December 29th Board of Commissioners Meeting

The Fremont County Commissioners' final formal meeting of 2009 dealt with some routine end of the year business and clarifications on a pair of previously approved Special Review Use Permits.

The Commissioners voted Tuesday on five appointments to the Fremont County Tourism Council. The Commissioners reappointed Rudl Mergelman and Beth Katchmar to three year terms on the council and newly appointed Dan Brown of Keller-Williams Realty to a three year term filling a vacancy left by the departing Andy Neinas. Neinas served nine years on the Tourism Council since it was first formed. The Commissioners also appointed Vicky Casey of Buckskin Joe to serve the remaining two years of a term on the council created by the vacation of a seat held by Amy Colvin. To fill a vacancy created by the December resignation of Morrie Aves, the Commissioners appointed Mike Johnston of Prospectors RV Park to serve the remaining one year on that term.

The Commissioners unanimously approved a contract renewal for 2010 for County Manager George Sugars at an annual salary of $73,440. District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden commended Sugars for his first year on the job noting his efforts through the budget process. Norden said Sugars has also received high praise from Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker for Sugars' efforts in handling management and budget issues between the Commissioners and the Sheriff's Department. District 2 Commissioner Larry Lasha said it should be noted that Sugars actually filled the vacancy of the Human Resources Director and his handling all of those duties in addition to tackling management duties for the county.

The board approved a resolution of intent for Fremont County to enter into financial obligations of approximately $3.5 million through the issuance of certificates of participation. Commissioner Ed Norden said a list of projects would be detailed later once the finances are actually put into place by the George K. Baum Company, but added that part of the package includes a refinancing of the certificates for various county buildings. Norden said principal payments on certificates for the jail, Human Services Building, and Judicial Center are escalating in 2010 beyond the available sales tax revenue to make those payments. As a result it's necessary to restructure the payment schedule.

Commissioner Mike Stiehl also noted that $2 million of the $3.5 million finance package is for the county's energy audit which got underway this past summer. Under a contract with Ennovate Corporation and through a grant from the Governor's Energy Office, the $2 million in energy efficiency improvements are to be paid off with guaranteed energy savings over a period of years.

In other business the Commissioners:

• Reappointed Mike Welch and Jim Javernick to the Fremont County Board of Zoning Adjustment;
• Modified the language of a condition for drainage requirements for the A.T. & T. Wireless facility permit at Penrose approved December 8th;
• Dropped a signed affidavit requirement for fire protection responsibility from a permit for the University of Oklahoma Geology Camp approved December 8th. The Commissioners said a record has already been made that OU is aware their new geology camp south of Canon City will be constructed outside of any organized fire district boundaries;
• Approved two resolutions dealing with end of year fund transfers and appropriations to close out the 2009 budget year.

Linda Smith Honored as Employee of the Year

The Finance and Operations Administrator for the Fremont County Department of Human Services was honored Tuesday as the 2009 Fremont County Employee of the Year. Linda Smith was honored during the regular board meeting of the Fremont County Commissioners. She has worked at the Department of Human Services since 1987.

The Employee of the Year is selected by the Fremont County Elected Officials from nominations submitted by all county employees. Linda Smith's nomination letter read in part: "Whatever the project, Linda is always organized and ready to go - - Always pleasant and kind - -thoroughly knowledgeable - - a most respected colleague."

Linda was surprised to see 12 members of her family join the commissioners meeting to help her celebrate the honor.

Fremont County celebrates employees who maintain a high standard and work ethic. The Board of County Commissioners presented Linda with a framed certificate marking the occasion. She also received a $300 gift and her portrait will hang in the foyer of the County Administration Building during 2010.

Agenda Set for January Planning Commission Meeting

Election of officers, consideration of a site development plan for a Penrose mini-storage facility, applications for a pair of wireless communications towers in western Fremont County, and a proposed amendment to the county zoning resolution, highlight the agenda for the monthly meeting of the Fremont County Planning Commission on January 5th.

The Planning Commission will conduct its annual reorganizational meeting choosing officers for 2010 including electing a permanent chairman. Dean Sandoval has been serving as acting chairman following the resignation of former Chairman Tom Piltingsrud from the Commission.

The Commission will consider a site development plan for a 130 unit mini-storage facility proposed by Eagle Peaks Investment LLC on a nearly two acre site southwest of Highway 115 and 7th Street in the Penrose area. Two existing garages on the site would be removed when the site is developed.

The Commission will also consider a pair of applications for Special Review Use Permits by AllTel Cellular for a pair of wireless communications towers, both on private property. Both towers would be 48 feet high and provide 3G communications and high speed wireless internet service. One tower would be located southwest of 28th Trail and 'H' Path in the Deer Mountain area. The other would be located on along the southeast side of Highway 50 about two miles west of the Highway 69 junction at Texas Creek.

The proposed amendment to the county's zoning resolution under consideration would clarify the validity of supporting information as part of any application, commitments related to signatures on any application, and the possibility of imposing professional review fees to cover actual expenses of evaluating any application. Such expenses could include costs associated with expert review or investigative assistance.

