Mayors find interests in common

Every mayor from here to DeBeque converged Friday in Aspen to discuss common issues and to draft a resolution on the regional boom in natural gas drilling.

Friday's meeting was the fifth since February, when the mayors first met in Carbondale. Colin Laird facilitates the group. Laird is the director of Healthy Mountain Communities, a nonprofit that works on many multijurisdictional issues. State Rep. Kathleen Curry, D-Gunnison, also sat in on Friday's meeting.

The group met in Silt last month and took a short flight along the Colorado River and the Interstate 70 corridor to look at the area's many gas wells, oil shale projects and gravel pits.

Environmental issues stemming from the mining of natural resources topped the mayors' agenda Friday. All agreed that a healthy environment is vital to quality of life, and the mayors are asking for a comprehensive state energy policy that not only addresses the natural gas boom, but also examines pollution and global warming.

The coalition drafted a resolution recommending a long-term plan to offset the short-term boom of local gas reserves. The region has a history of boom and bust, and the mayors hope to avoid big environmental and social impacts of the current natural gas boom and any negative effects when the resources run out.

The group's resolution calls for increased local control over expendable natural resources. The mayors said it is important to audit the production of gas companies in order to collect taxes accurately. They also hope to create a trust fund during this boom time to taper the effects when the gas runs out in an estimated 10 to 20 years.

The most powerful tool, most agreed, is raising the severance tax on companies that deplete irreplaceable natural resources. Curry estimated that an increase of one percent would generate $100 million in tax revenues.

Parachute Mayor Roy McClung said the natural gas boom has had a huge impact on his town. He wanted to temper the effects of the boom without discouraging companies from bringing much-needed finances and infrastructure to his community.

He said he didn't want to give the impression that he is against gas companies bringing lots of business and tax revenue to his town; he is pleased that the town's hotels are full, that restaurants are busy and gas stations are flush. But the influx of workers means the town has traffic problems and roads are at capacity with large trucks.

Other topics included the impact of the many gravel pits along the Colorado River (gravel is necessary for making roads, particularly in developing gas-drilling areas), as well as the diversion of water to the Front Range.

With skyrocketing real estate prices, Basalt Mayor Leroy Duroux said there is no affordable "downvalley" any longer, and all areas are scrambling for workers to fill positions.

Glenwood Springs Mayor Bruce Christensen said that workers who once commuted to his town from nearby Silt, New Castle or Rifle can't afford to live there anymore.

"I think these issues all tie together," said DeBeque Mayor Donald Cramer. "Everyone has to start being a good steward of their property."

Cramer called the exchange of ideas "refreshing," and said that it was "good to have somebody to talk to" and know that he wasn't the only one with big problems in his town. He said the informal forum was a great place to share ideas and to support one another.

Aspen's mayor, Helen Klanderud, said, "I love this group. We're talking about issues that affect us all." She was surprised at the distance people cover to attend, and how such different communities can work together and have a chance to get to know one another.

Curry said that the forum is a "positive exercise" in the exchange of ideas and in the sharing of common concerns.

Curry said there is strength in numbers: If the group can find common ground, and the members can communicate that to their communities, they can effect important changes on the Western Slope.

Charles Agar's e-mail address is cagar@aspentimes.com.