Grant,

I have been waiting to write this letter for months.
Let’s go back to the survey that the County Commissioners wanted to have done. They opened it up to ALL voters and non-voting property owners. It was about the OHVs. All were surprised, I think, of the huge response, 850-900 returned surveys. Then we got the over whelming positive response to OHVs in our county and two of the commissioners hated the survey results. Here’s why.
Out of — let’s just use the number 850 — 84 percent of those who took the survey wanted to keep the OHV program AS IS. 64 percent (plus or minus) wanted to extend the route to the Toy Wash and to Woodlake RV Park.
Robert Hurd, our third commissioner, kept telling the other two commissioners that 84 percent wanted to keep the program AS IS. Like I said, it shocked us.
Just think, if tthe number was 16 percent for and 84 percent to end the program, so, what did our glorious commissioners do? They went to the town trustees to make them an “offer that they could not refuse.” In my honest opinon, the commissioners were so disappointed with the results of the survey, they were going to show our voters and non-voting property owners, who is boss.
The “offer” made by the commissioners was CUT the OHV season by 21 days, allowing the season to start the Friday befoire Fathers’ Day rather than the previous timeline starting on Memorial Day. As we watched this meeting on Zoom, it was obvious that if the town trustees did not agree to this, the commissioners would end the OHV program by not submitting the application to the state.
Knowing the kind of financial devestation that would be caused to the Town and County, the Trustees had no choice but to concede and accept the terms set by the Commissioners. This is what the BOCC calls a compromise — do it our way or else.
This is why there needs to be a change within the BOCC. Robert Hurd is, in my opinion, the only Commissioner who has a level headed, honest, trustworthy approach to governing. The Commissioners had a 84 percent mandate! The other two commissioners sided with the 16 percent.
We must have a change. This is why Steve Ryals is the only person (Republican Party-backed) who can get the BOCC back to a responsible state of governance.
By the way, because of a total lack of planning, Hinsdale County will NOT have a paramedic on EMS staff this winter. Folks, don’t fall, get iunto a car wreck or hurt yourself in Hinsdale County! Access to pain meds will be limited. But that’s another can of worms.
So, I ask the voters of Hinsdale County to vote Steve Ryals, District 1 County Commissioner .

_{Respectfully,
Jeff Heaton, Lake City}