- Fire departments in Montezuma County responded to a blaze at a senior housing five-plex in Towaoc on Saturday.
- Two local citizens sharply criticize the Montezuma County commissioners for their recent decision not to participate in a Master Leasing Plan process initiated by the BLM.
Fire departments throughout Montezuma County responded to a blaze that gutted a senior housing five-plex in the town of Towaoc on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation Saturday. Ute Mountain fire chief and public safety director John Trocheck says the cause of the fire is unknown. Cortez Fire Chief Jeff Vandervoorde, whose department was called to the blaze around 1:00pm in the afternoon, said seven engines, one ladder truck, and 21 people from six fire departments ultimately responded to the emergency. No injuries were reported to either residents or firefighters.
Two local citizens sharply criticized the Montezuma County commissioners Monday for their recent decision not to participate in a Master Leasing Plan process initiated by the BLM. The plan would more closely examine some public lands in Montezuma County and western La Plata County for their suitability for oil and gas drilling. During public comment, Betty Ann Kolner said she was “boggled by the defiant and disrespectful reactions” to a September 21st presentation by BLM Tres Rios Field Office Manager Connie Clementson. Clementson had asked the commissioners to appoint a citizens group to be part of the effort, but they said further scrutiny of energy development was not needed. Kolner and another citizen, Fiona King, told the board they did not understand why the county would not welcome the chance to have more local input into decision-making. Commissioner Larry Don Suckla responded that the commission plans to draft an ordinance that will help the county provide special protection from drilling impacts for the Phil’s World bike paths east of Cortez.
