News Now: June 2007

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Pathfinder Park Arena Grant Turned Down

Fremont County's application for additional grant monies to enhance the new outdoor arena at Pathfinder Regional Park west of Florence did not make the cut before the Great Outdoors Colorado Board. Fremont County was seeking a $200,000 grant to help install outdoor toilets, bleachers, and lighting. Great Outdoors Colorado notified the County Commissioners this week that at the recent GOCO Board meeting in Trinidad the Board approved $3.48 million in grants for 22 parks and recreation projects statewide. GOCO had received 47 grant applications totaling $7.2 million.

Commissioner Ed Norden said the county will evaluate their application and discuss what changes might be made to enhance the project that would position it for possible approval in the next GOCO application cycle. Norden said some community groups are also interested in fundraising to help develop the outdoor arena. He said getting electricity and water to the site will also be important in the near future. The arena was completed last fall with $100,000 from the initial $500,000 grant that the county and the Canon City Recreation District received for Pathfinder Park.

While the grant application was unsuccessful, interest remains high in using the arena. Fremont County 4-H horse clubs have already staged two major events this spring and summer at the arena. The Commissioners also recently adopted a rental policy and rental fees for any groups or persons wanting to rent the arena for a few hours or an entire day. Rental arrangements can be made at the C.S.U. Cooperative Extension Office in the County Administration Building.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

June 26th Commissioners Meeting

Finalization of conditions and contingencies for a zipline attraction in western Fremont County highlighted the business agenda for the Fremont County Commissioners regular meeting Tuesday.

The Board adopted final language for a special review use permit to allow Gene M. Holmes of Salida to operate his Captain Zipline Adventure Tours on his property off of County Road #7 at Wellsville. Holmes operated in 2006 without a permit and was forced to shut down. Among the conditions outlined by the Commissioners include a limit of 96 customers each day, 48 customers at a single time, and a maximum of four trips to the site each day. Holmes will also have to secure a $1 million liability insurance policy and transport all customers to the site in his own vehicles except for military vehicles that use the zipline for training.

District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden also emphasized that county officials will expect Holmes to strictly adhere to using County Road 54 in accessing the site. He said the county also will not tolerate travel across adjoining mining property or pedestrian trespass on private property, railroad right of way, or the irrigation ditch easement without written permission. Holmes said he's anxious to comply with the terms so he can get back into business.

The Commissioners appointed Rudl Mergelman of Florence to fill a vacancy on the Fremont County Tourism Council. Mergelman was one of four applicants to fill a vacancy created on the seven member council by the resignation of Kerry Ann McHugh who recently accepted new employment in Georgetown. Mergelman is a western and wildlife artist who has owned and operated the Sagebrush Gallery and Studio in Florence the past three years. He is also active in the Florence Merchants Group, the Florence Arts Council, and is on the Board of the Florence Chamber of Commerce. The Commissioners praised the quality of all four applicants. The others who sought the appointment were Morrie Aves, Larry Oddo, and Bill Edrington.

The Commissioners also heard a report from County Environmental Health Officer Sid Darden who said legislation passed by the 2007 Colorado Legislature will add a $23 surcharge to the cost of new septic system permits. Darden said $3 of the fee will be retained by the county for administrative costs while $20 will go to the state in the Water Quality Control Fund. The state fee will be used to hire an engineer and environmental specialist to provide more oversight of the 600,000 septic systems across the state and up to 8,000 new permits which are issued each year.

Friday, June 15, 2007

June 12th Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Commissioners Tuesday approved a zipline cable ride operation in western Fremont County and indicated they expect to impose some tight restrictions on the operation when conditions are considered on June 26th.

With Commissioner Larry Lasha absent to attend the summer conference of Colorado Counties Inc., Commissioners Ed Norden and Mike Stiehl voted to approve the special review use permit sought by Gene M. Holms of Salida. Holms set up his Captain Zipline cable rides on some old mining claims he purchased in the Wellsville area. Holms assured the Commissioners and opponents that while the State of Colorado currently does not regular zipline rides, his cables recently passed a stringent engineering test. But most of the issues surrounding the zipline dealt with access to site to avoid trespassing on other private property and concerns about liability insurance.

