The Montezuma County Board of Commissioners jumped into 2019 by welcoming newly elected member Jim Candelaria and new county administrator Shak Powers.
Out of the gate, the commissioners and staff discussed how to reopen the road into Mesa Verde National Park, which closed because of the partial federal government shutdown.
“We can’t have tourists coming here to find the park closed,” said commissioner Larry Don Suckla. “We want to offer our help.”
The winding, 21-mile road through the park briefly remained open after the shutdown began Dec. 21, despite the closure of park attractions and services.
But it was closed after the Dec. 25 snowstorm because there were not enough resources to sufficiently plow the road for public safety.
The commissioners directed county road manager Rob Englehart to seek a mutual aid agreement with the park that would allow county crews to help plow during the shutdown to keep the road open.
“It would take some time, but we have the equipment to get it done,” Englehart said. “I’ll look into it.”
Calls and emails to park officials on whether they would be open to such an agreement were not returned.
After reviewing applications in open session, commissioners appointed 11 people to the new Montezuma County Recreation Advisory Board. They said the diverse group represents a wide variety of recreation interests and brings fundraising skills to the table.
Appointed members are Shawn Gregory, Robert Walden, Latifa Rodriguez, Kathryn Fulton, Brett Grubbs, Paul Crook, Roger Lawrence, Mark Drudge and Susan Thomas. Alternates are Abigail Lock and Cap Allen.
The committee will be charged with promoting outdoor recreation in the county. Its first priority will be moving forward on the planning and construction of the proposed 17-mile Paths to Mesa Verde trail between Cortez and Mancos. The ambitious project is in its fourth year of a planning phase that has been funded by local county and municipal governments and a $400,000 grant from the Colorado Department of Transportation.
The first phase of the trail is being planned from Mancos along the U.S. 160 right of way.
Also, the commissioners said they plan to interview all nine applicants seeking the open planning director job.
The planning and zoning board also is accepting applications for an alternate position. Commissioners did not release the names of the applicants.
