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Upgrade roads to accommodate coal

Coal has been hauled out of Hay Gulch for years. It’s a reliable resource – we burn it along with our firewood.

The local management of King Coal is under pressure to ensure a continual supply of coal, but the incremental increase in volume trucked on north County Road 120 has gotten us all in trouble.

You’ve all seen hardware store promotions where you’re given a large paper bag, and any and everything that fits inside is 35 percent off. Tear the bag, however, and the deal’s off. Well, King Coal’s bag is torn. Getting to Colorado Highway 140 has become a nightmare for local property owners.

King Coal has done a remarkable job of minimizing its footprint around the mine facility. A recent noise issue was dealt with promptly and professionally. However, the nickel-and-dime patches to County Road 120 currently proposed are simply inadequate.

A conveyor system or dedicated haul road have been mentioned during community meetings. Widening County Road 120 to assure that loaded semis can stay in their lane, and paving the remainder of the road to the mine is part of the solution. Sure, that’s expensive, but King Coal is not going to walk away from this project.

Management is trying to obtain permits to ensure 20 years of production – by biblical reckoning that’s an entire generation. Decisions we make in the next several months will have lasting impact.

Will our planning department and county commissioners have the wisdom and clarity to do the right thing?

Chris Nobes

Hesperus



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