U.S. Army Corps Could Move Mount Carbon Outhouse, But Chooses Not To
An outhouse now sits atop Mount Carbon in suburban Denver, obstructing a previously uninterrupted 360-degree view. The City of Lakewood installed the latrine building in May this year, despite complaints of Lakewood resident Steve Holben whose initial concerns have resulted in the Save Mount Carbon effort. The results are now back from Congressional Inquiries made by Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Senator Wayne Allard and Congressman Tom Tancredo.
Lakewood, CO -- "The Corps has the right to direct the City of Lakewood to move the toilet structure. However, we do allow our recreation partners latitude to place the recreational facilities in locations they deem appropriate to best meet the needs of their customers.
"I appreciate the Holben's desire to maintain the 360-degree view that they have become accustomed to seeing on top of Mount Carbon. However, the City of Lakewood did determine that the current location of the toilet structure best serves the majority of the golf course and park users. The City of Lakewood is well within the terms of their lease, and they have gone through the appropriate approval process to allow construction of the toilet structure," says Kurt F. Ubbelohde, district engineer, Corps of Engineers, Omaha District, in a letter to Senator Wayne Allard.
In addition, Linda D. Garvin, director or real estate, Department of the Army, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, had this to say to both Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Congressman Tom Tancredo: "The Corps does not currently intend to take any action to require the City of Lakewood to relocate the facility. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact Mr. Tim Carey, at our Tri-lakes Project Office at (303) 979-4120."
"Of course, my husband and I are disappointed that the Corps does not intend to move the outhouse, but appreciate the fact that all three of our elected Washington officials made inquiries," says Maggie Holben, savemountcarbon.com spokesperson, "We still oppose the structure, but do not have plans at this time to petition for a public initiative. That doesn't mean we won't change our minds in the future, or follow the advise of a number of people who've suggested we offer to pay to move the outhouse to a less obtrusive location."
As Steve Holben was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News earlier this month, "This issue is not going away. Our concern is that those toilets are going to be there long after the people responsible for putting them there have gone on."
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