The August 25th regular meeting of the Fremont County Board of Commissioners found the commissioners placing a sales tax question on the November ballot, awarding a pair of bids for work at Pathfinder Regional Park, and approving a new map outlining the City of Canon City's urban growth boundaries.
The commissioners voted unanimously to place a question on the November ballot for a half cent sales tax that mirrors the sales tax question that was narrowly defeated by voters in 2007. If approved the money could be used only for law enforcement needs and the jail at the Fremont County Sheriff's Department.
District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden said that given the current economic crisis things have worsened. Norden said "I hope is has become more and more apparent to citizens that we are facing critical decisions". Norden said placing the question on the ballot is more than just asking for more tax dollars, he said it giving the voters a voice as to whether they want to prioritize public safety or if they prefer the county make deeper cuts in all county services, including road and bridge maintenance.
Commission Chairman Mike Stiehl said the Sheriff's Department is the county's greatest line item, but he said it is mandated by state law to provide specific services. The county provides the only jail in the county -- the Fremont County Detention Center -- which is also used by Canon City, Florence, the State Patrol, and other agencies that make arrests in the county.
"It is our duty under TABOR, as well as a moral duty, to pose this question to our residents," Stiehl said.
The additional tax would add 50 cents onto a $100 purchase within Fremont County, or 5 cents onto a $10 purchase. As is the case with the county's current sales tax, a new half cent sales tax would not be assessed against food or utilities.
District 2 Commissioner Larry Lasha said the additional sales tax would resolve the shortfalls of 2009 as well as the anticipated budget problems likely to continue into 2010.
The commissioners also voted to adopt changes to the Canon City Urgan Growth Boundary Area map. The original boundaries were drawn in 2000, and the city worked to redraw the map because of several changes in the interim. Canon City Community Development Director Bruce Redus said the new map takes the proposed growth away from the east and pushes it out to the west of Canon City. He said it also details several annexation priority areas. Pending a new intergovernmental agreement with the city, Fremont County will obtain city input when new development takes place in those priority areas beyond the city limits.
In other business the commissioners:
Awarded a bid to Territory Electric in the amount of $83,571 to install lighting at the Pathfinder Park arena;
Awarded a bid to Langston Concrete in the amount of $24,330 for building concrete foundations for new bleachers at the Pathfinder Park arena. Money for both the lighting and bleachers projects comes from a 'GOCO' grant and lottery money the county receives;
and the board authorized a signature on an electrical service contract with Black Hills Energy to extend electrical power to the outdoor arena at Pathfinder Park.
A Fremont County Road and Bridge Department employee earned honors as the top equipment operator in the annual Road and Bridge Rodeo competition conducted recently at the 2009 Colorado State Fair in Pueblo. John Maxwell took first place among 36 competitors in the Equipment Rodeo competition and finished in ten place among 33 statewide competitors in the Motorgrader Rodeo.