Two applications for permits by S & J Construction were approved at Wednesday’s board meeting of the San Miguel County Commissioners, allowing the company to haul more than 3,000,000 pounds of fill material across certain county roads.

The commissioners approved the permits with added stipulations, requiring the company to place magnetic placards on its hauling vehicles identifying the company and job name. In addition, the owner of the land where the material is to be stored must check into storm water control, weed control and re-vegetation issues.

In the first approved permit, S & J requested permission to haul 8,000 cubic yards of material to the Esch property on CR 43ZS. Hauling to the property involves crossing approximately a quarter-mile of CR 43ZS. The request equals about 445 truckloads over a period of three weeks.

S & J’s second permit approved by the BOCC involves hauling material to the Spor property on the west edge of Norwood. The 20,000 cubic yards of material will require nearly 1,150 truckloads and will occur intermittently over a period of four months while excavating the foundation for the lot 50/51 project in Mountain Village.

County Contract With Maximus, Inc. Continues

The BOCC unanimously agreed to continue using Denver based Maximus, Inc., for their consulting services and preparation of countywide cost allocation plan. SMC has used Maximus, Inc. since 1995.

In preparing a cost allocation plan, Maximus, Inc. utilizes data provided by SMC to allocate a portion of the operating costs of certain offices and departments, and provides services to other county offices, like the BOCC, treasurer and finance departments, which receive the benefit of those indirect operating costs.

BOCC to Support BLM Wickson Draw Rollerchop Project

In an effort to reduce hazardous fuels and to improve habitat for big game, wildlife, livestock and forest health, the Bureau of Land Management is conducting a 200-acre rollerchop project on Wickson Draw, located seven miles southwest of Naturita and eight miles west of Hwy. 141. The BOCC wrote a letter in support of the project, which could begin this spring, to the BLM.

The initial plans of the Wickson Draw Project included rollerchopping and a prescribed burn to reduce the amount of hazardous fuel (dense juniper and piñon) but the plan changed, according to Dave Kauffman, the associate field manager at the Montrose office.

“Over the years,” he said, “we have never been able to have a successful burn to be effective and safe. So we decided to go ahead and deal with the treatment with just a rollerchopper.”

In rollerchopping, a mechanical device shaped like a drum is pulled behind a tractor. The device clears hard, stiff vegetation like trees, while leaving underlying vegetation intact.

“First and foremost our goal is to reduce the hazardous fuel,” said Kauffman, “and then what we can do as far as improving wildlife habitat will bring a good balance to the project.”

Kauffmann added that Tri-State Generation and Transmission power lines are located in the area and part of the clearing project will help protect those lines from fire.