Taking a shot at easy money

Taking a shot at easy money

The allure of easy riches was cap- tured 50 years ago by the opening tune from the “The Beverly Hillbillies.” There’s the image of ol’ Jed, whose one errant shot made him an instant millionaire as, “up from the ground came a bubblin’ crude/Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.”

And so it is understandable that there was talk in Poland Village Council about leasing the mineral rights of the 265-acre Poland Municipal Forest to oil and natural-gas companies.

The prospect of easy money seems to have been stifled by opinions from two lawyers discouraging such a contract based on the possible legal implications of violating the 75-year-old deed in which Grace Butler turned over that land to be used as a natural preserve.

Cross purposes

Village Solicitor Anthony D’Apolito suggested that leasing mineral rights of the forest would constitute a “commercial purpose” for the land, which is limited to “park purposes” in the deed.

That would open the door for Butler heirs or taxpayers to challenge a mineral rights lease, and D’Apolito suggested the village would incur legal expenses in a likely losing cause.

But beyond the cold legal facts of the case lies a larger question, that of honoring Grace Butler’s intent. Even if a loophole could be found, can anyone believe that Butler intended for her land to some day be transformed into a cash cow, producing revenue for the village’s general use?

The wishes of philanthropists should be honored by succeeding generations, even if it means passing up what looks like easy money.