Lame-Duck Commission Sanctions Loop Road Project

by Mac Blewer

In mid-December, during its last session of the year, the Fremont County Commission voted three to two in favor of the county taking on maintenance of the Loop Road if the Federal Highway Administration delivers on its promise to reconstruct this scenic back-country road.

Commissioners Crosby Allen and Scott Luther voted, as they have consistently, against using tax dollars for Loop Road maintenance. Outgoing chairman Bill Runner and commissioners Tom Satterfield and Lanny Applegate voted for maintenance.

Over a year ago, Commissioner Applegate campaigned on a platform that included opposing Loop Road maintenance using county dollars. His position seems to have changed since then.

"I don't support using county citizen dollars," said Applegate at the recent meeting, "but I don't have a problem with using PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) monies for the Loop Road."

"Lanny, isn't PILT money tax money? Is it not a tax expenditure?" asked Scott Woodruff, chair of the Loop Road Citizens Committee.

"Yes," Applegate agreed.

"So, you've changed your mind [on using county tax dollars for the project]."

"No."

Either Applegate has unique insight about where PILT monies come from, he has forgotten his campaign promise or he has simply switched gears and failed to publicly acknowledge his change of heart.

Fortunately, this issue isn't over. Although the old commission gave the green light for the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to complete the Final Environmental Impact Statement on the Loop Road reconstruction project, new commission members do not share their predecessors' enthusiasm when it comes to spending county money on this project. We expect the commissioners will soon vote to rescind December's motion.

Without the support of the new commission, the FHWA will be hard pressed to justify this expensive, environmentally destructive project. However, given the agency's bulldog tenacity on such issues, it is anyone's guess where things will go from here.

But one thing is clear: while some politicians may be swayed, citizens are standing firm in their opposition to a paved Loop Road.