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Show THE ZEPHYRSEPTEMBER 1991 PAGE 4 an interview with Manuel Torres Grand County Commission Jim Stiles conducted an interview with Grand County Commissioner Manuel Torres. The Interview has been edited for clarity and length. Revenue Problems? Zephyr: Is the county going to be required to borrow money to pay Its bills this year? guess It's called a tax anticipation note. Manuel: I don't think so. Not right now. We're looking at It Just In case we do run over. But we went through our financing about two weeks ago, and we're still in pretty good shape. We're right where we need to be. I Manuel: If that's what they asked, we'd sit down and talk to them, but In reality, for half the operation of the they're still getting a good deal, because we're only asking dump, and that doesn't include the equipment I In about the D--8 and Zephyr: About a year ago. asked David. a Zephyr Interview, It the wasn't for dump. Yet, as far as why they needed It for the dump, and he said landfill. to the all It's being charged depreciation costs. Manuel: It is being used there most of the time. There's no sense in arguing that And if you've been up to the dump, It'a In real nice shape; Dave Warner's done a real good job. The Keystone Pit The New J.P. Zephyr: Paul Cox was recently appointed as Grand County's new Justice of the But what were Peace. You abstained from that vote because Paul la your brother-in-lamore him made what and his qualifications for the job, qualified? Manuel: I don't know if you have to have any qualifications. We ended up with 14 applicants and we looked at them, and basically the only thing it says you need to run for Justice of the Peace la residence In Grand County. It doesn't say you have to have a law background or any other background. So for somebody to say that somebody wasn't qualified, I disagree with that, because the only qualification you need is a residence in Grand County. Period, it doesn't say you have to have a Master's degree of Bachelor's Degree or anything else. So I don't know where they're coming from on his qualifications because there's no qualifications to it, except being a resident. Zephyr: But when you make a choice, you're picking someone you think will dot the best ob. So why did Paul Cox appear to be the superior candidate? Manuel: David felt that he'd be more of a people's judge then the rest of them. That the people of Grand County could go into him if they had a problem, if they wanted to plead their case and sit down & talk more freely than the others. That's what he brought to us. Zephyr: So you don't need a knowledge of the law... Manuel: Oh, absolutely not. He went to be qualified this last week and he got a on 100 the test. And I think that's the first time ever, right at 100. So he must've been pretty qualified. Zephyr: And you abstained from the vote. Manuel: I did. in fact, from the beginning, I went up to Dave and said I'm staying completely our of this thing. You're gonna have to decide. w. "Acting" County Attorney Zephyr: Former County Attorney Elaine Coatea served as acting county attorney a couple weeks ago. Is that correct? And did you know about it? Manuel: While he went of town? Zephyr: I guess, but my understanding was that the firm of Anderson & Anderson represented the county. Manuel: I really don't know about that, but I could check it for you. The Dump Zephyr: Where do we stand on the dump now? Manuel: We're going to talk to them today. The actual cost of running the dump Is $168,000 plus the insurance on all the equipment, so we're looking at $178,000. We're looking at two options. First, we think the city is going to ask us to set up a special service district and we're not for that. And let me explain why. When we set up a special service district, there's an initial cost for administration up front. We figure we'll blow $30 to $40,000 in that. You have to get the administration going and a lot of costs. We don't think that money should go into that at this point. When we move the dump, and the costs go up, at that time the Commission should look at a special service district. But we fed they could Increase the fee and have the same set-u- p they have now and do a better job, because they wouldn't have that $30,000 to set aside to run another organization. Zephyr: So what's the second option? Manuel: OK, so they raise thdr fees and cover thdr expense, which will be half of the $168,000, which would come out to $84,000, or they take it over and we'll help them. Zephyr: Then you'd pay half. Zephyr: Is the County going to approach the CIB about money to acquire the pit? Manuel: The only way we'll do that Is if we can own the lower property from Jerry Halliday. Zephyr: Where does that stand now? Manuel: I don't think he's sure what he wants to do. I've called him three or four times and he's willing to do this, but not thaL..you know, it's just one of those things you have to stay after him and it'll work out. We met with the operators last week and we had 50 people there. We asked them what we need to look forward to In the next three to four years. To tell you the truth, if we keep it, we're going to have to spend some money to update it, to bring it up to par. It needs a sprinkler system to help the evaporation process. The bottom line is, if we overuse it, it'll be shut down this winter anyway because It'll be full. Zephyr: Has the county done any testing? We've been talking about buying this thing for months. Manuel. We're going to. The State was down here last week and David called Dutch Zimmerman because he's a specialist at drilling shallow holes and the State says we need to drill 2 or 3 holes on each of the pits, about 60 feet to check for leaching. Zephyr: Has San Juan County offered to help out? Manuel: The $100,000? They did at one time, but that's something we'll have to them on. it wasn't cash monies; since we're serving both counties, we're going to have them help us however they can. re-vi- sit Plowing the LaSals in Winter Zephyr: At the last Commission meeting you discussed the possibility that you'd snow stop plowing the LaSal Loop Road in the winter as a means to put leverage on the U.S. Forest Service. You oppose their recent decision to ban motorcycles form some trails. How will that affect private businesses Involved in winter sports? Manuel: We have to protect everybody, not just individuals. We're telling them, there is a group of people who use that trail who appealed along with the Commission, to open that back up. If we don't have enough leverage for them to see that, then we need to do other things that shows them we do have some leverage within our own county. That's why people elected us. We work with the Forest Service real well, I don't understand why they're having a problem with this one trail. We went to the meetings and were told there wasn't an impact with motorcycles, but they're going to close it. Secondly, we learned that there wasn't anybody to protect motorcycles. Everybody else was represented. But when this committee was first formed, there were public Zephyr: announcements and everyone had the opportunity to participate, and no one from any motorcycle group did participate. Manuel: Absolutely. Zephyr: So they lost their chance to participate. Manuel: Not really. Because the appeal is the second chance, and we did it correctly, but they said no. So we said, OK, if you want to play special interest groups, if you don't think the motorcycle groups are worth protecting in Grand County, we don't think the skiing is worth protecting, the snowmobiles, and on & on. Where are we going to stop? We have to balance this thing out and we feel they should all be open. Zephyr: But you're saying, If the motorcyclists are penalized, so will everyone else. Manuel: No, not really. Because I think they'll come to there senses. It's just something that needs to be worked out. That's the bottom line. The Book Cliffs Road Zephyr; Jimmie Walker has said that we won't know how much the proposed Book cost until the EIS Is complete and all the engineering Is complete. You're Cliffs Road will Pottery by Andrea Winters Do you like stoneware that is different? One of a kind? Something original? Decorated Pot Anasazt symbols around the lower bowl Delicate Vase Hand sttpled artwork on each vase Southwest Indians of bygone days. Pottery Mug Generous she. glased andjbvd mug. The Shop features many ofMoabs local Artisans 33 No. Main 259-862- 3 |
