manager of the water district, told the Success that she has not issued a permit for such a well. She said she hoped to hear from someone connected with the YFZ so that the issue can be cleared up.

Meanwhile, the Success continues trying to contact David Allred, as well as officials of the FLDS church.
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published April 22, 2004
 
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