| 2/18/2009 9:30:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | Wildfire plan for Game Trail subdivision is first in county
by Paul Goetz
Mail News Editor
A wildfire protection plan for the Game Trail Association, the first of its kind in Chaffee County, was presented to commissioners for signature during their work session Tuesday.
Game Trail subdivision is north of Buena Vista and west of U.S. 24 on CR 384.
The plan outlines fire prevention within the subdivision and some concepts include use of education.
District Forester Damon Lang of the Colorado State Forest Service told commissioners Game Trail residents are good at distributing information.
The group established guidelines regarding fire prevention for building and maintaining structures within the development.
Commissioner Tim Glenn said he is in favor of the plan, but was concerned about the signature because he didn't want to leave a perception of county liability. He asked that a governmental immunity disclaimer be added to the language.
In unrelated business, Donna Rhoads presented a Salida-area Parks, Open space and Trails proposal for bicycle and pedestrian "Share the Road" route areas.
She asked commissioners for $11,000 for signs and $7,000 for benches, tables and trail in a proposed pocket park at CR 160 and CR 144.
The plan is to link separate trails using city and county roads. Signs would assists bicyclists and pedestrians following roads between trails and remind motorists of trail locations.
Pocket park land is being donated by the Albert Wong family. The county may consider using Southwest Conservation Corp. labor to instal signs and the park.
On other topics, commissioners:
• Heard a report from Chaffee County Emergency Medical Services director Lisa Ortega who requested a commissioner be appointed as an ex-officio member for the EMS Foundation.
Ortega reported EMS personnel are answering a countywide average of six calls per day.
• County Attorney Jenny Davis reviewed administration of the recreational in-channel diversion flow on the Arkansas River.
Dates and criteria for Paddle Fest in Buena Vista and FIBArk in Salida are needed to determine which days are needed to fulfill eight days of flow increased to 1,800 cubic feet per second if necessary.
Another point is if the county needs additional night flow.
"Even if there are no night events it is better to tell the engineers 'no' to fill the obligation of the decree," Glenn said.
The State Engineer's Office needs 30 day notice of the increased flow.
• Lori Isenberger, transportation advisory chairwoman, reported a bid for property behind the Windmill Restaurant on Jones Street has been accepted and plans for a transportation center will continue.
It will serve Chaffee Shuttle and will be a stop for the Gunnison to Denver bus as a place to purchase tickets and park automobiles. The property is ready to move in, she said.
•Colorado School of Mines geologists presented an update on geophysical studies planned in the county this year.
About 20 students from the Imperial College in London may be added to the camp associate research professor Mike Batzle said. The geology field camp will continue student studies this year near Mount Princeton Hot Springs.
• Fred Henderson III, Ph.D., chief scientist Mount Princeton Geothermal LLC, discussed company plans to tap geothermal energy in the area. The company is in Step 2 of four development levels.
The company wants to begin $100,000 in thermal gradient drilling in the spring. Step three will include deep, slim hole drilling and tests, during the autumn estimated to cost $2 million to $4 million.
Step four will be production, injection drilling and plant development in spring 2010 for an estimated $30 million to $40 million.
Henderson requested a pre-special use permit meeting with the planning and zoning commission for a pre-stage three reading of the Mount Princeton Geothermal Energy Project before investing.
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Reader Comments
Posted: Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Article comment by:
mitch neal
a little more info about the fire plan would have been nice!
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