The Fremont County Planning Commission meets at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 5th, at the Fremont County Administration Building.

December 8th Commissioners Meeting

Formal adoption of the 2010 Fremont County budget and approval of a pair of Special Review Use permits highlighted business before the Fremont County Commissioners today.

The Board of Commissioners approved the budget resolution taking into account $35,032,000 in revenue and proposed spending in the combined county funds. The Commissioners noted that many of the revenues that make up the budget come from sources other than local taxes including federal and state money for various Social Services, Health Department, Road and Bridge, and Conservation Trust funds.

The Commissioners also approved a resolution levying the necessary property taxes for the various county funds. A levy of 12.432 mills will raise $5.64 million in property taxes in 2010. Finance Director Dana Angel noted that .138 of a mill that the county will collect next year is permitted under state law to recover money lost by the county through property tax refunds and abatements.

District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden said it's worth noting again that the county will collect $3.99 million in property taxes for the county's General Fund next year while spending in the Sheriff's fund is budgeted at $4.84 million. Norden said while citizens often say they pay their taxes and expect more services in Road & Bridge maintenance, it's worth noting that the Sheriff's budget alone is higher than the entire property tax bill for the county's General Fund. A copy of the 2010 budget can be reviewed on the county's web site under the Finance Office link.

The Commissioners voted to approve a Special Review Use permit for development of a new University of Oklahoma Geology Camp south of Canon City along Oak Creek Grade Road. OU's plans are to build a dining hall, office, garage, kitchen, bath houses, and a number of student cabins that could house up to sixty students for their summer geology studies in Fremont County. The camp would be developed on a 71 acre site in the High Saddles subdivision owned by Ron and Janice Conner.

The Commissioners echoed concerns raised by the Planning Commission over the need for a fire protection plan since the camp area is located just outside the boundaries of the Canon City Fire Protection District. Fire Chief Dan Brixey has said the Fire District is not interested in annexing the property. In approving the permit the Commissioners added requirements that a 10,000 gallon water cistern planned on site, be used exclusively to store water for fire protection and that a professionally prepared fire protection plan be developed for the camp. The Commissioners will also require a hold-harmless letter from the University acknowledging construction of the camp outside of fire district boundaries and thus removing the county from any liability in event of a fire.

The Commissioners also approved a Special Review Use permit for A.T. & T. Wireless to erect a new 100-foot wireless communications tower on private property located on the northwest corner of Highway 50 and 'N' Street at Penrose. A spokeswoman said A.T. & T. needs the tower to fill in gaps of wireless phone coverage in the Penrose area. The property current houses Innovative Structures and Classic Garage Doors which must now seek their own permit to continue multiple uses on the property. The owner must also take care of a property line adjustment to deal with an existing building that sits atop a property line. No citizens appeared at the public hearing to speak for or against the tower.

In other business Tuesday the Commissioners:

• Appointed Sandy Johnston to the Penrose Community Library Board;
• Heard the annual audit report from Paul Holscher of Holscher and Company;
• Approved a resolution granting authority to the West Fremont Fire Protection District at Coaldale to impose fire bans within their district boundaries if they take adequate steps to notify the general public;
• Approved a 24 month extension on hard surfacing requirements in the parking lot at Biker Town along Highway 115 in Penrose for Jeff and Lissa Pinello;
• Voted to rescind permits for a pair of wind monitoring masts by E-On Climate and Renewables in the Tallahassee area near the Stirrup Ranch. The company informed the county that the masts would not be erected on those sites;
• Approved moving the Board's regular December 22nd meeting to Tuesday, December 29th, at 9:30 a.m. plus the scheduling of a special meeting on Thursday, December 17th at 9:30 a.m. The primary business for the December 17th meeting will be to certify the mill levies for all of the governmental entities in the county that collect property taxes.

Applications Sought for Tourism Council Vacancy

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners has yet another vacancy to fill on the Fremont County Tourism Council. Florence businessman Morrie Aves notified the Commissioners last week that he was resigning his seat on the tourism council for personal reasons. He had one remaining of his three year term.

The Commissioners are again soliciting letters of interest from Fremont County residents to fill the vacancy. The Tourism Council develops and administers a Tourism Marketing Plan utilizing proceeds from the Fremont County Lodging Tax. Employment or ownership in a tourism related business will be a determining factor in the appointment by the Commissioners. FCTC members are required to attend monthly meetings as well as any special meetings as voted upon by the council.

The Commissioners are currently in the process of completing interviews for three other seats on the Tourism Council which come up for their three year cycle of appointments on January 1st. Tourism Council Chairman Andy Neinas, who has served on the council since its inception, did not seek reappointment.

Letters of interest for the vacant seat should be addressed to the Fremont County Board of Commissioners, Room 105, Fremont County Administration Building, 615 Macon Avenue, Canon City, CO 81212. The deadline for letters is 3 p.m., Thursday, December 17th.