Several neighboring property owners, including a marble mine next door, complained that Holms routinely trespassed across their property while taking passengers to the zipline ride in the past. Other neighbors voiced concerns that Holms and his customers not be allowed to cross their property to access the Arkansas River. The Commissioners also indicated they intend for one of the conditions to be a requirement that Holms secure the necessary liability insurance to operate.

Noting that Holms operated his zipline operation last year and perhaps longer, Commissioner Stiehl said he'd like to see the county come up with some penalties that could be imposed against people who ignore county regulations and operate without a permit.

The Commissioners adopted a new policy dealing with public use of the Fremont County Administration Building. The new policy means the Administration Building will no longer be made available for public uses after regular business hours. The Commissioners said that with budget constraints there is only one custodian working in the Administration Building and her work day ends at 5 p.m. Security issues are also a concern with people accessing such a wide open building if doors remain open for evening meetings. The only evening meetings now conducted are county boards which meet. A Sheriff's deputy is on hand on those evenings to provide security.

The Commissioners approved a policy and fees to allow rental of the new outdoor arena at Pathfinder Regional Park along Highway 115 between Canon City and Florence. The base rental fee will be $50 for five hours of use plus $10 for each hour thereafter. A $100 deposit will also be required. The Fremont County Extension Office (275-7390) will have copies of the policy and will handle scheduling of the arena calendar.

In other business the Commissioners:

Denied a waiver request by Ron Walker who was placed under violation for having a septic system on his elk ranch northwest of Canon City that had never received a county permit or inspection;
approved a special events permit for the Fremont Center for the Arts to serve beer in a fenced area at the Canon City Recreation District headquarters on Ash Street for the Build Your Own Boat race on June 30th;
awarded a bid for $22,458 to Penrose Manufacturing which had the low bid for a tractor and mower to be used at the new Pathfinder Park;
proclaimed August 16th as Early Childhood Educator's Day taking note of the work by educators in the Fremont County Early Childhood Network Action Team;
and scheduled a public hearing for July 10th on a site development plan for Thomas and Sandra Lincoln who want to operate a saloon, bar, and lounge at the corner of 9th and Broadway in Penrose.

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

West Nile Virus Bird Testing

Fremont County Environmental Health Officer Sid Darden is reminding area residents about the procedures that must be followed if people want sick or dead birds tested for West Nile Virus. COHELP, the Colorado Health Emergency Line for Public Information, is a special toll free phone number that must be contacted first before birds are brought in for testing. The toll free number is 1-877-462-2911. If the COHELP staff determines that a sick or dead bird is suitable for testing, you will be referred back to Fremont County Environmental Health Services using the following criteria:

The bird must have recently died (less than 48 hours!) to be considered for testing. Carcasses that are decomposed, desiccated or maggot-infested will not be tested.
Due to a very limited staff, and the time required for us to collect samples in the field, we are requesting that birds submitted for testing be brought to the Fremont County Administration Building, 615 Macon , Room 212. Suitable birds should be refrigerated, or if there will be a delay in getting the birds to us, they may be frozen.
Information about the bird must be provided, including the name, address and phone number of the person submitting the bird for testing. In addition, we need the actual location where the bird was collected. When the bird is brought to our office, we will ask you to complete a submission form with all of the necessary information. An incomplete form will result in the bird not being tested.

May 22nd Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners dealt with a short agenda of business for their May 22nd regular meeting.

The Board approved a three lot minor subdivision for Kurtis and Trudy Zerby on 4.77 acres of land just northeast of Field and Melvina Streets north of Canon City. Lot 1 will cover one acre, lot 2 - 1 acre, and lot 3 - 2.77 acres. The property will be in agricultural and residential uses.

The Board approved the formality of revoking the county's conditional use permit for an old gravel pit that operated at the top of Van Loo Road. The property was released after reclamation was completed in 2005 but the permit had never been closed out.