Exploding Mosquito Numbers Follow Heavy Rains

Recent heavy rains in the Florence, Penrose, and Canon City area brought welcome moisture to the region but also created headaches with damaged roads and culverts plus new problems with a surge in the mosquito population. The Fremont County Commissioners' office has received several calls this week about the large hatch of mosquitoes following the rainstorms which left standing water in many places, particularly in the Florence and Penrose areas.

Fremont County West Nile Virus program coordinator J.R. Phillips has shifted his attention from his weed control duties in recent days to the mosquito problem. Phillips says four sets of mosquito traps were set up Wednesday night. A check Thursday morning showed 2,300 mosquitoes had been trapped but only one was a Culex tarsalis mosquito. That is the mosquito which is the principal transmitter of the West Nile Virus. Phillips said more mosquito traps will be set up to monitor for Culex tarsalis populations but he says the samples so far this spring and summer have not shown any significant threat from the Culex species.

Beyond monitoring for the potential of West Nile Virus, Phillips says the best way to deal with the exploding population of mosquitoes is educating people on how to get rid of standing water so mosquito breeding areas can be eliminated. If standing water is eliminated weekly, many mosquitoes will be kept from breeding in the first place, eliminating the need to use pesticides against adult mosquitoes. This also reduces the number of mosquitoes around the house.

You should remove standing water in ponds, ditches, clogged rain gutters, flower pots, plant saucers, puddles, buckets, jars and cans. Also check for items that might hold water including wheelbarrows, tires, hubcaps, toys, garden equipment, pool covers, tarps, plastic sheeting, pipes, drains, boats, canoes, recycling bins and trash.

The Commissioners note that the County's mosquito control efforts utilize a grant obtained by the Fremont County Nursing Office to distribute BTI donut-shaped floating rings which are used to biologically control mosquito breeding areas. Placement of a floating ring in standing water should help kill mosquito larvae up to 30 days. A supply of 18 BTI briquettes can be purchased at the Fremont County Extension Office on the lower level of the County Administration Building in Canon City for a price of $15. The BTI mosquito larvae briquettes are also available commercially at most local hardware stores and garden centers.

Fremont County Road crews also carry a supply of the BTI briquettes to place in standing water in roadside ditches and other County rights-of-way to eliminate mosquito larvae that might hatch on County property.

County Commissioner Ed Norden says Fremont County has not used spraying rigs or aerial spraying to control mosquitoes for at least ten years. He says spraying was discontinued after numerous citizens complained that the spraying created its own set of health concerns and liabilities. Commissioner Mike Stiehl says that Fremont County also made the decision not to spray or fog for adult mosquitoes because of the limited effectiveness. Instead, the County treats standing water, killing several generations of mosquitoes.

For more information about dealing with the fight against mosquitoes and West Nile Virus, including the use of insect repellents containing 'DEET', the Commissioners urge you to visit the Colorado State Health Department's web site www.fightthebitecolorado.com.

July 11th Commissioners' Meeting

Approval of a preliminary plan for a new 73 lot subdivision north of Canon City and an Emergency Disaster Declaration highlighted the agenda during a 2 1/2 hour meeting of the Fremont County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.

The Emergency Disaster Declaration Resolution was approved unanimously and noted the flooding damage that occured July 5th and 6th in eastern Fremont County. The resolution directs the Fremont County Office of Emergency Management to seek and federal and state disaster assistance that would be available to help pay the cost of flood related damage to roads, brudges, and other public facilities.

The Commissioners approved the preliminary plan for the 73 lot Quail Pointe subdivision proposed by J.P. Jean Limited for property located on the east side of Orchard Avenue between Melvina and North Streets. The Commissioners approved the plan over the objections of several neighbors who complained that there is not an adequate water supply for such a development from their current provider, the Park Center Water District.

Neighbor Vaughn McClain noted that letters from the State Engineer continue to call into question the ability for Park Center to provide the water from either their well or through converting irrigation ditch shares to domestic use. The Commissioners included a contingency requiring the developer to provide a copy of the State Engineer's most current letter to any buyers of the lots so there would be full disclosure. But McClain said supplying people with a letter who live out there "doesn't put water in their glass". Linda Pint also voiced concern about Park Center's water supplies for new subdivisions saying "We're there, we pay top dollar for that water".

