Dr. Dean Sandoval accepts a crystal plaque from the Board of Commissioners for his 15 years of service on the Fremont County Planning Commission. (pictured left to right: Commissioner Tim Payne, Commission Chairman Debbie Bell, Sandoval, Planning Director Bill Giordano, & Commissioner Ed Norden)

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners honored Dr. Dean Sandoval of Canon City at their April 26th meeting for Sandoval’s 15 years of service on the Fremont County Planning Commission.   Sandoval did not seek reappointment to the Planning Commission this spring choosing to leave his post to spend more time with his dental practice and the Colorado outdoors.

County Commission Chair Debbie Bell noted that Sandoval served as Chairman of the Planning Commission for several years when the Commission undertook the task of updating the Fremont County Master Plan.    District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden commended Sandoval for his wisdom and many long hours of service.   Norden noted that the fact that three other members of the Planning Commission were in attendance at the meeting was a testament to the respect he had earned during his 15 years of service.

In thanking the Commissioners, Sandoval said it had been an enlightening experience and praised the hard work by Planning Director Bill Giordano and County Planner Marshall Butler.

What are usually handled as routine ambulance license renewals turned into a marathon session for the Fremont County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 23rd, as they reviewed the six month performance record of Arkansas Valley Ambulance which serves western Fremont County.    County Ambulance Inspector Tom Anderson told the Commissioners that there is a certain standard of care and trust that comes with operating an ambulance.   He said over the last six months a lot of those trust issues have been questioned.

Acknowledging that AVA’s Board of Directors faces a lawsuit and that the AVA Board has had its’ share of internal squabbles, District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden said the county wants to focus on the ability of AVA to deliver quality care to its patients and has the ability to respond to calls on a 24/7 basis.   After reviewing the list of conditions set out by the Board of Commissioners last October 9^th and AVA’s efforts to meet those conditions, AVA Operations Director Jay DeMay said he didn’t recall the specifics of the requirements because he didn’t get a copy in writing.   Board Chairman Debbie Bell told DeMay she has a big problem with that.   Bell said expecting someone else to deliver a copy to him in writing speaks to the issue of responsibility.

Commissioner Norden also spoke about prioritizing trust among the western Fremont Community noting comments that were written and submitted as part of an internet survey.    Norden said he recognizes that the survey was unscientific and the percentages were skewed because of opponents who circulated the survey, but the comments were still very telling.    Norden noted one comment said “Quit fighting amongst yourselves and get to the business of providing the best service you can”.   Norden said another comment read, “Of course we’d like quicker response times, but reality is reality.   I just want to know that there will be an ambulance coming”.

DeMay told the Commissioners that things have been in such a state of turmoil that the only way they can conduct business is by closing their meetings to the public.    Commissioner Norden said that concerns him greatly.   Norden said he understands that they are a private non-profit corporation but he told them, “Anytime you operate in the public interest you’ve got to find a way to operate in full public view when you’re dealing with such critical issues as patient care and emergency medical services”.

AVA Board Chairman Elaine Foster apologized to the Commissioners for reusing a letter of support from the board from last year that still had Commissioner Mike Stiehl’s name on it.    Foster said it happened innocently as part of preparing a grant application and was not done with any intent to deceive.

DeMay made a pitch to the Commissioners to allow AVA to upgrade their service from Basic Life Support to Advanced Life Support (ALS).    DeMay told the Board, “This is all about patient care, that’s all it’s ever been about”.   He said AVA has two intermediate EMT’s ready to deliver ALS service to their patients.  Of the controversial internet survey that was circulated DeMay said, “The survey is a bunch of junk, I don’t need my name smeared across the community”.

Anderson told the Commissioners he would have to inspect AVA ambulances again for ALS service because they were not equipped for ALS standards when he inspected on April 22^nd.    The Board of Commissioners voted to renew AVA’s ambulance license for another year at the Basic Life Support level and to suspend any decision on the ALS service request for 90 days.    Commissioner Norden said that 90 day period will not only allow for AVA ambulance re-inspections but also coincides with a 90-day ambulance license granted to the Deer Mountain Fire Protection District (DMFPD).

