Hello all!
It’s been a while since I’ve updated and I’ve missed you, but lots has been going on to keep this moist ball rolling! We have land, yes. We have the interest and the support of the local Las Animas county officials as well and that is a great thing!
Today I traveled down to meet with Sheriff Casias, Fire Chief Lloyd Holloman and our new landlord, Glenn. With me were Milkman and Robyn, both well versed in speaking on behalf of our community. What we didn’t expect was that Sheriff Casias had invited every department that we would need to speak with to this meeting, so we were pleasantly surprised to walk in to a packed room that was ready to hear about us and what we do. After our two hour meeting we all left with the comfort of knowing that we have this town and its officials on our side, ready to help us help them enliven their economy through our art and our commerce as we are getting everything ready for our event. Trinidad is actively working on making itself a destination, not just a town you ‘drive through on the way to Taos’. The tourism department representative is looking forward to us coming down almost more than anyone else!
Even though it was a good, light hearted meeting, I did bring up the safety of the wells that are on Glenn’s property. These are electric pump natural gas wells that are regularly maintained and spaced far enough apart so that we can mitigate any potential danger that may arise. No one in that room felt that our effigy or poofers would be at risk of exploding because of air contaminants, even the representative from the environmental health department. Before I left, I was given the name and number of the Las Animas County oil & gas inspector so that I can get documentation of the air and water quality of the land. There are also multiple retaining ponds that are used by the wildlife in the area. The content of that water has not visibly impacted the land itself or the wildlife, but I’m not going to just tell you that and not provide documentation. As soon as I have said documentation, I will provide it to everyone for review. In the meantime, you can email me at [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Did I mention the permit? We get to use a different permit than the SUP permit that they make others use. The one we will use is only $150 and the documentation needed is being gathered now. There is a one day turn around on this permit, meaning that as soon as we send the necessary documents, we get our permit. Boom.
Your dedicated president,
Sharon “Trail Blazer” Duran