Cochise County official OKs ranch border barrier

By Josh Brodesky
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
Cochise County's planning director will allow the construction of a 14-foot tall, military-style barrier on a Bisbee rancher's property, citing its "agricultural purpose."
The fence is being built by the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps on rancher Richard Hodges' land along the border near Naco. It will stretch nine-tenths of a mile along a Border Patrol access road. Referred to as an "Israeli-style" border barrier, it will have two parallel fences and razor wire.
Hodges' ranch is more than 300 acres.
The fence was approved because Hodges' land is more than five acres and the fence will be used to contain cattle, said Judy Anderson, Cochise County planning director.
"It may serve other purposes as well, but that wasn't the issue," Anderson said.
Rather, she said, the question was if the barrier could be used for ranching purposes. If so, then the property owner is exempt from zoning regulations.
"And I determined it was," she said.
The barrier's main purpose, Hodges said, is to keep cattle from walking onto the road.