Ella Marolf, Sanborn Park Resident for 56 years Representative for Sanborn Park Community

33000 GG 47 Road Sanborn Park PO Box 273 Norwood, Colorado 81423

June 15, 2015

Montrose BOCC David White, Commissioner Road and Bridge Department: Montrose County PO Box 1239 Montrose, Colorado 81401

RE: Sanborn Park Road (GG 47 Road to Dave Wood Road)

Dear Sirs:

I am representing the Landowners and other interested parties regarding the Sanborn Park

Road from the junction of Dave Wood Road to The Montrose County Line on the river road, but

mainly and most importantly, where it leaves GG 47 Road to Dave Wood Road. (See enclosed

map)

I have enclosed several documents regarding the area and roads around Sanborn Park, Its his­

tory and landmarks and points of interest, as well as maps. One map is the original Montrose

County map, from 1884, showing the road leading to Sanborn Park as a trail. It was used by

Everett's family when they first settled in Sanborn Park in 1925. These things are provided in

order to assist you in understanding more about our pristine area and how it serves Montrose

County and the USFS, as well as the people who have lived in the area for almost 100 years.

As I have been urged by the members of the Sanborn Park Community to bring this to your at­

tention, I have investigated it to the best of my ability and find that it does now and always has

fallen under the Revised Statute 2477, as described in your documentation.

The Sanborn Park Road is shown as a trail right up to our gate on the Colorado Map in 1884.

I have documented this and road improvements made since then to this stretch of road, you will

find them in my portfolio, along with other information.

Page 1 o f 6

First of all, I would like to make it clear why it is necessary to bring this County Road up to what

we can reasonably expect of a MAJOR ARTERIAL ROAD that connects Montrose to Highway

145 to Norwood, Redvale, Naturita and Nucia,

The Purpose: Promoting the health, safety and welfare of Sanborn Park and surrounding com­

munities.

1) F IRE PROTECTION AND ACCESSlB iL iT '

a) Keeping this road and adjoining forest roads in good repair is extremely important for the

health and welfare of the Forest and the people who live here and enjoy the area.

b) It is a Vacation Destination; serving Montrose County and surrounding area.

2) GOOD FOR MONTROSE ECONOMY

a) Taxes

i) Over $20,000.00 is paid to

Montrose County in Propertv

taxes f rom that area

ii) They are used mainly for Mont­

rose and nol Sanborn Park.

iii) Highway User taxes

iv) ATV Tax

v) Small game and hunting li­

censes

vi) Sales tax

vii) Recreation and entertainment

tax

viii) Motor vehicle tax and licenses

ix) Vendor tax

3) BUSINESS BY P E O P L E A L L

AROUND THIS A R E A

a) Diverse list of occupations.

i) Ranching On Forest and Pri­

vate land

ii) Teacher

iii) Artist and Sculptor

iv) Ccntractor

v) Film maker

v [) Farmer

vii) County Employee

viii) Locksmith

ix) and many others, see list

4) RECREATION

i) Hunting

ii) Tourist and camping

iii) Scenic by way

iv) Nature viewing

-i) ; ; ^ : .S7 i : . ; - ;? ; ; !

t GEMENT

i) Range management

ii) Forest Fires

6) ROAD USED FOR LOCAL BUSINESS

i) Operating and management

Page 2 of 6

7} SCHOOL

i) No longer an operating schooi

in Sanborn Park

ii) Four school age Children living

in Sanborn Park

iii) Two High and middle school

age children.

iv) Need to drive to Norwood and

Telluride as well as Montrose

8) BENEFITS TO NEIGHBORING COM-

i) Half the distance as via High­

way 145-550 by Ridgway

ii) Medical care. Hospital and

Cancer center.

iii) Businesses not available in

nearby Norwood

iv) Scenic by way.

v) Recreation

vi) Not a collector road

vii) A MAJOR ARTERIAL ROAD

viii) Road supports more than

Sanborn Park

9) BUSINESS P E O P L E WHO TRAVEL

SANBORN PARK ROAD IN A L L

S J A S O N S

i) Fed Ex

ii) UPS

iii) Tri State Generation

iv) Contractors

v) Constructions workers

vi) Forest Service Employees

vii) Montrose and San Miguel

County Employees

viii) Cattle Hauling businesses

ix) Delivery Trucks

x) Numerous others

a) No emergency service except in

Montrose

b) Closer to Montrose Hospital and

other Care for residents.

c) Montrose Cancer treatment, Dialysis

and Heart Doctor.

Some of us have been forced to use this road, no matter what the condition is, and have

for over 80 years.

People travel this way to avoid the overcrowded Highway from Telluride. In the current

condition, Highway145 and 550 from Sanborn Park is dangerous for winter travel due to animals

and excessive traffic.

Contributions made by Sanborn Park Landowners that serve Montrose County.

Page 3 o f 6

1) We pay in the neighborhood of $2*0,000.00 in County taxes per year among us, just on

Property Taxes.

2) Taxes are used to support Montrose that we receive little or no benefit from.

3) Gas and license taxes used for road improvements.

