Moving slow, and moving easy.

That will be the county’s response to future plans for the 0.60-acre parcel located  in Wetmore which the county purchased earlier this year.

The property contains the former Lone Pine Inn, a now dilapidated structure slated for demolition.

During the county commissioner’s meeting in Wetmore last Wednesday, July 21, there was little public unity about what should be done with the parcel, which fronts the intersection of Highways 96 and 67 and sits alongside Hardscrabble Creek.

The county would like to turn the open space into a park, but even calling it a “park” drew criticism from some of the 20 residents in attendance, who are fearful that a public park could attract hooligans.

In January, the county purchased the property and the run-down former restaurant and bar for $42,000 from the out-of-state owner.

In June, the county auctioned off the various restaurant equipment, most of it in disrepair, and added some $1,500 to the county general fund after expenses.

Now, due to state health regulations, testing must be conducted to make sure there are no hazardous materials in the old building. The only concern is that some old floor tile in the facility may contain asbestos.

A Wetmore firm owned by Robert Barnes,  Environmental Testing of Southern Colorado LLC, submitted a bid of $1,900 to conduct the various tests. Commissioner Lynn Attebery said the county attorney is currently reviewing that bid.

Once the testing is completed, the old structure will be torn down. Attebery said a number of contractors have agreed to raze the building and remove the refuse.

No time frame was given regarding the removal of the structure, but the commissioners agreed it will be done as soon as possible.

In February in Wetmore, the commissioners presented a proposed plan for the property, created by a landscape architect who works for the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and the CSU Extension program. The plan called for moving the existing roadway to the west, adding picnic tables and a pavilion, and landscaping the property to take advantage of its creekside location.

But during last week’s meeting, Wetmore residents remained skeptical of major improvements to the property. Some wanted public bathrooms installed, others didn’t. Some wanted park-like amenities and others wanted to leave the parcel in a natural state.

Because of no clear consensus, commissioner Carole Custer recommended that nothing be done until the building is razed and the public has an opportunity to envision some possible improvements to the property.

In any case, Attebery said, the county will maintain the property before and after the building is torn down. And since this will be the county’s first public park – if indeed that’s what it becomes – public input will be important as final decisions are made.

 The commissioners were optimistic that outside funding from Great Outdoors Colorado or other sources could be tapped to fund the Wetmore project.

In other business, the commissioners:

--RATIFIED a formal agreement which allows the Wetmore Community Library to utilize space within the Wetmore Community Building. Though the library has used space in the community building since its inception, a formal agreement allowing it to do so was never in place.

--FORMALIZED the county’s possible participation in the November General Election. Two possible resolutions affecting the county could be placed on the ballot. One would allow the lifting of term limitations for the District Attorney, and the other would allow the public to decide the fate of marijuana dispensaries in the county. The commissioners have already placed a moratorium on any such dispensaries until after the election.

--LEARNED that a search committee is now in place to find a new County Extension Agent for Custer County. Since the resignation of Karen Crumbaker last year, the county has shared a county agent with adjoining counties, but Colorado State University has apparently agreed to find a permanent in-county replacement.

– Jim Little