Egnor listening session: residents pressed county on DMV access, ballot drop boxes, water dock safety and road speeds

EGNOR, San Miguel County — Residents at the county’s Oct. 1 listening session pressed officials on local services and safety: how to get DMV services locally, where to drop ballots, recurring water-dock failures and frequent speeding along H-141.

Michael Wazinski, San Miguel County clerk, told the room he is arranging monthly mobile DMV services at the Egnor fire station to provide registrations, titles and renewals once the state furnishes equipment. Wazinski said the county will advertise dates via bulletin boards, the county Facebook page and an Egnor email list. He also said ballots for the Nov. 5 election will be mailed Oct. 10 and that residents can return ballots by mail or at the courthouse drop box.

A recurring theme in public comments was local access: residents reported missing notices about drop boxes and asked for improved signage and a clear map of local ballot-drop locations. Multiple speakers said that in prior elections, ballot packets did not show nearby drop locations, prompting calls to county offices to verify where drop boxes were available.

Water and fire safety: Several Egnor residents described repeated problems at the public water dock, including equipment that would not stop filling and what residents called unsafe user behavior that left spouts submerged in tanks. One resident said fire trucks have trouble filling and that a handrail or platform step would help elderly users. County staff said they will follow up with the local water company (Montezuma Water Company) and explore additional monitoring and signage; staff confirmed the county could install a kiosk and a step, and said they would check options for a handrail.

Roads and speed enforcement: Residents described frequent speeding on H-141 — with some reporting speeds well above the 40 mph limit — and asked for more signage, enforcement and possible electronic counters. County Road and Bridge officials said they already deploy traffic counters and share data with the sheriff to help time enforcement. Commissioners asked staff to share counter data with the sheriff and to explore a targeted enforcement campaign during peak hours. Residents also raised the idea of a public notice at the water dock warning drivers to slow down in residential areas; county staff said they will work on signage and coordinate with sheriff’s deputies.

Trash and community cleanup: Residents and county staff discussed spring and fall community cleanups and temporary dumpsters. The county confirmed a contractor error resulted in two dumpsters being delivered in the spring; staff said they will plan a staffed spring cleanup next year, modeled on Norwood’s program, to separate electronics and hazardous materials and reduce per-event extra fees.

Other county updates at the session included: - Sept. 17: A reminder that the Hankins Parcel West End subdivision exemption application will be publicly heard on Oct. 15; staff provided forms and guidance about remote participation by Zoom. - Public-health outreach: onsite seasonal flu and COVID vaccines were offered briefly at the event; staff said WIC and other benefits continued during the federal shutdown. - Road and Bridge staff reviewed local maintenance plans, a planned gravel resurfacing project on County Road F4W and plans to replace a problematic cattle guard.

What officials will do next: County staff said they will (1) set up and advertise monthly DMV days at Egnor once state equipment arrives; (2) confirm local ballot drop-box locations on the county website and post notices at the water dock and post office; (3) ask the sheriff to prioritize patrols informed by traffic counter data during identified high-speed times; (4) coordinate with Montezuma Water Company on the dock shutdowns and consider signage and a handrail; and (5) plan a staffed spring cleanup in 2025 with guidance on what can be accepted.

Quotable: "My plan is to bring DMV services to Egnor in one day a month," County Clerk Michael Wazinski told residents. County public-health staff also offered on-site vaccination and said WIC benefits remain available despite federal-level budget uncertainty.

Residents who want to comment on the Hankins Parcel subdivision exemption were told they may submit written comments, attend the Oct. 15 hearing in person at the county offices in Telluride, or join by Zoom; county staff said they can also set up a local Zoom link in Egnor if there is sufficient community interest.