Colorado Rep. Kay Alexander met with the Montezuma County commissioners Monday to discuss lingering controversy over the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument and other issues.

Alexander expressed regret for not communicating with the commission about a non-binding resolution she introduced to establish Colorado’s official stance on the issue as anti-monument.

"I apologize, because I did not do a good job informing you about the situation," Alexander said. "I should have kept in touch; it was a very busy session for me, is all I can say."

Alexander’s resolution recommending official state opposition caused a stir because it was made shortly after the commissioners drafted and passed a resolution expressing wary support for the Clinton-designated monument, 90 percent of which lies in Montezuma County.

They did so following a lobbying trip to Washington D.C. to advocate rescinding it. But political realities underscored by nation-wide support for such land-protection measures showed that overturning it was not an option.

"I think we all understand," responded Commissioner Gene Story. "It is a difficult situation, and there are no ill feelings at all."

Alexander, who represents the 58th District, which includes a portion of Montezuma County and all of Dolores County, introduced the resolution at the request of the Southwest Colorado Landowners Association. The property-rights activist group opposes the federal designation, claiming a monument impedes traditional uses of public lands.

Alexander’s resolution had initial support, she said, making it through a House agriculture committee. But it died during the last legislative session after Rep. Mark Larson (R-Cortez) attached the commission resolution as an amendment to Alexander’s proposal.

Story said that the Washington trip was a "reality check," but he expressed optimism for community consensus on the contentious issue. He said the key to that goal is securing "balanced representation" on a forthcoming advisory committee that will help develop the management plan for the 164,000-acre monument, to be managed by the BLM.

But who will be nominated for the committee has not been determined, and may not be for some time, BLM officials report.

Last May, the BLM’s Washington office indicated that a fair advisory committee representing local concerns would benefit from the BLM’s new national director, who would help oversee the process.

But the political appointee has yet to be announced by the Bush Administration, and it could be up to six months before that process is complete.

"We have not heard anything about our new director yet," said Cindy McKee, spokesperson for the BLM’s state office. "It’s been too long. We’re waiting for (Interior Secretary) Gale Norton to make the nomination so it can go to the president."

After that, confirmation hearings and background checks are completed and the nominee goes to a vote of the Senate, McKee said.

Alexander also said

• The plethora of gravel mines being developed in the Dolores River Valley "deserves more thorough study." She said a research staff has been formed out of her office to look into the issue, but she could not comment until she knew more about the situation.

"I am aware of it and I hope to meet with the group raising all the concerns (CFAR) next week," she said. "We will look at the state statute (regulating gravel mines) and to see if it makes sense to do things better considering our changing times and growth."

• A controversial narcotics checkpoint held in her district last June outside the popular Telluride Bluegrass Concert "sounded like a stretch." She said it "seemed unusual" to have a checkpoint in such a rural area, but added that it was important for law enforcement to have the authority to set up sobriety checkpoints, which the Supreme Court has held are legal.
  

• A value-added agriculture development bill that gives farmers and ranchers access to $4 million in surplus funds every year in federal grant funds and loans is a good program.

"It is an economic assist for agriculture and works as an incentive to diversify," she said. "It could be used to fund studies to see if new products have a feasible market."