Trustees’ road OK has string attached.

We are grateful that(trustees) included us in the process,” said JayJohnson-Castro of the Rio

Grande International Study Center. “We have a legal right to be in the process because we have a resolution of understanding with LCC.” The resolution provides them with joint use of the Paso Del Indio Trail, which trustees, administrators and community members alike described as a gem that attracts ecotourists and is frequented by researchers, teachers and students. Administration recommended that the board approve the renewal of the temporary work area easement to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for the completion of the Riverbend

Project. CBP initiated the project in 2005 after LCC trustees granted a three year temporary work area easement that expired in April 2008. But CBP was unable to finish the project because of a lack of funding, Border Patrol officials said. The requested temporary work area easement would renew the expired document and allow CBP to complete part of the Riverbend Project. The dirt road that’s on LCC’s property is about 0.8 miles long and runs about 10 to

12 feet wide. Border Patrol, under the original easement approved by the board, wants to finish the project -by expanding the road to 24 feet, allowing two cars to pass each other, and surfacing it with caliche, an all-weather gravel. With shoulders factored in, it would be a 36-footwide

road. Fewer than 227 trees would have to be removed, along with an unknown amount of vegetation, said Eric Webb, a consultant hired by CBP, adding that the agency would have to

replace the trees and vegetation. The proposed speed limit would be 25 miles per hour, said Jesus Chan, assistant Border Patrol agent. But because the trail is frequented by school children, administration and trustees would like to see that speed limit reduced. “If we want to reduce it

to 15 or 20 miles per hour, all it takes is the stroke of a pen,” Chan replied. Johnson-Castro said after the meeting that he and others would try and meet with CBP officials sometime next week to work out their differences. He said he wants to see Border Patrol stop using the ATVs and instead use mounted patrol. Meeting a resolution for them would mean Border Patrol protecting

the environment and protecting the trees, he added. Among those who addressed trustees during public forum Thursday were Laredo biologist Jim Earhart; Tom Miller, executive director of the LCC Lamar Bruni Vergara Environmental Science Center; Ricardo Villarreal, museum director for the Webb County Heritage Foundation; Ricardo Perez, LCC student; Alejandro

Medina, former LCC student; and pastors Bill Davis and Mike Barrera. (Nick Georgiou may be

reached at 728-2582 or nickg@lmtonline.com) LCC.