Commissioner Ed Norden urged Park Center water users to take their concerns to the Park Center Board of Directors. He said the Commissioners are keenly interested in the Park Center water situation, but from a legal standpoint if the Park Center Water District Board makes a pledge to provide a developer with water he believes the County must accept that position.

The Commissioners also approved a zone change from Agricultural Estates Zone District to Business Zone District for 5.5 acres owned by Michele Crosson along the west side of County Road 27A, (Copper Gulch Road) and just 1,400 feet south of Color Sweet Drive. The Commissioners found that switching to a Business Zone is in keeping with other surrounding uses in that immediate area.

The Commissioners approved a Special Review Use Permit for Northwest Emergency Medical Services to construct an emergency medical services center and fire station along County Road 2 (Tallahassee Road) and Chris Crossover Drive. The Commissioners had earlier permitted the creation of a 4.02 acre outlot which was carved out of a 39 acre parcel. Fred Lowry and Jerry Seifert donated the parcel of property on the condition that Northwest E.M.S. reach a memorandum of understanding to share the property for a Tallahassee Volunteer Fire Station. Northwest E.M.S. is entirely a volunteer organization supported by donations and private grants.

In other business Tuesday the Board of Commissioners:

• Approved a zone change for Mike and Dorothy Baxter from Ag Farming and Ranching to Ag Suburban for 9.5 acres on the southeast side of County Road 47 and Highway 50 in the Howard area;
• Issued a proclamation for the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments Annual Barbecue Shootout September 15th and 16th at Buckskin Joe;
• Issued a proclamation for the Royal Gorge Bridge Zebulon Pike Bicentennial Commemoration on July 22nd;
• Appointed Cindy Madigan, Terri Morkovsky, and Paul Garrett to the Fremont County Weed Advisory Board;
• Appointed Darlene Luckett to fill a vacancy on the John C. Fremont Library District Board;
• Approved a special events liquor permit for the Royal Gorge VFW to serve the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's annual August banquet at the airport industrial park;
• And approved a change order to CL Construction for the Pathfinder Park arena construction in the amount of $6,258.
  
  

County Assessing Flood Damaged Bridge

District Two Fremont County Commissioner Larry Lasha says he hopes repairs can begin next week on the flood ravaged bridge on Fremont County Road 123 a mile east of County Road 67. The July 5th flood saw water in Eight Mile Creek rise an estimated five feet over the top of the bridge. It left piles of timber and debris scattered around the bridge. Besides washing away earth from around the bridge supports itself, the flooding also undermined the road base below the asphalt.

Lasha says that's why County Road 123 remains closed and why no one should attempt to cross the bridge. Lasha said there have been reports of the road blocks being moved and tire tracks found across the bridge. While District Two Road Foreman Terry Acton says the bridge itself appears not to have sustained serious damage, the County Commissioners have decided an engineer's assessment should be completed before repairs start. The Commissioners have arranged for S.E.H. Engineering to inspect the bridge this Friday (July 14). The engineer's report should be ready by early next week so repairs could begin immediately.

Lasha adds that road crews and equipment from all three road districts have been concentrating their efforts to restore basic access to properties off of County Road 132. Depending on county finances and disaster reimbursements it is still expected to take a number of months before roads damaged by the flooding are repaired to their original condition.

The County Commissioners have also heard from a number of people whose private subdivision roads were damaged by flood waters. The Commissioners note that county personnel and equipment can only be used to maintain county roads. Repairs to private roads, culverts, and bridges are the responsibility of the private property owners.

Williamsburg Prairie Dog Flea Samples 'Negative' for Plague

Fremont County Environmental Health recently investigated a possible die-off in a large prairie dog colony in Williamsburg. Fleas were collected from some of the burrows and submitted to the state laboratory for testing, and the results were negative. However, as a precaution, the administrators of Williamsburg have posted warning signs in the area and provided informational handouts to some of the residents.

The Pueblo City-County Health Department has already confirmed the presence of plague in Pueblo County earlier this year. Fremont County has had human cases and confirmed plague positive animals and fleas in past years, but nothing so far in 2006.

