OCR Text |
Show Commission Claims .Burr Trail Support "The vast majority of people in Utah support that we are doing on the Burr Trail," said Garfield County Commission Chairman Tom Hatch on Tuesday. "Only a few individuals, part of a loosely structured group, are raising objection." ob-jection." Hatch's remarks came after last week's announcement of the county's intent to proceed with, improvements on the Burr Trail generated opposition from representatives of conservationist groups in the state. The county advertised bids for improvements on a 27.8-mile section of the road between Boulder and Capitol Reef National Park. "The road is owned by the county, and we are acting within the law to proceed with improvements," Hatch said, adding that "the county has worked closely with Morgan Jensen, Bureau of Land Management district director in Cedar City, and has met with Roland Robinson, BLM state director. "Our efforts to compromise in Washington, D.C. last year were thwarted th-warted when conservtionists went into the discussions with a 'want everything, give nothing attitude'," the commissioner said. "We had a full bi-partisan support in last year's Utah legislature when funds were appropriated, along with support from the governor and Utah's entire Congressional delegation. "We could sit around and talk forever and never get anything done," he said. "Not surprisingly, the controversy itself has generated more interest from people, and travel on the road has substantially increased. It's a critical link for our entire county, and vital to the life of the eastern part of the county." Hatch said he had talked with Steve Creamer of Creamer and Noble Engineers, St. George, project engineers, who said that advertising of bids had generated substantial interest from contractors. con-tractors. Commissioners and engineers have planned a "show me" tour Feb. 3 for contractors interested in bidding on the project. Bids are due to be opened at the regular meeting of the Garfield County Commission on Feb. 9 in Panguitch. A researcher for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Rodney Greeno, was in Panguitch on Monday, searching courthouse records and old newspapers at the Garfield County News for details of the road's history and development. |