Special Commissioners Meeting to Set Ballot Language

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners will meet in special session Thursday morning to formally consider the language for three revenue issues which will appear on the county ballot in November. The Commissioners have a September 8th deadline to certify ballot language to the County Clerk.

The Commissioners will consider a resolution establishing language for a measure to raise $1.9 million in property taxes that would finance the staffing and operation of the 96 bed county jail expansion plus money to hire ten additional patrol deputies.

A second resolution will ask voters to consider approval of $850,000 in additional property taxes to finance badly needed road repairs over a seven year period. That tax would have a sunset in 2014.

The third resolution will ask voters to renew Fremont County's two percent lodging tax which has been in effect for the past five years and is used exclusively for tourism promotion. That ballot issue is expected to again include sunset language placing a time limit on the tax.

The special meeting begins at 9:30 this Thursday morning, August 31st, in the Commissioners meeting room of the County Administration Building at 615 Macon Avenue in Canon City.

Food Safety Training for Food Handlers

The Fremont County CSU Extension Office and Fremont County Environmental Health Services will offer a FOOD SAFETY FOR FOOD HANDLERS training class on Friday, September 15, 2006, from 1:30PM-3:30PM at the Fremont County Administration Building, 615 Macon Ave., in Canon City. This will be a basic introductory class dealing with food temperatures, food handling, hand washing, hygiene and sanitation. This class would be appropriate for any worker currently employed at a restaurant or grocery store, for anyone planning to work in such an establishment in the future, for managers or owners of restaurants or grocery stores, or for anyone with an interest in this subject.

The cost of the class will be $5 per person, class size is limited to 25, and prior registration will be required. In order to reserve space for this class, please call the Fremont County CSU Extension Office at 276-7390. Reservations must be made by no later than Monday, September 11, 2006.

August 22nd Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners dealt with a brief agenda of business at Tuesday's regular meeting. The Board authorized the signing of an agreement with Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) on behalf of the RE-3 Cotopaxi School District for a $31,500 GOCO recreation mini grant. The County sponsored the grant application on behalf of the school district to assist in further development of the Cotopaxi High School baseball field. The money will be used to drill a well and deliver water to the baseball field so that in-field grass can be planted and maintained.

In a report to the Commissioners, Qwest Marketing Director Abel Chavez detailed plans for high-speed internet service now available in the Penrose area. Chavez said the high-speed internet is the result of Qwest's upgrade of the local telecommunications network which will provide Penrose residents with immediate access to the internet. He said customers can receive the service for $29.99 per month with a qualifying Qwest home phone package.

In other business the Commissioners:

• Approved a four year waiver of paving requirements for Holiday RV which is relocating to a site along County Road 123 east of Canon City;
• approved a petition for refund of taxes for the First Southern Baptist Church of Canon City for $2,266 relating to a parcel of property in Penrose;
• approved a resolution stating the County's intention to comply with provisions of the new Colorado immigration statutes;
• and the Board announced that adoption of final language for two property tax mill levy ballot questions for the Sheriff's Department and Road & Bridge Department won't be finalized until a special meeting set for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 31st.
  

August 8th Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Commissioners approved a pair of preliminary plans for new residential subdivisions along Illinois Avenue north of Canon City and approved a zone change for county owned property near the Fremont County Airport during their August 8th regular meeting.

The Board gave their OK to a preliminary plan for seventeen residential lots being developed by John and Pam Sell on the west side of Illinois Avenue just north of Smith Street. The approval of the Coyote Ridge plan came over the objections of a number of neighbors who complained about drainage, a need to protect their rural and agricultural lifestyle, increased traffic, high water tables, and the Park Center Water District's ability to provide water. The Commissioners again pointed to the legal dilemma over the water issue noting that while a state engineer's letter calls Park Center's ability to provide water for more development into question, the Park Center Water District Board itself issued a letter assuring the developer and the county that ample water is available. The Commissioners did express concern over the Coyote Ridge drainage plan and said when the final plan is submitted they want to see plans for a detention pond on site to service all 17 lots as well as improvements to the barrow ditch that runs along the west side of Illinois Avenue.

