Editor:
The recent special meeting at Mancos Town Hall about the Red Arrow Mine was sobering.
Though inconclusive in many ways, the data presented was troubling. A lot of questions are yet to be answered: When will the toxic piles be cleaned up? How long were we exposed to toxic substances in the air and water, while the mill was operating? Where are the people who committed these serious violations? I hope our town’s board is in the process of creating a plan to reach out to non-English-speaking members of our community to ensure they can be as informed as English speakers. Including as many residents as possible will make this process even more meaningful.
I note that this meeting is sandwiched between two other significant gatherings: 1) the invigorating community health conversation led by Gretchen Groenke of LiveWell Montezuma, and 2) the Mancos Valley Community Summit, hosted by Mancos Valley Resources at the community center. The summit’s guiding questions are, “What makes our valley special?” and “How can we make it better?” These two gatherings represent just a fraction of the grassroots organizing and community building that is happening.
I write mainly to remind myself (and maybe others in the process) that we are not at the mercy of government agencies. We do not have to wait for the EPA, for example, to meet with our neighbors to share information, concerns and form strategies for getting clearer answers and finding workable solutions. Based on people’s highly informed questions and comments at the town special meeting, and the conversations that took place afterwards, I know we have everything we need to move towards a healthier Mancos Valley. I encourage interested readers to contact Gretchen Groenke (509)830-4380 for information about upcoming community health conversations. For more information on the Mancos Valley Community Summit, contact Betsy Harrison at (970)739-1172. As a newcomer, I am grateful for this engaged board and citizenry, and the love of this beautiful valley I am proud to now call home.
Liz Bohm
Mancos