The Deer Mountain Fire District applied for the first time for a new ambulance license acknowledging it was being done in part over the ongoing controversy with AVA service.   The Commissioners gave DMFPD the 90 days to complete negotiations and work on possible mutual aid agreements with AVA, American Medical Response Ambulance, and Custer County Ambulance.   Commissioner Norden emphasized it is an expectation with a new ambulance license for Deer Mountain that they promote and rely on the county’s E 9-1-1 emergency call system for dispatching ambulance calls in that area.

The Board of Commissioners also voted to renew ambulance licenses for American Medical Response (AMR), the Florence Volunteer Fire Department, and the Penrose Volunteer Fire Department.   Northwest EMS did not seek renewal of their ambulance license.   Anderson said Northwest EMS is currently out of service and unable to respond to calls so AMR will respond to medical emergency calls in the Tallahassee and High Park areas.

At the April 23^rd meeting the Board of Commissioners also:

• Granted a three year extension for a Conditional Use Permit for the Northfield Coal Mine.   The coal mine has never been able to begin operations in the Williamsburg area;
  
• Granted a three year extension for submittal of contingency items for a railroad loadout proposed for the future Northfield Coal Mine along County Road 11A;
  
• Approved a Temporary Use Permit for the Cañon City Music and Blossom Festival Carnival at Elm Street and Oak Creek Grade Road at the south edge of Cañon City.

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners approved an all mail ballot election at their April 9^th regular board meeting.    County Clerk Katie Barr explained that 63% of the registered voters in Fremont County are registered as permanent mail-in ballot voters.  Barr said mail ballots save the County a lot of money by not having polling places.    She said the November 5^th ballot will have municipal and school board elections and some statewide ballot issues.    Barr said so far there are no countywide issues scheduled for the November ballot.

In the only other item of business on the April 9^th agenda the Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution proclaiming the month of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month.   Stacey Kwitek of the Department of Human Services said one of the core services of the Department is to investigate cases of child abuse and neglect.  In 2012 she said there were 1,212 reports of child abuse and neglect from concerned citizens in Fremont County.  Of those calls, 490 cases were investigated.

Kwitek said there is new campaign in Colorado called “Be The One Colorado”.  The premise of the campaign is that it only takes one person to make the difference in the life of a child.  It takes more than just healthy parents to raise a child, it takes an entire community.  She invited all citizens to donate one hour per week to volunteer at any child organization.

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners took another step towards eventual construction of a parallel taxiway at the Fremont County Airport on Tuesday.   The Commissioners approved a professional services agreement with the county’s airport consultant, Armstrong Consultants of Grand Junction, to begin work on the design and engineering phase for the parallel taxiway.   The Armstrong contract calls for an expenditure of $304,748.

Fremont County Airport Manager Richard Baker said getting Armstrong started on design work should allow for the taxiway project to stay on schedule.    Baker said Armstrong will be preparing bid sheets for the project and that with FAA approval of the design, the project should be able to go out for bid this summer.    Baker said he’s still hopeful that construction work on the parallel taxiway can begin by late August or early September after the busy part of the wildfire season.

The project is expected to be bid and constructed in two phases with total construction cost estimated at $1.9 million.    The parallel taxiway is an alternative project proposed by Armstrong, the Airport Advisory Board, and the Board of Commissioners after the FAA said they would no longer agree to fund an extension of the runway at the Fremont County Airport.   An update of the county’s Airport Master Plan did not reflect enough current or projected future use by jet traffic to justify a runway extension.   With the FAA emphasizing safety at general aviation airports it was suggested that funds allocated for airport improvement in Fremont County be spent on building a full distance taxiway parallel to the runway.  The FAA pays 95 percent of the total design, engineering, and construction costs, the state pays 2 ½ percent, and the county pays the remaining 2 ½ percent.

Baker says there has been no indication that the federal budget sequestration would affect the FAA dollars set aside for this project.

The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday also voted to authorize the chairman to sign a contract agreement with local artist Sheldon Roberts to initiate the John C. Fremont sculpture project at the entryway to Pathfinder Regional Park west of Florence.   Roberts is proposing a 20-foot tall metal sculpture of Fremont to be erected in the center of the roundabout at the park.   Fremont County and the Cañon City Recreation and Park District have each committed $2,500 from their Conservation Trust Funds (Lottery Funds) to the cost of the project.   The artist will be responsible for raising the balance of the $20,000 cost of the artwork.   The contract agreement allowed for an initial payment of $5,000 with staggered payments throughout the course of the project which is expected to be completed by early August.

