BLM Selects Consultant for 'Over the River' E.I.S.

(The article below was prepared and distributed by the Bureau of Land Management)

The Bureau of Land Manager (BLM) Royal Gorge Field Office (RGFO) has selected EDAW-AECOM as the third-party contractor to prepare the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Christo and Jeanne-Claude's proposed Over The River (OTR) project. BLM's selection was based on EDAW-AECOM's superior understanding of this unique public land use proposal, their organizational and technical approach to the EIS Statement of Work, and their company's diverse qualifications and applied BLM experience. EDAW-AECOM was one of four companies that submitted high quality bids for competitive review.

The third-party contract was signed by both the artists and EDAW-AECOM, which commits the contractor to a specific Statement of Work developed by BLM. Funding for the contract will be the responsibility of OTR. Approval and acceptance of the completed EIS will be the responsibility of BLM in consultation with cooperating agencies that include the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Colorado Highway Patrol and Chaffee and Fremont Counties.

Preparation of an EIS is the next step in the process required under federal law to determine the possible impacts to the human and natural environment of the proposed project. This analysis allows the BLM to make an informed decision on the potential land use permit for this proposed project. The findings of the EIS are likely to be valued by cooperating agencies that will also have to authorize the project before any work takes place on the ground.

Public involvement is also key to an informed decision making process. Substantive issues and concerns were brought forward during a 45-day comment period for the Notice of Realty Action in December of last year and they will be considered during the preparation of the draft EIS.

The BLM encourages any public comments on issues and concerns at any time throughout this process. A final EIS is expected to be completed by April 2011. For further information about this process contact Joe Vieira at 719-852-6213 or visit the BLM OTR Web page at www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/rgfo/planning/over_the_river_proposal.html.

Public Meeting set for North Canon Sanitary Sewer

Fremont Sanitation District and the Fremont County Commissioners host a public meeting on February 26th to update residents and landowners on the North Canon Sewer Improvement District.

The Board of Commissioners voted to approve creation of the local improvement district following a public hearing on November 12th. The district area is generally described as that area between York Avenue on the west, Lawrence Avenue on the east, Washington Street and the western most properties of Josie Bell Street on the south, and about 1,000 feet north of Colvin Street on the northern side. 176 homes in the area would be connected to sanitary sewer service. The area has been plagued with failing septic systems and raw sewage surfacing on the ground for a number of years. The decision by the Commissioners to create the improvement district came after they were assured that over fifty percent of the property owners had signed contracts committing to support the project.

Fremont Sanitation District Manager George Medaris recently received confirmation from the Colorado Rural Water Development Power Authority for a $2 million zero percent interest loan to help finance the project. Another $1.3 million has been received from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in the form of a Community Development Block Grant. Residents will have to repay the loan through their monthly billings. The debt service is not to exceed $45 a month in addition to the sanitation district's regular monthly service fees.

Topics to be discussed at the meeting include a description of the project work and alternatives, the cost recent projected costs, funding sources, the construction timetable, and the projected environmental impacts. Sanitation District officials say it is important that residents within the local improvement district try to attend the meeting.

The meeting is set for Thursday evening, February 26th, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Skyline Elementary School at 9th and Washington in Canon City.

Fremont Tourism Council Awards Community Grants

The Fremont County Tourism Council last month announced its 2009 list of grant awards supporting local organizations that conduct annual events which attract visitors to the county. Each year the Tourism Council distributes at least five percent of the annual proceeds from the two percent countywide lodging tax to community groups. Because lodging tax collections were down over the past year the council was only able to distribute $7,000 in 2009 community grants compared to $15,000 in 2008.

The groups and their grant awards for 2009 included:
Canon City Music & Blossom Festival $1,000
Fremont Heritage Commission 'On the Road' $1,000
Penrose Apple Day $1,000
Florence Chamber of Commerce Brochure $2,000
Royal Gorge Lions Club Ice Cream Contest $500
Belvedere Blues Fest $1,500

The Tourism Council had received applications from fifteen local organizations requesting over $30,000 in financial assistance for 2009.