The typical indicator of a possible die-off in a prairie dog colony is a sudden decrease in the number of animals that are normally visible and active in the colony. If you live in an area with a prairie dog colony, and you notice a sudden decrease in the population and activity of a colony, please contact Fremont County Environmental Health at 276-7460.

Plague is a bacterial disease which can pass from infected fleas to animals or people through bites. Rodents (such as mice, rats, squirrels) and cats can carry plague. When an infected rodent becomes sick and dies, the fleas remain alive and the possibility of spread to another warm-blooded mammal, including humans, becomes a greater risk. Human cases of plague are relatively rare, and plague is easily treated with common antibiotics when recognized early, however plague can be severe, life-threatening or fatal.

SYMPTOMS
The symptoms for plague in people may appear 2-6 days after being infected and might include the following:

• Sudden onset of high fever.
• Muscle pain.
• Malaise, or general feeling of being ill.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• An individual may develop a large, swollen, painful lymph node in the area of the fleabite, usually in the groin or armpit.
• Persons with such symptoms should immediately contact their physician.
  

PRECAUTIONS

• Eliminate rodent harborage, such as piles of lumber, broken cement, trash and weeds, from around your house or cabin.
• Make sure that houses and outbuildings are as rodent-proof as possible.
• Avoid all contact with sick or dead rodents and rabbits.
• While hiking, treat pants, socks, shoe tops, arms and legs with insect repellents. Use insect repellant, which will also protect against ticks and mosquitoes.
• Avoid picnicking or camping near rodent burrows.
• Do Not walk through fields with obvious colonies.
• Keep pets treated for fleas according to a veterinarian’s advice. Seek professional veterinary care if your cat exhibits swelling and sores around the mouth, head and neck, and use gloves and face protection if you have to handle a suspiciously sick pet.
• Do Not feed or entice any rodent or rabbit species into your yard, back porch or patio.
• Do not linger in rodent-infested areas when camping or hiking, and don’t catch, play with or attempt to hand feed wild rodents.
• Do Not let dogs and cats wander freely in rodent inhabited areas, keep pets indoors or on a leash while outdoors.
• If you hunt or trap rabbits or carnivorous wild animals, such as coyotes and bobcats, protect your hands and face while skinning or handling these animals. Fresh pelts may be treated with flea spray or powder.
• Do Not attempt to kill prairie dogs unless you are prepared to control fleas at the same time.

Household pets seem to be playing an increasingly larger role in the transmission of plague to humans. Typically, these household pets are allowed to roam and may encounter plague away from the house. Dogs are fairly resistant to plague and develop few, if any, symptoms. If they do become sick, they may experience a few days of fever, lethargy, and may lose their appetite, and then recover. But dogs are very good at transporting infected fleas back home where the fleas might get off the dog and bite you.

Cats may also transport fleas back home, are very susceptible to plague, and upon exposure, may become very sick or die. Cats can also be infected by eating infected rodents. During the period that a cat is sick with plague, it may be easily transmitted to a human. Cats have been known to develop pneumonic plague and transmit the disease by exhaling infected droplets.
Bites from wild carnivores and from cats and dogs have caused human plague. Such animals may be infected, carry the bacteria in their mouths or may transport infective fleas.

If you have any questions regarding plague, contact Fremont County Environmental Health at 276-7460.

Sheriff Keeps Stage One Fire Restrictions in Effect

Forecasts of an end to monsoon rain storms and a return to hot, dry conditions has prompted Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker to leave Stage One fire restrictions in place. Recent heavy rains caused Beicker to lower restrictions under the county's fire ban from Stage Two to State One last Thursday, July 6th. Beicker was prepared to ask the Fremont County Commissioners at Tuesday's regular board meeting to lift the fire ban completely but he said the forecast for more hot weather changed his mind. Beicker said "We didn't get into the drought in a week's time, and we won't get out of the drought with one week of rain". Beicker said predictions of temperatures climbing back into the upper 90's raised concerns that the timber and grass fuels that were so dry this spring and summer would rapidly raise fire danger conditions again.