The Commissioners also approved a preliminary plan for the Lands of Lohnes IV which will create two additional residential lots on the existing 19.6 acre tract. The Board's main concern was a requirement by the Canon City Fire District for a fire hydrant every 400 feet. The developer is not sure exactly which street a house will face on a nine acre lot and does not want to be forced to install two fire hydrants.

The Commissioners also approved a zone change from Airport Industrial Park to Industrial Park Zone District for six lots on forty acres the county owns along Highway 67 across from the Fremont County Airport. Commission Chairman Mike Stiehl said the zone change will facilitate construction of a new federal immigration office building to be built on about two acres. The facility will be used to process immigration detainees but will not house them. Commissioner Ed Norden said the zone change also makes sense because with limited industrially zoned property in Fremont County, the additional industrial lots will enable industrial expansion in an area with ready highway and airport access.

The Commissioners also unanimously approved a certification of compliance with part of Colorado's new immigration laws. It commits the county to comply with those laws and to cooperate with federal authorities to assure continued qualification for grant assistance from the State of Colorado.

West Nile Virus/Mosquito Monitoring

Fremont County and Canon City officials on Wednesday reviewed local efforts to control mosquitoes and to educate citizens about taking precautions to avoid contracting West Nile Virus. Fremont County Nursing Administrator Clarice Little said part of the effort is a $12,748 grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Little said the grant is not used for any mosquito control measures but can be used to set up 'Sentinel' trap sites. Little said the Nursing Office has been distributing insect wipes and spray containing 'Deet' repellant. Distributions are taking place at area senior centers and day care centers. Educational programs are underway including information being distributed at the Fremont County Fair.

Fremont County West Nile program coordinator J.R. Phillips said it appears there is an increase in the number of Culex tarsalis mosquitoes which are the typical carriers of the West Nile virus. Phillips the latest numbers examined from mosquitoes trapped Tuesday showed 26 of the Culex tarsalis species out of 200 mosquitoes that were trapped. The 'Sentinel' trap site is located north of Canon City. Phillips said they may consider setting up another trap site in the Rainbow Park area east of Florence because of all the mosquito problems reported in that area.

County Road crews and Canon City Parks personnel continue to place BTI mosquito larvae control briquettes in standing water to kill the larvae before they hatch. Citizens can purchase 18 of the BTI briquettes for $15 at the Fremont County Extension Office.

Phillips said while the heavy rains in July hatched a lot of mosquitoes they also triggered some natural controls in nature. Phillips said tadpoles have been found in many mud puddles which keep the water stirred up so mosquitoes can't hatch. He said the resulting frogs may be feasting on mosquitoes as well as a number of dragon flies which are in the area.

Fremont County Environmental Health Officer Sid Darden said there have been no confirmed cases of West Nile virus in birds, horses, or humans in 2006 in Fremont County. As part of the ongoing educational effort plans are being made to place 'Fight the Bite' stickers on most government vehicles in the area.

Commissioners Suspend Fire Ban

For the first time in fourteen weeks the fire ban for unincorporated areas of Fremont County has been lifted. With a recommendation from Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker, the Fremont County Commissioners met in special session this morning and approved a resolution suspending the fire ban.

Sheriff Beicker said the frequent rain storms and high relative humidity values in recent weeks prompted him to request that the fire ban be suspended. Sheriff Beicker said the storms themselves caused concern because many of the lightning strikes touched ground and ignited small fires. Beicker said fortunately the small fires would smolder in a tree and then burn themselves out before they could spread.

Commissioner Larry Lasha emphasized that residents across the county should still be particularly careful with fire and open flames. Lasha said fire safety should remain foremost in people's minds regardless of any fire ban.

Commissioner Ed Norden said that while a new fire ban ordinance adopted by the Commissioners on May 23rd granted authority to the Sheriff to set Stage 1, 2, or 3 fire restrictions depending on fire danger conditions, authority for the actual imposition or suspension of the fire ban itself remains with the Board of Commissioners.