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Rico-area landowners press Dolores County for clarity on legal status of 'Road N' through mining claim
Summary
A Rico-area landowner told commissioners he wants a clear county position and a legal road through his mining claim. County staff said they are coordinating surveys and mining-reclamation records; the Forest Service said it is not taking a position but urged formal agreements when routes cross federal land.
Landowners whose property includes a mining claim near Rico asked the Dolores County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 17 to clarify the county's position on the status of "Road N" and whether the county will recognize and legalize a driving route through the parcel.
"I'm Matt, and Christina is with me as well. We're here to talk about Road N as it goes through our property near Rico," the landowner identified as Matt said while sharing maps with commissioners. He said their objective was to outline a path to make a fully legal road through their property and to learn the county's current position.
County staff said they are working with a person identified as Chauncey and a mining reclamation company to obtain the road history and begin survey work. Staff committed to share survey results and to include Forest Service contacts and county specialists as the record is compiled.
"The forest service isn't taking a position on really anything between a private individual and the county," said Nick Celesto of the Forest Service, noting the road does not appear in Forest Service records and that Rico is a complicated place for road history. He recommended formal agreements and paperwork where routes cross National Forest lands.
Matt said he and his partner planned to use the property for a home and wanted clarity so any building or access decisions would not be in a 'gray zone.' County staff said they would follow up with Chauncey, Regan and Chelsea to update landowners on the timeline for survey and record-gathering.
No formal decision was recorded during the meeting; staff said they will keep the landowners and relevant agencies informed as survey and reclamation-company work progresses.
