County Hears Preliminary OHV Survey Results

Preliminary results for the much-anticipated county-sponsored survey on OHV use in Hinsdale County were reported to Hinsdale County Commissioners by statistician Jason Santos at the county board’s morning workshop on Wednesday, December 20.
Santos prefaced his informal report — which he termed a “first impressions” overview — to Commissioners Levine, Hurd, and Borchers by stating that the numbers thus far compiled are subject to minor changes and are, in fact, technically “inaccurate figures.”

A total of 989 individuals responded to the online survey which commenced November 29 and concluded December 12. Out of the 989, 113 failed to complete the survey, leaving 876 surveys which were successfully completed by either property owners or the county’s registered voters.
The 876 responders will, however, be further reduced in coming days as Santos and Hinsdale County Administrator Sandy Hines work to weed out duplicates and non-qualifiers, thus the uncertainty in the specificity of initial statistics which were released at Wednesday’s county board meeting.
Regardless, Santos told commissioners that he is confident the figures released Wednesday are 90 percent accurate.
The uptake from the survey results is that a preponderance of Hinsdale County property owners and voters support continuation of the OHV program with additional regulations and enforcement.
Prior to reciting an impressive array of statistics which have been gleaned to date from survey results, Santos expressed his exasperation with an apparent two-track system in which he, as a pro-bono compiler, attempted to bring clarity and expedite accurate results from the survey. At the same time — and on an apparent separate track — both the county and Town of Lake City were meeting to formalize their request to Colorado Dept. of Transportation for a renewal of the OHV program allowing limited OHV use of Highway 149 in 2024.
Commissioner Levine responded that he considered the survey data as supplying important long-term data in analyzing and fine-tuning the OHV program, Commissioner Borchers commenting that she, too, felt exasperated with release of the tentative survey results, followed less than 24 hours later by a scheduled commissioners’ workshop on the OHV topic at 8 a.m. and joint town-county workshop on the OHV program scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. the following day, Thursday, December 21.
Results of the survey are very important, said Borchers, “and a way to listen to the public.”
Commissioners and a packed meeting attendance sat spellbound on Wednesday as Santos recited preliminary survey figures indicating a “solid majority” of respondents indicating support for a continued OHV program in the county with added enforcement.
Respondents to the survey comprised 40 percent who identified themselves as year-round residents and 32 percent who stated they are seasonal residents of the town and county. Business owners accounted for 21 percent of those responding to the survey.
Demographics among those completing the survey were 24 percent who stated that they had lived within the town and county for in excess of 30 years, 20 percent stating they had between 11 and 20 years association within the county, and roughly half of those completing the survey saying they have been here for ten years or more.
Santos reported on survey questions receiving the highest volume of responses, a whopping 84 percent stating their view that the Alpine Loop Scenic Byway should remain open to OHVs; also receiving a clear majority of yes tabulations was the survey question suggesting that the seasonal program allowing OHVs to traverse Highway 149 from the start of the lake road, County Road 30, should be expanded to allow OHVs to access Woodlake RV Park at the base of Slumgullion Pass, continuing north through Lake City, as it is now allowed, but extending past the town limits to reach the Toy Wash which is just past the county road & bridge barn and adjacent to the entrance to San Juan Ranch Estates subdivision.
Presently, OHVs are precluded past the north Town of Lake City town limits, ingenious OHV drivers instead navigating through portions of Lake City North and Riverside Estates subdivisions in order to reach the Toy Wash.
In terms of the length of time OHVs are allowed on the designated section of Highway 149, an even percentage, 22 percent, responded that the program should expand year-round, and identical 22 percent also expressing the program should continue on its present timeline, end of May to beginning of October; 19 percent stated OHVs should not be allowed on Highway 149. Fifty percent stated no limitations on the numbers of OHVs and vehicles on the Alpine Loop; 32 percent favored limiting numbers.
Seventy-one percent of those responding to the survey were satisfied with the current $20.20 state permit fee, 63 percent of respondents stating they are in favor of implementing an additional county permit for OHVs ranging in cost from $25 to $100. Perceived benefits of the OHV program are increased tourism and a stronger economy; enforcement of regulations and laws was cited as a significant issue, 70 percent in the survey stating county roads are being impacted by OHV use and 43 percent citing significant negative impacts.
Additional survey results as reported by Santos on Wednesday:
Fourty-four percent feel county roads are being maintained in a satisfactory condition, 38 percent stating roads are not being maintained properly. A majority of respondents — 47 percent — indicated they would not be in support of a tax increase to support road maintenance, a further 51 percent stating they don’t feel OHV drivers are properly informed about rules and regulations, 38 percent saying they are properly educated.
In terms of law enforcement, 41 percent of those completing the survey stated the sheriff’s office is not doing enough to enforce existing regulations, 32 percent saying enforcement is sufficient. Fifty-two percent favor increased enforcement within Town of Lake City; 67 percent would like to see added Alpine Loop enforcement, 38 percent stating enforcement on the Loop is sufficient.
Fourty-seven percent responded they would support a tax increase for added law enforcement, 38 percent in opposition to a law enforcement tax increase.
Fourty-seven percent said county roads are being impacted by all vehicles and not just OHVs, 41 percent stating OHVs are the reasons for present road conditions.
Santos, who received thanks from each of the commissioners for his survey diligence, stated he will prepare a final report on the OHV survey for the county board’s Wednesday, January 3, 2024, meeting.