SOUTH FORK— During the May 30 South Fork Town Board meeting, town board members expressed concern about the rise in transients the warmer summer months have brought to the area and asked for advice as to what could potentially be done to keep them in approved camping areas rather than scattered along the highway or on private land. Board members began the discussion by stating that they understand the need for places to sleep while traveling by foot or other means through the area, but want to find a solution to respect residents and paying guests as well as the transients coming to the area.
After a brief discussion pertaining to this year’s Logger Days Mayor Rodney Reed requested that the board look at the current monthly police report and discuss the issues in regards to the transients. Reed asked Town Manager Tom Acre whether or not there was a vagrancy code in the town’s statutes that could be enforced by local law enforcement officials. “If there is not, what would it take to get one in place?” asked Reed.
Acre responded stating, “I called and talked with Police Chief Don McDonald and what we have for loitering is what he has been using to go off of in response to the rising vagrancy issue and for people to just contact local law enforcement if there is an issue.” Acre continued, stating that once law enforcement is contacted, a record can be made and they can contact the person and ask them to move on.
Trustee Vicky Phillips asked Reed if there was an issue of hitchhikers hanging out at the Rainbow Grocery Store located at the fork of Highway 160 and 149, to which Reed responded that he had been to the Park Creek area for a barbeque and there was a tent in the parking lot with no vehicles around. The next day, the person was in front of the store with a sign requesting coffee, food and dog food. “I told them that they would have to go somewhere else and that they couldn’t sit here. So, then they went over to Blimpies and sat there,” explained Reed.
Acre suggested that once they have been removed from private property, the next step is to contact the police. Reed stated that he didn’t want to keep pestering the police about the issue, to which Acre responded that it is the best way to track the incidents to keep a handle on how much the issue is increasing. “We are seeing an increase in the influx of people coming through, but they’re going on to Pagosa Springs and Durango,” stated Acre.
One particular incident involved a fire being started up Church Creek; witnesses reported seeing a woman starting a fire who was then later seen running from the scene when the flames got out of control. “The point is you want to have a soft heart for these people, but at the same time where they are spending the night could be an issue. Are they staying at the post office, the visitor center? That is the issue that concerns me,” said Reed.
The conversation ended with the direction for McDonald and his crew to begin monitoring specific areas around town and for anyone who sees people on private land or committing a crime, to contact the police dispatch so the issue can be recorded and handled by law enforcement.