BOCC hears road update

Rogers opened his report stating the he and his crew are working to repair roads around the Creede area and cleaning out ditches to prepare for the coming runoff. “It has been a busy season and we are working to get the roads, culverts, cattleguards and ditches ready for the runoff as much as weather will allow,” said Rogers.


CREEDE— The Board of Mineral County Commissioners opened their first of the month meeting on May 6, with a report from Road and Bridge Director Danny Rogers. Like several communities in the Valley, Mineral County is in the middle of preparing for summer guests after a heavy winter in the San Juan Mountains.
Rogers opened his report stating the he and his crew are working to repair roads around the Creede area and cleaning out ditches to prepare for the coming runoff. “It has been a busy season and we are working to get the roads, culverts, cattleguards and ditches ready for the runoff as much as weather will allow,” said Rogers.
One of the areas that Rogers discussed with the board was the tight corners on the Bachelor Loop road. County officials have closed the road intermittently throughout the spring due to dangerous conditions on the east side of the loop. County Administrator Janelle Kukuk mentioned that more weather is expected in the area later in the week and that Rogers needs to put up the road closed signs as soon as he thinks it is necessary. “Just put them up the minute you think they need to be up,” said Kukuk.
Rogers also stated that the new LED shop lights that were approved by the county for the Road and Bridge shop are up and working great. “We really appreciate the board for allowing us to get them. They have made a huge difference.”
In other news, the board discussed a small change to the current courthouse plans in regards to a locked door in the sheriff’s department. Originally, plans were to have a keypad lock on one of the doors leading into the deputy area of the office, but after getting a request for a change from Valley Lock and Security and Sheriff Fred Hosselkus, the board reconsidered their options.
The request asked that commissioners approve additional costs in order for the company to install a button in the dispatcher’s area that would allow them to buzz in people who did not have an assigned code for the keypad protected door. “This is a necessary change, and I think we should just go ahead and approve the request,” said Chairman Jesse Albright. All commissioners agreed and the board moved on to the next item on the agenda.
Creede Town Manager Louis Fineburg was present to speak with commissioners about a possible road closure to keep large trucks from getting caught on Main Street during summer months while courthouse construction continues. Fineburg stated that he thinks it would be better for the county to consider signs instead of closing a portion of the road.
“I just think it would be better for us to use signage to direct trucks along a truck route rather than close the road,” said Fineburg. Sherriff Hosselkus was scheduled to be in attendance for the conversation but was unable to attend. Due to this fact, the board felt it was best to agree with Fineburg and asked that he look into options for truck route signage.


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