RIDGWAY, Nov. 13, 7:06 a.m. – The Ridgway Town Council is expected to endorse a proposal to recommend the Teakettle Mountain to be added to the Mount Sneffels Wilderness Area at its regular meeting on Wednesday in the Town Hall Community Center.

The council declined to endorse such proposal at its October meeting citing “a perceived need to do additional detail work on the map.”

In a draft proposal obtained Monday afternoon addressed to U.S. Rep. John Salazar, the councilmembers “respectfully request that you introduce legislation to expand the Sneffels Wilderness Area in Ouray County. This proposal has widespread support in our town and includes significant portions of signature views, including Mount Sneffels itself, which is currently only partially.”

The proposed expansion consists of 16,377 acres ranging in elevation from 8,000-14,000 feet and encompasses Teakettle Mountain, Blaine Basin, Senator Gulch, Whitehouse Peak, Mount Ridgway, and Potosi Peak, among other geographical features.

Other issues the town council is expecting to address on Wednesday include: accepting a contract with the Colorado Department of Transportation for a Safe Routes to School Grant; a presentation of a quarterly report from the Community Development Department; a presentation on the 2006 annual audit from Pete Blair; a request for variance in the utility easement and set back requirements from resident Kevin Chismire; a presentation from Ouray County Land Use administrator Randy Russell on a Smart Grown Housing Grant; a presentation to approve a 30-day continuance of final plat approval for the Ridgway Hot Springs Planned Unit Development called Triangle Subdivision; ratifying expenditures to install new water lines under Amelia St.; and ratifying Downey Excavation performance of three road borings on Green and Laura streets.

The council is also expected to approve liquor licenses for the Ouray County Fairgrounds and the Switchback Tavern.