Concerns over avalanche mitigation safety have thrown a wrench into an already-drawn out negotiation process between Ouray County and Ouray Silver Mines Inc. on Camp Bird Road.

The two entities have been unable to agree on a winter road maintenance agreement, and now the county is concerned about mine officials using contractors to trigger avalanches in the high country without notifying a list of county contacts beforehand.

“I have no confidence that this is anything but a nightmare of liabilit...