Poor road conditions in El Paso County catch attention of volunteer advisory group

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- A member of the county's 12-person Highway Advisory Commission is speaking out on the revelation earlier this week regarding substandard road conditions.

Joe Knieb is an at-large member of the group appointed by county commissioners to provide guidance on policies and issues affecting the county's public works department.

On Friday morning, Knieb called KRDO NewsChannel 13 to express his concern about results of a survey released Tuesday, that 62% of county paved and gravel roads are in poor condition or worse.

"County public works does a great job but they're simply overwhelmed," he said. "We need to do something about this. I've had four phone calls from people who are shocked by this and asked me if I knew about it."

Knieb initially seemed to support doing what county commissioners have ruled out -- asking voters for a tax increase to finance additional road repairs, similar to the 2C paving program in Colorado Springs.

"I think it's time for the voters to step up and help out," he said.

But he later amended his comment.

"I'm not saying I support a tax increase," he said. "That's not for me to decide. But I think we should be considering a variety of taxes, such as a gasoline tax, a bike tax or an electric vehicles tax. Another option is a public-private partnership."

Knieb also is on the 2C advisory committee and said that although the city's voter approved sales tax increase has worked well, that doesn't mean it would work for the county.

2C is in its sixth year after voters approved extending it for a second five-year period; a third of the city's streets will be resurfaced by the time the program expires in 2025.

With the county ruling out a tax increase and having current funding options that are insufficient, unavailable or uncertain, it raises the question of how many road repairs can be made in the near future.

The county is considering a November ballot measure in which voters would decide whether a $15 million revenue surplus expected this year should be refunded to them, or be retained by the county to finance some road repairs.

Citizens will be allowed to submit feedback during public hearings at the next two commissioners' meetings on August 17 and 24.