Township effort continues for Baca Grande

Photo by Patrick Shea A group of volunteers from the Baca Grande Property Owners Association hosted a second gathering on Sept. 26 to discuss the process of creating the Town of Baca Grande.

BACA GRANDE SUBDIVISIONS — A week after their first meeting with 51 people in attendance via ZOOM and more than 35 in the Baca Grande Property Owners Association Meeting Hall, the volunteer group hosted another discussion on Sept. 26.

They tested new equipment to smooth connections between online and live participants, but it failed. So, they resorted to sharing the microphone and repeating questions. ZOOM participants posed questions and comments in the chat feed while organizers struggled with their technology for the first 30 minutes.

The group also tested a new approach to information sharing. Labeled at the top with “Fears/Worries, Wishes/Possibilities, Pros/Cons, and Volunteer/Donate,” four sheets of paper taped to the wall included room for residents to add comments, questions, or concerns. ZOOM participants were encouraged to add similar comments to a Google document. However, the meeting ran long without addressing any of the issues directly.

Desiree Marceau provided answers and reactions to issues raised during the first meeting on Sept. 19. After speaking with Moffat Mayor Cassandra Foxx, for example, Marceau determined that the Town of Baca could still use the Crestone Post Office.

Two residents in the room who expressed frustration during the meeting were asked to leave or Marceau would call the sheriff. The two residents chose to stay, and other residents calmed down other people in the room who also became heated.

One issue that remained unclear is the dissolution of the Baca Grande POA. The ability to vote for township currently before the judge is limited to POA members who are residents and are also registered to vote in Saguache County. Property owners who do not meet this criteria cannot vote on township, although they represent nearly half of the membership.

According to POA bylaws, only a majority of the members can dissolve the association. According to the Town of Baca volunteer group, the POA would automatically dissolve if a simple majority voted Yes. But POA members would then hold another vote to decide about giving the town its assets — buildings, greenbelts, the golf course, and more. The legal interpretation remained unresolved at the end of the meeting.

The Town of Baca volunteer group will host another informational exchange at the POA Hall at 6 p.m. on Oct. 3. Marceau said that POA member concerns and comments gathered from the Sept. 26 meeting will be addressed.