Editor:
Pitkin County is asking for more taxes for roads this fall. Of course, better roads mean more development.
Twenty-five years ago, the county got an increase in road funding by claiming all the Forest Service roads. The state of Colorado gives the county money yearly to maintain those roads. Most Forest Service roads should be at least bladed every other year to control erosion, but in those 25 years, the county has probably maintained those roads twice. They do maintain Maroon Creek Road, but that’s about it.
I took a walk up Hunter Creek this spring. Water had filled most of the waterbars with mud and many were overflowing, sending water down the road, creating foot-deep ruts. In Van Horn Park, mud was flowing off the road out across the meadow. The county appears not to have maintained this road for five or six years. It doesn’t look hopeful giving the county more money for roads when they can’t maintain the roads they said they would maintain.
Ron Thompson
Aspen
Comments
county roads
KNCB Moore
The condition of the county roads have always been a sore subject.
In the 1950's, ranchers were about the only ones to go to county budget hearings. They complained about the road conditions which, back then, were all gravel. In the early 1970's, there was a BOCC Memo that stated the roads would not be maintained in order to make driving unpleasant
and encourage drivers to leave their cars at home and ride the buses.
Not too smart because the buses passengers had to put up with the uncomfortable conditions. The road problem eventually becomes a crisis and have to be repaired then the neglect starts all over again. This story
is called Rob Peter To Pay Paul.