February 10th Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Commissioners voted Tuesday to table for two weeks any decision on the permit application for the Southern Delivery System (SDS) by Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU). The tabling of the SDS decision followed a 4 1/2 hour public hearing in which the commissioners heard both support and opposition for the $1.1 billion water pipeline project. CSU's preferred route for the pipeline is from Pueblo Reservoir but decided to proceed with an application for a permit to run the pipeline along Highway 115 in event the project is rejected by Pueblo County Commissioners.

The Fremont County Commissioners expressed general support for the Highway 115 route but indicated at least two weeks would be needed to draft a set of conditions for the project. The commissioners also indicated they wanted CSU to continue with its efforts to arrive at possible agreements with Beaver Park Water District and the Penrose Water District. Beaver Park Board President Gary Ratdkovich also requested the additional two weeks to try to reach a memorandum of understanding with Springs Utilities to address concerns for their own pipeline and irrigation ditches.

Former Commissioner Dennis Jones urged that the permit be rejected saying at the least Fremont County should require CSU to resubmit its application only if Pueblo County denies its application.

Steve Cool of Penrose was among those supporting the pipeline through Fremont County saying the commissioners should consider the economic impact and to consider that if CSU looks up-river to divert its water it would have a long term negative effect on Arkansas River recreation through the county.

Fremont County Assessor Stacey Seifert said the county could lose some property tax revenue in the future due to the 200 foot easement crossing the fifty different private parcels. She said the loss in value and taxes wouldn't be known until some of those properties actually sell. The assessor's comment brought an offer from Springs Utilities for a 'payment in lieu of taxes' to deal with any lost tax revenue.


SDS Project Manager John Fredell said Springs Utilities is committed to working with Fremont County to ensure that the project meets the needs of all the communities. He said CSU is optimistic that agreements can be reached with Beaver Park Water and Penrose Water District to ensure they can participate in the project.

The Fremont County Commissioners are expected to draft an extensive list of conditions drawn in large part from a document of commitments offered by Springs Utilities officials during the hearing. That document parallels a similar document of conditions being considered by Pueblo County Commissioners. Action on the SDS Fremont County application is expected at the commissioners' February 24th regular meeting.

In the only other major item of business prior to the SDS public hearing, the commissioners approved a bid award to Patch Construction to handle the refurbishing work on a garage unit at the county's District 1 shop building north of Canon City which was damaged in a fire last Christmas eve. Patch Construction submitted the lowest of two bids to reconstruct a roof over the cement block building and complete other repairs for a price of $50,840.

January 27th Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Commissioners took action at their January 27th regular board meeting to seek an energy audit of county buildings to determine what energy conservation steps might be taken. The board voted to authorize the chairman to sign a memorandum of understanding with the Governor's Energy Office to conduct an energy audit on county buildings. Commissioner Ed Norden said they intend to have an energy audit performed on the County Administration Building, the Fremont County Sheriff's Department, the jail barracks building at the Sheriff's Department, the Department of Human Services Building, and the Fremont County Airport.

If the Governor's Energy Office approves the application the county would proceed to select a contractor from an approved list to perform the audit. After hearing positive comments from the City of Florence, which is conducting a similar audit, Commissioner Larry Lasha said the county decided to pursue one as well. The Commissioners are hopeful the energy audits might offer some timely, inexpensive suggestions that might be put into place immediately for energy and cost savings. But Norden said any large expenditures to improve energy efficiency in some buildings might have to wait until the county can set aside funds in the county's capitol improvement fund.

The Commissioners voted to authorize the Chairman to sign the contract with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs to formally secure a grant for the remodeling of a portion of the old Harrison School Building in Canon City for ECHO Offices. This is the final step in Project Echo receiving a $237,500 Community Development Block Grant as part of the $475,000 remodeling project. The county had to serve as the sponsor of the grant. Funds will simply pass through without any direct cost to Fremont County.

The Commissioners Tuesday also:

• Adopted a proclamation for 2-1-1 Day in Fremont County. Organizers of the 2-1-1 information program for southeastern Colorado are urging all 11 counties in the southeastern Colorado 2-1-1 group to observe February 11th as 2-1-1 Day in Colorado;
• Approved a property tax abatement for David & Nancy Snell for property at 1318 Tennessee. A computer input error occurred causing an incorrect value to be entered and for them to be overcharged $10,480 on their property tax bill.