The prospects for a temporary hot-mix asphalt plant on a site just north of Cortez appear dim.
On Monday, Montezuma County Chair Larry Don Suckla said he is “adamantly opposed” to such an operation in that location. Commissioner Keenan Ertel echoed his concerns. Dave and Lana Waters of D&L Construction are set to come before the commission on May 8th to seek approval of a high-impact permit for a “multi-purpose industrial area” on their 35-acre tract on the south side of Road L near the George Geer bike trail. The Waters listed a number of possible uses with their application, including equipment storage, gravel-crushing and short-term operations of concrete or hot-mix asphalt plants. On April 13th, after a lengthy hearing before a large audience, the county Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of the permit while specifying that it was not approving a hot-mix operation. That would require another permit. On Monday, Suckla said asphalt plants are needed but a better location might be near the county landfill. Landfill manager Shak Powers said vacant land there could be leased but mitigation measures would have to be taken. He also expressed concern about the Waters’ plans to crush material from the old Montezuma-Cortez High School. Powers said the material contains highly friable asbestos and no matter where the Waters’ crushing operation is located, wind could carry contaminated dust to other locations.
