September 23rd Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Commissioners Tuesday appointed the seven inaugural members of the newly formed Fremont Heritage Commission. The seven members represent a cross section of geographical areas and historical preservation interests. They were selected from twelve persons who submitted letters of interest and were interviewed by the Board of Commissioners.

Eventually all members of the Heritage Commission will serve three year terms. However, to establish staggered terms for the first three years, the Commissioners drew names from a hat to determine the initial length of terms for all seven members. The Heritage Commission members, the area of interest they represent, and their initial term-of-service includes:

1. Flo Orona - - Museums Group- -3 year term;
2. Roberta Miller - - Florence area - -3 year term;
3. Carol McNew - - Western Fremont County - - 3 year term;
4. Mary Chamberlain - -Education - - 2 year term;
5. Jon Stone - - Tourism - - 2 year term;
6. Sherry Johns - -Penrose area - - 1 year term;
7. Peggy Sorenson - - Canon City area - - 1 year term.

The resolution which formed the Fremont Heritage Commission and was adopted by the Board of Commissioners last month includes a temporary set of by-laws from which the commission will operate. The Commission's first task will be to call an organizational meeting to select officers and determine when and how frequently they will meet.

In other business the Commissioners:

• Approved a proclamation designating September as "National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month";
• Approved a resolution adopting the 2006 edition of the International Fire Code thus putting the county on the same page with the fire codes adopted by the cities of Canon City and Florence. Fire Chief Dan Brixey said among procedural changes, the Canon City Fire District will require persons to obtain an annual permit to do any agricultural burning. There will be no cost for the burning permit and they will still have to call the fire department on the days they intend to burn;
• Rescheduled the November 11th regular Board of Commissioners meeting to Wednesday, November 12th due to the Veterans Day holiday observance.

Members Sought for County Building Code Board of Appeals

The Fremont County Commissioners are seeking three persons for appointment to the county's Building Code Board of Appeals. The board meets three times annually on the second Thursday in January, May, and September plus as needed to hear appeals of decisions by the county's building official and interpretation of the county building code. Board meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. in the County Administration Building in Canon City. Members are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting.

If you have building experience or a background in contracting, you are encouraged to apply. Letters of interest for appointment to three year terms on the Fremont County Board of Building Code Appeals should be submitted no later than 4 p.m., Friday, October 17th to the County Commissioners' office at 615 Macon Avenue in Canon City.

September 9th Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Commissioners tabled for one month the proposed 26th amendment to the county's zoning resolution saying they want more time to study the proposed changes in detail. The postponement followed a public hearing during which several businessmen who operate at the Airport Industrial Park expressed concerns about restrictions on business growth at the airport.

The main thrust of changes in the 26th amendment is to abolish the Airport Industrial Park zone district and replace it with two new zone districts. One would be known as the 'Airport Zone' with more strictly defined aviation associated uses while the other new zone would be simply identified as 'Industrial Park'.

The Airport Zone would follow Federal Aviation Administration guidelines as to what kind of uses can be allowed on airport grounds. It would apply to new lots the Commissioners are expected to create in the coming months on the south side of the Fremont County Airport runway.

The new 'Industrial Park' zone would be used to identify all of the current business uses in the Airport Industrial Park as well as additional new lots south of the airport property and on county property along the west side of Highway 67.

John Harmon and Lee Hutchcraft both voiced concerns that while there are current retail business uses at the airport, unless some concessions are allowed it threatens to inhibit business growth. They said some flexibility needs to be considered for retail operators. The Commissioners noted that the City of Florence would have to be at the table for those discussions since Florence provides the water taps at the airport and in the past has been against retail business operations at the airport. Lee Daffron said he is also concerned about restrictions on working outdoors in the Industrial Park zone saying his business requires some work be performed outdoors.

The Commissioners tabled the zoning amendment until the October 14th meeting saying they would like to have one or two workshops on the topic before then.

In other business at the September 9th board meeting the Commissioners:

• Authorized the chairman to sign a health care policy and financing contract amendment;
  
• Scheduled public hearings at 10 a.m. Oct. 14 for two Badger Creek Wind Monitoring Masts on property owned by the Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners near the Stirrup Ranch along County Road 2 in the Tallahassee area;
• and Conducted a public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant application for the ECHO program remodeling project at the old Harrison School.