County Road 13 washes out — again

Commissioner weighs in on damage from flooding

BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

For the second time this summer, Elbert County Road 13 between County Roads 158 (Hilltop Road) and 166 (Singing Hills Road) has been washed out by severe ooding. e damage occurred on July 20, less than three weeks after the road had reopened to tra c after the earlier washout.

When reconstructing the road after the rst washout, Elbert County Road and Bridge increased the ca- pacity of ow for the creek beneath the road by 40%.

Over the late spring and early summer, repairing road issues around the county (prior to the July 20 washout) had already cost $1.4 million. County leaders are hoping to see reimbursement for repairs as a part of an extended federal disaster declaration for eastern Colorado.

At the scene of the washout on July 20, workers with Road and Bridge expressed their concern, saying they weren’t sure what the next steps would be to x the road and stop the issue from happening in the future.

When asked if Elbert County had seen weather like this before, one worker said, “It’s just an unseasonably terrible year. Some of our admin sta have researched and this is the most rain and the most destructive ooding the county has seen since the 1965 ood.”

“ e guy that lives at the ranch right here said he’s lived out forever and has never ever seen this. And he’s an old guy,” a worker said. “He said that those two 6-foot culverts had been there since 1945 and they had never washed out or even seen anything like this. and now they’re gone.”

“We don’t have any other roads out in the county from this rain that we know of,” a worker added. “So far.”

Earlier this year, the Elizabeth School District Board of Education established three new committees to further and deepen community participation within Elizabeth schools. e district is seeking district residents to ll these voluntary positions. e three committees available are (1) Policy Review Council, (2)Finance Advisory Council and (3) Board Curriculum Review Council. It also will be forming a District Advisory Committee as outlined in state statute.

“ ese board committees are really about citizen involvement in the school district,” said Superintendent Dan Snowberger. “I think with politics knocking on the door of every district, it is important to get parents and community stakeholders involved in their schools.” Below is an overview, provided by the school district, of the committees and links to submit applications.

Policy Review Council is board committee reviews district policies on a regular schedule and considers any changes being recommended to such policies to ensure that they meet the needs of

SEE VOLUNTEERS, P9 SEE ROAD, P8