During a meeting held by the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) on Monday, June 1, the board unanimously approved its consent agenda, which included a modification of an agreement with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to add funding for the application of magnesium chloride to the Piedra National Forest System Road (NFSR) 631.
Before voting on the consent agenda, Commissioner Warren Brown explained the county had received the agreement with the USFS last week.
“This is an agreement that we got in last week from the Forest Service,” he said, explaining the agreement is for the county to provide maintenance on a portion of NFSR 631 located within Archuleta County twice a year. That includes a one-time magnesium chloride application and blade, and the second time is “blade only.”
Brown also mentioned that he, and other county staff members, had been contacted numerous times by constituents asking for maintenance on the road, noting a crash occurred along the roadway over the weekend.
A second crash occurred on the same roadway the morning of June 1 shortly after the BoCC meeting.
“The county certainly can’t be, nor can the Forest Service, be responsible for the driving actions of individuals using that roadway,” Brown said.
He went on to explain that there is a “maintenance challenge” in that NFSR 631 is located in Archuleta County, “but that is a Forest Service road.”
Brown also noted that crews were on-site Monday morning working on the road.
“We are trying to do our best, but the county can not arbitrarily plow, maintain, repair …. other governmental jurisdictional roads,” Brown said.
Commissioner John Ranson emphasized some of Brown’s comments, stating, “That is not a very safe road to be passing on.”
Ranson explained that his understanding of the crash that occurred over the weekend was that passing “was part of the problem.”
Ranson encouraged folks to be careful on all dirt roads, regardless of their condition.
Accidents
Two vehicle rollovers were reported on NFSR 631 (Piedra Road) over three days, with the Colorado State Patrol (CSP) confirming the first crash occurred on Saturday, May 30, at approximately 4 p.m.
According to an email to The SUN from CSP’s public affairs office, the crash took place at NFSR 631 (Piedra Road) and Jack’s Pasture Road involving a Toyota Camry.
“The vehicle rolled onto its roof on the edge of the road and was occupied by four. No injuries were reported and the vehicle was towed from the scene,” the email explains.
The second crash involved another single vehicle that rolled onto its roof.
It occurred at approximately 9 a.m. on Monday, June 1, at NFSR 631 (Piedra Road) and Roush Drive.
“The single occupant claimed minor injuries,” CSP’s email states, noting the vehicle was towed from the scene.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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