The county commissioners have entered some unchartered territory with the purchase of a half-acre parcel and ramshackle commercial building in Wetmore. Now that they’ve got this tiger by the tail, the question is, what’s next?

 

The primary motive of the commissioners to buy the former Lone Pine Inn along Highway 96 in Wetmore was to get rid of a building that has been declared an eyesore and a health hazard. The building has not been used as a restaurant and bar for around five years, and the structure is now considered unsalvageable. And one can’t deny the bargain-basement price paid – recently listed for around $175,000, the county picked up the building and the 0.61 acre lot it sits on for about $40,000. And there’s more good news: commissioner Lynn Attebery says a contractor has agreed to tear the building down without charge if the county hauls away the remains.

 

But the next step is where things get tricky. The commissioners would like to develop the resulting open space as a creekside park. It presumably would be used by Wetmore residents for picnicking and public events. But we suspect the parcel would be a big attraction for folks traveling along Highway 96 running between Westcliffe and Pueblo, and on Highway 67 which connects Wetmore and Florence.

 

The schematic rendering proposed by a landscape architect is appealing, what with a re-aligned roadway, lawns leading to Hardscrabble Creek and a scattering of parking places and pavilions. But plans for this potential rest stop for travelers is missing at least one element – restrooms. There are facilities in the nearby Wetmore Community Building, but they’re not easily accessible, or available all the time. Somehow this element needs to be incorporated into the plans. And what about maintenance? That’s probably rather easily accommodated by current county employees.

 

At a public hearing last week in Wetmore, the county commissioners expressed confidence in acquiring funds from the Department of Transportation or other sources to make improvements on the property. Somewhat surprisingly, most of the Wetmore residents were at least moderately supportive of the ideas for the property. Now that the commissioners have the tiger tail firmly grasped, we’ll see what comes next.