| 11/14/2006 9:00:00 AM | Email this article • Print this article | No official stance
Chaffee County Commissioners tell Rags Over the Arkansas River they are not ready to make official stand
by Jason Starr
Mail Staff Writer
Chaffee County Commissioners reminded members of Rags Over the Arkansas River on Monday they are not ready to take an official stand for or against the Christo and Jeanne Claude "Over the River" project.
Six members of ROAR spoke against the proposed public art display in the Bighorn Sheep Canyon during Monday's work session in Salida. Commissioner Jerry Mallett and Jim Osborne said the board of commissioners could not make a decision about the project until the Bureau of Land Management releases a draft of its environmental impact statement.
Commission chairman Tim Glenn was absent from Monday's meeting.
Cathey Young, a member of ROAR, suggested commissioners publicly state opposition to the project before the impact statement is released. Ken Tiegs of ROAR pointed to a letter from county weed coordinator Larry Walker in which Walker said the project would contribute to the spread of the elongated mustard weed.
"Noxious weeds increase rapidly when soil and native vegetation is disturbed," Walker wrote.
Commissioners said they are aware of Walker's concerns and the concerns of ROAR members. They assured opposers that safety of residents of Chaffee County and that of residents of the canyon, which is mostly in Fremont County, would be their primary concern.
Tiegs attended a commissioners meeting last month describing ROAR's opposition.
In other business, commissioners:
•Said they would likely close CR 313 to truck traffic this winter while working out an agreement with developers of the South Main project in Buena Vista to pay for road repairs in the spring.
South Main developers were using the road to haul material during construction, but a representative said Monday hauling has stopped and will continue on a different route in the spring.
Road and bridge supervisor Joe Nelson said the road would cost up to $10,000 to repair at its current level of damage.
•Reviewed a request from Becky Garcia for a replat of the Lazy Daze subdivision on CR 120 near Salida.
•Considered a request for about $22,000 from Los Valles Youth Corps. The youth corps would provide public work projects to local teenagers during the summer months. County Co-Administrator Kathy Leinz said the teens could work at county cemeteries and the fairgrounds.
• Reviewed an agreement from accountant Scott C. Wright for a 2006 audit.
|
Article Comment Submission Form
|
