Thorny Issues for Las Animas Commissioners

by Bill Knowles
TRINIDAD — The Las Animas Board of County Commissioners dealt with some thorny issues during Tuesdayʼs regular meeting, choosing to defer decisions until they could get more information.
In a public hearing to receive feedback on the Pinõn Valley Lodge development, Commissioner Gary Hill noted due to recent rains, noxious weeds were growing everywhere.  He felt that weed control should be a condition before a go ahead was given on the project.  “We really need to control this.  I feel that weed control should be a part of the permitting process.  We need to get Bob [Lucero] up there so he can evaluate whatʼs going on.”  Lucero is the countyʼs noxious weed coordinator.
Applicants Paul and Mark Thomas stated they had no time constraints.  Existing buildings are being made over into a restaurant and bar.  Several cabins are on site as well and will be used as lodging.
Commissioner Mack Louden made the motion for a 30-day deferment on processing the permit until Lucero could inspect the property near Weston on County Road 23.3.  The commission will revisit the permit on the July 21 regular meeting.  The motion passed 3-0.
A second public hearing drew several comments from interested parties.  Walt Niccoli has applied to the county to close down a part of county road 52.4 west of Aguilar.  “Itʼs a short section, maybe a quarter of a mile long.” Niccoli said.
However Dr. Paula Dosen told the commissioners that the closing of the road would cut off access to her property.  However maps used in a presentation by Niccoli, show that Dosen could access her property from C.R. 54.2.  Another neighbor, Andrew Rybak argued closure of the road would inhibit egress from his property along County Road 54.2, north of C.R. 52.4, in a case of wildfire.
Most of the public hearing, which lasted about 45 minutes, centered around historical use of C.R. 52.4 and whether the quarter-mile section from Niccoliʼs green gate to Dosenʼs red gate was indeed a county road.
The commissioners voted 3-0 to defer action on the closure until they could get clarification about points in the arguments presented to them during the hearing.  
A new Perry Stokes Airport manager, Elliot Gruber, will be on the job beginning July 16.  
Currently the airport is being managed by Airport Management Services.  A six-month transition period will be in effect until Gruber is fully versed and ready to take over the job.