Mount Sneffels Mining Co., which currently operates the Ruby Trust Mine, has filed applications with the U.S. Forest Service and the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety to conduct diamond-drilling exploration for gold and silver on 23 different surface sites in the Sneffels Creek and Yankee Boy basin areas. Since the revised project size now encompasses less than an acre of affected land, approximately .88 acres, the company is no longer subject to Ouray County Special Use Permit requirements, as stated in the county’s Land Use Code. Since the commissioners first heard of the project, all three have expressed concern that the county has little regulatory authority to address any concerns they have with the project, which sit in the high alpine terrain, a popular tourist destination.
The commissioners on Monday approved letters signed by Board Chair Lynn Padgett to both the U.S. Forest Service and CDRMS expressing a desire to be fully involved in both agencies’ approval processes.
“We respectfully maintain that no thorough review of the pending application be completed without input from Ouray County representatives about the serous impacts this project will have and possible mitigation measures to lessen such impacts,” the letters state. “We have noted the potential for significant impacts to Ouray County as a result of this exploration activity. The most serious impacts expected are deterioration and damage to Ouray County Road 361 and the negative economic impact this activity will have on the tourist industry in Ouray County.”
The letter also states the county’s desire to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with each agency that would set forth a review process for similar types of applications or activities.
First Quarter Foreclosure Filings Drop From 2009
Compared to the first quarter of 2009, Ouray County Treasurer Jeannine Casolari reported to Ouray County Commissioners on Monday that the total number of foreclosures this year is down slightly.
Between Jan. 1 and March 31 this year, there were 12 foreclosures filed with Casolari’s office, down from 17 foreclosures filed in that same period in 2009. In the first quarter of 2010, there have been 12 foreclosure sales, which is an increase from five foreclosure sales in the first quarter of 2009.
It is unclear if foreclosure numbers in the county have topped out, but now that the state has received Casolari’s first-quarter foreclosure report, statewide numbers should be available soon. It will be “interesting” to see how the county’s foreclosure numbers are comparing to other counties in the state, she said.
County Approves Joint Citizen Review Panel for Social Services
Since Ouray and San Miguel counties have combined social service programs, the Ouray Board of County Commissioners on Monday approved an agreement for a joint citizen review panel to handle any grievances that may arise from the departments’ administration of child welfare cases.
Commissioner Lynn Padgett explained at Monday’s meeting that state statutes require a citizen review panel for administered child welfare grievances. In the past, Ouray County has had little success in filling at least three vacant seats on that panel. The agreement between Ouray and San Miguel counties will create a citizen review panel that has one representative from Ouray County and two representatives from San Miguel County.
“I am comfortable with it,” Commissioner Heidi Albritton said, “and I am glad we can work with San Miguel in something like this.” With that, Albritton further moved to appoint Randy Parker as Ouray County’s representative on the review panel. Parker was unanimously appointed to fill the seat.
ROCC E-Waste Recycling Event Coming to Ridgway May 15
The Ouray County Commissioners approved a donation of up to $300 to help cover the cost of the May 15 E-Waste recycling event that is once again being put on by the Ridgway/Ouray Community Council in conjunction with its spring parking lot sale in Ridgway.
According to past ROCC President Sheelagh Williams, the Town of Ridgway is donating up to $300 for the event, as well as Alpine Bank, which is donating up to $1,000.
“We think this is a county event and we hope the county will come and participate,” Williams told the commissioners at Monday’s meeting. “In light of that, we wanted you to have the opportunity to sponsor this event.”
Overall the commissioners agreed that the event, which is expensive to hold because of the costs associated with electronics recycling, serves the entire county and thus merits funding. They went on to request that ROCC representatives give the City of Ouray the opportunity to sponsor the event as well.
More information on the event is forthcoming.
Commissioners to Address Dogs in the Workplace
Due to a number of past incidents with county employees’ dogs at the workplace, the Ouray Board of County Commissioners has been tasked with addressing the issue in by possibly making amendments to the Ouray County Personnel Policy.
After a lengthy discussion between county staff and the commissioners, a decision on pets in the workplace was continued. Staff members who addressed their concerns about allowing or disallowing pets in the workplace were relatively split on the issue. Several staff members told the commissioners that dogs have made the workplace a better environment for both employees and citizens. Other staff members disagreed, stating that public buildings are not the place for dogs.
The commissioners will continue the discussion at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
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