In other business at the Commissioners’ March 26^th meeting they:

• Awarded a bid for aggregate for chip sealing county roads this summer to Tezak Heavy Equipment at a rate of $7.75 cents a ton;
  
• Awarded a bid for county road asphalt patch work this summer to Rocky Mountain Materials at a cost of $48.50 per ton;
  
• Awarded a bid for tack oil for county road work to SunCor Energy at $2.32 a gallon;
  
• Awarded a bid to EnviroTech for magnesium chloride for 66 miles of county road dust suppressant at a rate of 5.06 cents per gallon;
  
• Appointed Angela Bellantoni of Cañon City to serve as a county representative to the Southern Colorado Economic Development District along with Commissioner Debbie Bell and Judy Lohnes of the Council of Governments;
  
• Ratified a change to the by-laws of the Fremont County Weed Advisory Board clarifying a quorum of membership;
  
• Approved a permanent waiver for hard surfacing of a parking lot for the current owners at the Estes Rockets’ warehouse at Penrose that was constructed in 2007;
  
• Approved a change of ownership and succession of operator for the Byzantine Quarry along County Road 69 northwest of Cañon City.

Local officials and businesses are once again gearing up for the annual Cañon Proud Clean-Up Campaign.  A limited number of trash vouchers for free disposal of household trash, construction debris, brush, leaves, and yard waste will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to Fremont County and Cañon City residents beginning on March 25 and ending on April 30.  Trash vouchers are good for free disposal of 2.5 cubic yards (one regular pick-up truck bed filled no higher than the sideboards) at Twin Enviro’s “Phantom Landfill” along County Road 67 north of the Fremont County Airport.   Amounts of trash in excess of 2.5 cubic yards will be charged extra on site.

Residents in the rural unincorporated areas of Fremont County may pick up a free voucher from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday in Room 106 of the Fremont County Administration Building at 6th and Macon.   Cañon City residents may pick up a voucher from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday at City Hall, 128 Main Street.   Proof of residency is required when obtaining a voucher.  Only one voucher will be issued per person.   The vouchers will be accepted at the Phantom Landfill through April 30th.  All loads must be covered, and no commercial haulers or contractors qualify for these vouchers.

In addition to the trash disposal vouchers, other spring cleanup partners will accept recycling, appliances, and specific metals.

R.D. Recycling, located at 1501 High Street (719-641-0630 or 275-2052) will accept appliances Monday through Saturday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm for free disposal.  Brass, aluminum, and copper will be purchased at prevailing rates.  They will purchase automobile batteries for $5 each.

Skyline Steel, located at 301 S. 1st Street (275-5919) will purchase appliances (including freon-free refrigerators) Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm.  Scrap iron, brass, aluminum, automobile batteries, and copper will be purchased at the prevailing rate.  Aluminum cans purchased between April 1st and April 30th will receive a $.05 bonus per pound.

Junk Masters (429-4590) will pick up scrap metal, appliances, vehicles, batteries, pipe, wire, machinery, etc., for free.  They will not accept TVs, wood, tires, furniture, paints or other household chemicals or trash.

Call It Gone Metal Recyclers (719-671-7062) will pick up scrap metals, vehicles, appliances, and batteries.  Call for more information and estimates on property clean-up.

As always, no tires, dead animals, or hazardous wastes will be accepted at any site.

The Fremont County Planning Commission will consider a permit for a Tallahassee Fire Station northwest of Cañon City and an amendment to the county’s subdivision regulations when the commission gathers for its’ monthly meeting on April 2nd.

The Tallahassee Volunteer Fire Department is seeking a Special Review Use Permit that would allow them to construct a main fire station on the Rideout Ranch along Colorado Highway 9 about 2 ¼ miles north of the Highway 50 junction.   The Tallahassee Fire Department plans to build a fire station that would house a minimum of five fire apparatus plus administrative and operations offices.   The department says the facility could be used as an emergency command center for local authorities as well.   The fire station would be built on 5.2 acres of property that are on the Rideout Ranch.

The Planning Commission will also consider an amendment to the section of Fremont County’s Subdivision Regulations that deal with final plats.   The Commission and Board of Commissioners have already reviewed and adopted amendments to the subdivision regulations that deal with sketch plans and preliminary plats.   A copy of the proposed amendment can be reviewed on-line on the county’s web site at www.fremontco.com.   Go to the Planning and Zoning Department page on the web site and click on the link in the middle of the page for the proposed amendment.

