Ouray County Attorney Leo Caselli and Commissioner Lynn Padgett successfully lobbied the State Board of Land Commissioners to formally recognize designated public rights-of-way on County Road 17 last week.

A $30 million land transfer, including 17,230 acres across Colorado, between the state and the Bureau of Land Management included two parcels in Ouray County. The local parcels were more than 100 acres, and county officials feared the transfer would threaten public roads and routes to private d...