The Montezuma County Commission is considering an ordinance allowing off-highway vehicles to travel on all county roads.
According to a draft ordinance, people operating OHVs on a county road shall be in possession of a valid motor vehicle license and be at least 16 years old.
The vehicles also must be properly permitted, comply with applicable laws and have a working muffler and brakes.
They must have at least one lighted headlamp and one lighted tail lamp with candle power outlined in Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations.
Maximum speed is set at 35 mph or the posted speed limit, whichever is less.
OHVs operating on county roads must have the minimum liability insurance required under Colorado law. Riders must travel on the far right portion of the road in single file.
The ordinance does not authorize the use of OHVs on lands and roads under the jurisdiction of municipalities or the state, or on state or federal highways.
Public notice of the proposed ordinance will be posted. A public hearing will be held, but hasn't been scheduled.
The commission also passed a resolution supporting renewable energy. It states that the county "endeavors to minimize environmental impacts by encouraging renewable resources, alternative energy and fuels, water conservation and waste reduction."
The commission said that per the land use code, renewable energy, hydroelectric, solar or wind farms are a "use by right" under industrial and agricultural/residential (AR) zoned parcels."
The county is trying to attract renewable energy companies to invest locally, especially for solar because of favorable climate conditions. Several locations in the county were identified as potential areas for solar farms, including near the airport.
Alternative energy is in demand because of a Colorado mandate requiring power utilities to generate 20 percent of retail electricity from renewables for the years 2015-2019, and 30 percent for the years 2020 and after.
Local demand for electricity is also expected to rise. Empire Electric Association sold 7 million kWh to residential, commercial and industrial users in 2014.
The Department of Local Affairs anticipates a population growth of 62 percent in Montezuma County over the next 25 years, increasing the current population to 40,000.
jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com