4) Recreation taxes on ATV's etc.

5) Numerous others

What we would like to see happen to the Sanborn Park Road; especially where it is closed in

the winter between the two gates shown on the enclosed Map; the 12 miles designated on the

attached map.

1) K E E P THE ROAD UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF MOMTROSE C O ^ N T , not the USFS

or tossed back and forth between the two.

2) REBUILD AND REPAIR THE ROAD where it !s in the worst condition as designated cn the

attached map.

3) GRAVEL, INSTALL CULVERTS AMD DRAINAGE DITCHES. Make fills to where road isn't

lower then sides.

4) G R A V E L AND MAG CHLORIDE tc protect the integrity of the road base, wherever possible.

5) SNOWPLOWING: Keep all of the Sanborn Park Road open to the junction of Dave Wood

Road as long as the weather will allow all year ;ong, never closing it with gates. It is a

through road and should be available ai! year long.

6) RETAIN CONTROL OVER CERTAIN ARTERIAL ROADS SUCH AS DEAD HORSE

ROAD that has recently been made impassable by the USFS water-barrowing it to the

point where it is rendered useless, in the event of a fire, such as the one in that area in

1990, that destroyed 3000 acres, there wouid be no other way into the Sanborn Park area.

Dead Horse Road should not be included in other Forest Service Road closures nor made

useless and impassable by water bars or other means. ( See map enclosed:)( Traffic

Growth by Demographic Ansa Mcntrose County)( Sanborn Park area)

7) SNOWPLOWING IN WINTER WILL R2PUCE MAINTENANCE IM SPRING. If Sanborn

Park Road (530) is repaired and maintained as the road from Norwood Hill to Sanborn

Park is, it will not become worn out and impassable.

8) U S F S ROAD CLOSURES: Sanborn Park Road should not. be Included in other USFS Road

closures.

Page 4 o f 6

9) THE ENTIRE 12 MILES SHOULD BE WIDENED AND REPAIRED AS NEEDED.

a) REMOVE TREES AND BRUSH from sides of road and bar ditches that obscure vision

and ability to pass, and cause water to run off the road sides into the road way.

b) ADD WIDER CULVERTS in areas too narrow to pass.

As written in RS 2477 Scope of Right of Way :The scope ofthe RS2477 right-of-way includes

the right to widen the Highway as necessary to accommodate the increased travel associated

with all uses that occurred before Oct 21, 1976, up to, where applicable, improving a highway

to two lanes so travelers can safely pass each other.

According to this, the USFS should not have the jurisdiction or right to tell the County how wide

to make its roads or what debris can be removed from the roadside or anything else that will

jeopardize the integrity of the road.

1) THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC on this road compared to the last time any major repairs were

made to it about 1982 must be considered. This traffic issue is a huge impact to this stretch

of road.

2) THE WINTER DAMAGE is caused from lack of gravel and the needed maintenance before

winter and because it isn't repaired to handle the present day traffic issues.

a) There are 10 MONTHS OF HUNTING SEASONS, when the road is at its most fragile.

i) This Hunting traffic does the major amount of damage, and should be

treated accordingly.

b) Logging by USFS

3) REPAIRS AND UPKEEP: Other entities, such as, the USFS and Div. of Parks and Wildlife,

who benefit from these roads and are in the process of closing many of the Forest Service

roads. Should be required to pay for repairs and upkeep, without the county having to turn

over control of the county roads to the USFS. These organizations are not in the business

nor trained to care for roads.

4) Actually this is THE PROBLEM IVE ARE FACING NOW: The USFS closing and controlling

and not doing any repairs or maintenance to Sanborn Park Road.

Page 5 of 6

We are sure you will agree that a road that has regular winter maintenance and snow removal

will remain in better condition over a longer period of time than one that is not. The Sanborn

Park Road was kept open and maintained for many years until it would become impassable up

on the top where the Elk Mountain Resort is now, by drifting snow, it was closed by the USFS

as has happened only over the past 10 years or sc with the gates mentioned earlier. We do not

understand what the purpose is for closing them. That stretch of the road Is the worst of the

whole road because it does not have winter maintenance.

A prime example of the USFS in charge of the roads:

Since Sanborn Park Road is a Major Arterial Road, a through read joining Highway 145 and

other communities, if it is not classified as such that classification should be changed. Sanborn

Park is a Living Breathing Active Community, participating in the life of Montrose only 34 miles

away, but taking anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half to get there, destroying our vehi­

cles in the process. Montrose is our major city of business and progress.

The wear and tear on the road will only get worse, not better. Every year we notice more dam­

age to the road. It is time to dea! with it NOW. Not some long range plan, NOW.

And if you can't see your way ciear financially to immediately improve the road as it re­

ally needs, please, please snowplow the twelve miles that is currently closed in winter, i

am certain you will f ind summer maintenance much iess cosily if winter maintenance is

done. W e need this f o r t h e safety of our community and the economic benefits it brings

to Montrose.

Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

Respectfully,

Ella Marolf (Representing the Sanborn Park Community.)

Page 6 of 6