The Dolores Town Board voted unanimously to change parking rules in town to accommodate winter plowing.

From Nov. 1 to April 30, residents will be required to park parallel on the street so snow removal crews have room to work.

"We need to support our maintenance crews," said board member Santiago Lopez.

Certain downtown areas will continue to have angled parking year-round, including on Fourth Street between Central and Colorado 145, Central Avenue between Fourth and Fifth streets (south side only), Fifth Street between Central Avenue and Colo. 145 (both sides), and Sixth Street between Central Avenue and Colo. 145 (both sides).

The town has debate the parking issue for the past two months.

"If if doesn't work, we can revisit the issue," said Mayor Val Truelsen.

It was noted that the change will limit parking in some areas of town because parking parallel takes up more room. In those areas, some residents may find that all the spaces in front of their home are taken, forcing them to park down the street, or on another street.

Violators will be given warnings, said Sheriff Steve Nowlin, then ticketed and charged a fine if they don't comply.

From May 1 to Oct. 31, angled parking will be allowed throughout town.

Bruin invasion

Bears have been rummaging through Dolores trash cans and trash bins more than usual this year, said Nowlin.

He said there have been reports of some residents leaving food out for the bears in order to take photographs of them.

"This is illegal and dangerous," he said.

Habituating bears to people will cause havoc in town, he said, threatening both people and bears. Nowlin said bears have been breaking into many homes in Telluride this year because homeowners haven't taken preventative measures.

In Dolores, bears have been frequently sighted on Merritt Way, Hillside Drive and streets in between.

Residents are encouraged to keep garbage secure until trash day. Remove pet food and bird feeders from the yard, clean and secure barbecue grills, and leave talk radio on when no one is home. Residents are also encouraged to remove fruit from their trees and grounds.

Bear in Colorado face a two-strike rule: They're tagged the first time they get too close to residents, and euthanized the second time.

Nowlin noted it is illegal to shoot a bear "just because it is walking down the street."

jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com