Among the primary prohibitions under Stage One fire restrictions is a ban on all open burning and agricultural burning. Campfires are permitted only in metal rings in campgrounds or parks. Charcoal grills, propane grills, and other enclosed fuel stoves are permitted under the Stage One restrictions. For a complete listing of Stage One restrictions you can go to Fremont County's web site at www.fremontco.com and click on the 'Fire Ban' link on the main page.

Flood Disaster Tour

Area legislators got a first hand look at the extensive flood damage inflicted in the July 5th downpour in the Penrose and Upper Beaver Creek area during a disaster tour of eastern Fremont County Tuesday afternoon. State Representatives Keith King, Tom Massey, and Buffie McFadyen first attended a briefing at the County Administration Building where Emergency Management Director Ray Southard say preliminary estimates place flood damage in Fremont County at about $1.8 million. Southard said that includes the wash outs on several miles of County Road 132, damage to a pair of bridges on County Roads 132 and 123, and the wash out of a box culvert on Colorado Highway 115 south of Penrose.

Southard said Fremont County's damage along with flood damage last week to areas in Teller and Douglas County should easily tally more than the $5 million threshold needed for Colorado to qualify for an emergency disaster declaration through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Governor Owens has already declared a disaster situation in those three counties.

Following the briefing the legislators toured the flood damaged areas with the Fremont County Commissioners, District 2 Road Foreman Terry Acton, Steve Morrisey of the County Emergency Management Office, and the media. With most of the flood damage occurring in King's District 21, he said the legislators simply want to make sure the state is fully aware of the damage that took place in Fremont County and that the county can qualify for the 75 percent disaster funding assistance.

District 2 Commissioner Larry Lasha said while a lot of people are anxious to get the bridge repaired and reopened on County Road 123, the first priority is to make sure residents along County Road 132 have access in and out of their area and then the focus will shift to the bridge on 123. Acton said it appears the structure and abutments on the bridge are intact but an engineer will have to inspect it before any repairs can begin to the approaches on both sides of the bridge. Lasha said tire tracks indicate someone has bypassed the roadblocks, drove over the debris and across the bridge. He said that is particularly dangerous since there are huge washouts beneath the asphalt surface.

June 27th Commissioners' Meeting

The Fremont County Commissioners made short order of a brief agenda for their final regular June meeting. The Commissioners approved an agreement with D & T Ventures of St. Cloud, Minnesota, for the Fremont County Assessor's web site services with GIS (Global Information System) maps. The $6,900 annual web site fee is being paid for by the Fremont County Association of Realtors. The Commissioners expressed appreciation to the Realtors for their contribution. Commissioner Ed Norden said that at the June 22nd meeting of the Realtors they voted unanimously to underwrite the cost of the web site after hearing details of Fremont County's fiscal and budgetary problems.

The Commissioners approved Resolution #45 specifying the Board's findings in the June 13th denial of the Honor Paintball facility application for a special use permit. The Board found that the location was not compatible for a commercial use with the surrounding residential neighborhood. The Board also found that the roadways serving the proposed site are private roads maintained by the local residents and that approval of the paintball facility would adversely affect property owners in the Beaver Creek Ranch neighborhood by putting commercially related traffic on those roads.

In other action the Commissioners:

• Approved a special events beer permit for the Fremont Center for the Arts and the Canon City Recreation District's 'Build Your Own Boat' race on July 8th at 575 Ash Street;
• Approved a petition for refund of property taxes for Alrene Benedick for $1,829 at 909 South 9th Street in Canon City;
• Approved a two lot minor subdivision for John Bustos on 9.17 acres on the northwest corner of Highway 115 and 7th Street in the Beaver Park area at Penrose.

Commissioner Ed Norden said that after imposing Stage 2 fire restrictions on June 22nd, Sheriff Jim Beicker reported that the Fremont County Sheriffs' Department Wildland Fire Team had responded to four wildland fires in recent days. The Sheriff reported that 230 hours of volunteer time had been logged by firefighters thus far along with 420 hours of overtime by Sheriff's deputies. Norden said the hot, dry spell and the continued extreme risk of wildfires will put a further strain on the county's cash reserves which are being depleted.