Commissioners discuss Bent County needs

Bent County Commissioners heard from Gloria Guiterrez, representative of Sen. Mark Udall's office at their meeting on Tuesday.
Guiterrez has been with the Senator’s office for two and a half months and is traveling the district to discover the needs of each individual area.
“I really have a passion for helping people,” she said.
Guiterrez was seeking information about Bent County and what the Senator could do to help with economic development.
Many counties along Highway 50 suggested the need for a four-lane highway from Pueblo to the Kansas/Colorado state line, but the Bent County Commissioners debated the economic feasibility of a four-lane highway, instead stressing the need for passing lanes.
"We can't afford what we have today," Commissioner Bill Long said.
Improvements to the infrastructure for power transmission lines were also high on the list of needs, the commissioners agreed.
Commissioner Lynden Gill brought up the need for different types of energy, including clean coal, wind power and other types of energy.
With the large amount of coal in the area, a power plant such as the one recently approved in Kansas would be helpful, but it still comes down to funding, he said.
"Renewables are not the answer. They can be a supplement, but it's not the answer," Commissioner Tom Wallace said.
Water was also an issue and funding for the Conduit was mentioned by all the commissioners.
Long also asked Guiterrez for information on funding that was allocated for Hwy. 50 from Las Animas to Lamar approximately two or three years ago.
Long was curious as to what had been done with the funding and Guiterrez said she would try and find out.
Guiterrez also reported that Congressman John Salazar has sent a press release stating that the funding ban would continue and funds would not be appropriated for the U.S. Army to acquire more land near the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site.
"We do not support the Army taking Pinon Canyon," Long said.
Fair Board
The Bent County Fair Board is in need of a representative, Long said.
The board has been without a representative for the east end of Bent County for several months and there are no applicants for the east end, he said.
Those interested in being on the board are encouraged to send a letter of intent to serve to the Bent County Clerk, Patti Nickell, P.O. Box 350, Las Animas Colorado, 81054.