County urges funds for Four Corners site

County urges funds for Four Corners site

May 10, 2001

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

The unique convergence of political and cultural boundaries that created the Four Corners National Monument in 1912 continues to beckon tourists traveling on U.S. Highway 160 today.

But as anyone knows that ever stopped there on the family vacation to simultaneously place hands and feet in four states at once, the attraction could use some improvement.

And on Monday the Montezuma County Commission agreed, passing a resolution urging the state to fund its share of the Four Corners Interpretive Center.

"I think we can support this," said chairman Kent Lindsay.

The $4.5 million project would build a museum that planners hope will highlight Anasazi, Navajo, Ute and pioneer culture while informing tourists of other Southwest destinations such as Mesa Verde, Chaco Canyon, the Anasazi Heritage Center, Canyons of the Ancients and Hovenweep National Monument.

"It would direct people to destinations in all the four states, and encourage people to stay over one more day," said Ute Mountain planner Troy Ralstin.

Bathrooms would replace portable toilets; water lines and wells would be installed, as would a closed-system sewer facility and electric lines. Walking trails, improved vending stalls and native landscaping are also part of the plan.

But stalled funding is threatening the project. Under a bill passed by Congress in 1999, Congress allocated $2.5 million for the center, on the premise that all four states would chip in $500,000 each by September of this year.

So far, only Arizona and Utah have secured their shares. New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson vetoed a bill this year that would have provided the money. And Colorado has yet to commit, prompting supporters to travel to the state capitol today to lobby Gov. Bill Owens for emergency funds.

Dave Eppich of the San Juan Forum, a group promoting Southwest tourism, and Ute Mountain officials say state politicians need to be educated on the importance of Colorado’s commitment, and the economic benefits of the Four Corners monument. Possible sources for the $500,000 are funds earmarked for use on state projects at the governor’s preference, lottery money, or state enhancement funds.

Owens reportedly supports the project, but because it is not already budgeted for, funding it now means taking away from another state project, Eppich said.

He added that New Mexico representatives also support it, but political in-fighting between the Democrat-controlled legislature and Johnson has led him to veto a lot of bills.

"It is just a matter of time before New Mexico comes through, and Colorado needs time to regroup," Eppich said. "It is helpful to get your support, because this county is the closest."

Without state matches secured by September, supporters hope to ask Congress for an extension.

"But if that happens, the fear is that Arizona and Utah will back out, and the whole thing would die," said Ute Mountain tribal councilman Manuel Heart.

The Four Corners monument, which sits on the Navajo and Ute Mountain reservations, is managed by the Navajo Division of Parks and Recreation.

Also on Monday, the commissioners:

• Approved a $125,000 COPS grant obtained by the Montezuma County sheriff’s department that would fund one resource officer to serve the Dolores High and Lewis-Arriola schools for three years. The sheriff’s office will pay a $4,000 match.

Sheriff Joey Chavez said the officer will interact with students, teachers and parents at both schools, with 75 percent of his or her time spent at Dolores High. A similar program has been successful at Montezuma-Cortez High, he said.

"There is a need for it," Chavez said. "The officer will ‘radar’ traffic in front of the school, handle complaints and conduct educational activities."

• The commission discussed the proposed Urban Service Zone standards for high-density development on the edge of Cortez. The standards still needs "fine-tuning" before a public hearing is held on the issue, planners said. Com-missioner Gene Story thought that a section regulating roads for light residential development (one unit per acre) was too stringent.

To solve the problem it was agreed that road requirements for light residential would also include chip-sealing to county standards, in addition to either a 36-foot-wide gravel base or a 28-foot-wide asphalt surface with four-foot shoulders. No curb and gutter or sidewalks are required for that zone.

"So often we have the property owner as the developer," Story said. "And when they have access to sanitation as incentive to build, then we do not want the street requirements to be prohibitive."