<\/p>\n
The city of Cortez is transferring a small parcel of land to Montezuma County so that construction on the Seventh Street extension can begin.<\/p>\n
The county commissioners have hoped for some time to extend Seventh Street from Sligo Street to County Road 27. But half the property for the road extension is on city property, and Cortez does not currently have extra funds to complete the project \u2013 the transfer will allow the county to start work on the extension.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is an exchange,\u201d said City Attorney Mike Green at Tuesday night\u2019s regular council meeting. \u201cWe\u2019re getting paved street into Sligo, they\u2019re getting the ability to do it and make it part of a county road. So it\u2019s a win-win for both sides.\u201d<\/p>\n
The proposed half-mile road extension will connect the eastern edge of Seventh Street \u2013 after the road has turned into Sligo Street \u2013 to County Road 27. The city\u2019s portion runs along the south side of the high school property, while the rest is on county land.<\/p>\n
The purpose of the extension is to alleviate Main Street traffic and create an additional route to the high school. Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 transportation staff have also expressed support for the plan \u2013 the district\u2019s bus garage is located along County Road 27, and a new road could allow buses to circumvent Main Street altogether.<\/p>\n
Initially, the county looked to collaborate with the city on the project. But right now, the city is in the midst of funding shortfalls<\/a>, due to delayed audits and a recently discovered embezzlement case.<\/p>\n