Mayor's Message: Rocky relationship

By Mayor Gary Hall

A healthy Rocky is critical for a healthy Estes

My wife Linda and I love RMNP and the other forests that surround our mountain cradle.

When we moved up here in 2003, we already had some experience on the mountains. In these 21 years, we’ve spent a lot of time in the Park. We recharge our batteries there. We feed our souls in the Park.

So, we have great respect for those who keep the Park open and in great shape. The fires and floods have wrought great damage, and we’re likely to have more in the future, with the huge stands of beetle kill in and around the Park. But the most immediate issues facing RMNP—and many other national parks—are related to federal funding and staffing cuts.

Superintendent Gary Ingram and his crew have a tough job, even more so with the federal actions and uncertainties.

Fortunately, the Park team is strong, smart, and resilient. They have a dual mission: Keep the Park experience available to as many as possible and protect that critical resource from overuse and damage.

Environmentally, they’re on the right track with managed entry, though it leads to some unhappy customers. Linda and I are “go-as-early-as-we-need-to” hikers in the summer to often bypass the need for a reservation.

What will the recent swath of federal changes mean? RMNP will, I’m sure, provide the most accurate information, but as of now, I understand that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management has informed Rocky that the exception for emergency management services, including fire response and law enforcement groups to hire seasonal staff, has been rejected.

I also understand that the law enforcement and fire response folks who had seasonal jobs were notified that their offers were rescinded. The off-the-road search and rescue team at Rocky has not yet had seasonal offers extended.

From my understanding, these seasonal jobs are no longer approved. Things are moving rapidly and some of this may change, but that’s my understanding this week.

Fortunately, there are intergovernmental agreements between Rocky, the Estes Park Police Department, and the Estes Valley Fire Protection District. Chief Paul Capo assures me that service will be given to RMNP from the EVFPD through their dispatch anytime they call. This includes search and rescue, wildland fire, and other emergency services.

The Town of Estes Park’s agreement for law enforcement support is still in force. Also, I know the heart and spirit of Guy Beesley and his EMS troops from Estes Park Health, and I’m confident that they’ll be there when needed.

Superintendent Ingram, Public Affairs Officer Kyle Patterson, and Deputy Superintendent Caleb Waters came to the January 28 Town Board meeting and presented status reports. Despite the storm clouds of funding, they’re moving in good tactical directions: resolving automated entry challenges, completing the north entry, and continuing to serve their dual mission. I support this great partner with whom Estes is wedded by geography and mountain spirit.

Many of us remember the Park shutdown a few years back when the federal government didn’t agree on a budget extension by a deadline. While fire or other destruction is the worst-case scenario, shutdown is a bad scene.

In the meantime, whatever they need to do to be open for us is their best course. I know there are some who oppose any type of timed entry, who worry about draconian or capricious use of expanded authority for reservations, and who are bothered by the transponder ups and downs.

These challenges pale in comparison to the federal defunding and staffing dismissals. A healthy Rocky is critical for a healthy Estes.

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