Hello,

This is my contribution to Citizen's Discussion at Tuesday's City Council meeting:

Good morning,

The city is negligent in its stewardship of the land we acquired from the Cog Railway in the land swap.

The City of Manitou Springs is paying for $40,000 a year in work on the Barr Trail but that work is primarily annual maintenance.

There is serious erosion damage on the trail and the hillside. This is caused by water running in the wrong places. The damage is getting worse and worse every year. This can only be stopped by having a drainage study done and then doing the drainage improvement work.

That work cannot be accomplished with $40,000 a year.

How much does Rocky Mountain Field Institute estimate that a drainage study will cost?

I have heard that the drainage study will cost between $75,000 and $125,000, is that true?

Why has it not been done yet?

The drainage problems are doing great harm to the hillside, and in places, it is doing structural harm to the Barr Trail itself.

The damage is growing worse and worse every year.

The city wanted to acquire this land from the Cog Railway. When we did, we assumed responsibility for its wellbeing and upkeep.

The Barr Trail is a National Recreational Trail and a local treasure. Why is the city showing such complete disregard for its maintenance?

The city acquired millions of dollars in grant money to do major repairs to the Manitou Incline, the Barr Trail does not need nearly as much work as was done on the Incline.

Why does the city refuse to even disclose the estimated cost of the repairs needed on the Barr Trail?

I am asking for the full analysis of the condition of the Barr Trail that is on our land, and the estimated cost of all necessary repairs.

Please provide me with all such information that Rocky Mountain Field Institute has provided to the city.
Thank you, Carl Strow