The Planning Commission meets at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2nd, in Room LL-3 of the Fremont County Administration Building.

Public Health Director Carla Dionne (second from left) greets visitors at the March 11th official opening of the new Public Health Clinic at Florence City Hall

The Fremont County Public Health Agency now has a presence in eastern Fremont County with the opening of a clinic in the Florence City Hall.   The clinic officially opened on March 11^th.

Public Health Agency Director Carla Dionne said the idea began when a Rural Colorado Healthcare grant became available to expand services in the county. The Fremont County Commissioners and the Florence City Council began to talk about the space that once served as an emergency room for St. Joseph’s hospital in Florence. The commissioners, the council and the Public Health Agency worked out a contract to open up the satellite clinic in Florence.

Dionne said the clinic will offer a variety of services, including immunizations of children and adults, a child healthcare clinic, a dental van, healthy communities for families and children enrolled in Medicaid and CHP+, prenatal care, communicable disease, vital records and health care services for children with special needs. The clinic also offers reproductive services for youth from 9 to 25.    Dionne said there will be designated days for clinic services but citizens can walk in anytime to make appointments.

Fremont County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Debbie Bell said the county is pleased to be able to serve the residents of Fremont County and particularly eastern Fremont County with the new clinic.

The clinic is staffed by three full-time and two part-time employees.   The Fremont County Public Health clinic is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 600 W. Third St., Suite B in Florence. To make appointments, call the Cañon City office at 275-1626.

Tezak Tunnel Drive Quarry Expansion Approved

An application sought by T.H.E. Aggregate Source to expand a gravel quarry along Tunnel Drive west of Cañon City won approval by the Fremont County Board of Commissioners following a public hearing on March 12^th.   Tezak Heavy Equipment sought a modification to their existing conditional use permit so they can add 83 acres to their existing operation on 216 acres.    79 acres of the expanded area is on federal Bureau of Land Management acreage and already was reviewed and approved by the BLM.

Lee Ann Oliver said she was concerned about the project’s visual impact, especially to tourists passing through town.   A letter to the Commissioners from Donna Young expressed the same concerns that a lot of dust and the mountain scar would be detrimental to the many tourists who visit the area.   Jim Meacham, chairman of local geology club, shared his concerns about the long-term reclamation process. Russ Hager, an employee supervisor at Holcim, Inc., spoke in favor of the project emphasizing that T.H.E. has always performed responsibly and continue to provide important jobs for the region.

Ken Klco, who represented T.H.E. at the hearing, said that from a visual standpoint, there won’t be a great level of change, even from those rafting on the river.    District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden asked Klco about the existing scars on the mountain that most motorists see when they drive Highway 50.   Klco said in fact there are two other active quarry permits in that area to the north.   He said the rock fall scar that most people recognize is outside T.H.E. permit boundary and actually dates back to the 1930’s.  Klco added that the visual impact from Highway 50 will actually improve over the next 20 years because the high wall will go away, and you will see the gravel disturbed behind it from a long range view,” he said.

BLM Geologist Stephanie Carter said that in analyzing the expansion only about five percent of the disturbed quarry area would have a visual impact along Highway 50 based an analysis of a number of viewing points.   She said many of those viewing points already can see the existing quarry.

Liquor License Denied for Marv’s Place

The Board of Commissioners also voted unanimously to deny the renewal of a tavern liquor license for Thomas and Sandra Lincoln who operate Marv’s Place bar at 103 Broadway in Penrose.   Sheriff Jim Beicker said after years of dealing with various incidents at the bar he had decided to recommend that the Board deny the liquor license renewal.

Beicker said his biggest problem is the Lincolns’ refusal to cooperate or call officers when law enforcement is needed.   Beicker said when deputies arrive to investigate they also get very little cooperation from bar patrons.   Beicker said there have been several incidents when deputies were jeered at and threatened by bar patrons.   Beicker told the Commissioners, “I told Mr. Lincoln many years ago that I would not tolerate an establishment like that where deputies felt threatened and unwelcome in a bar, we should be their friends.”

Tom Lincoln said that since last year’s license renewal, there have been no citations issued and that he and his wife run a nice, clean neighborhood bar.   The Lincolns submitted some 82 signatures of patrons at Marv’s Place.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to deny the liquor license citing in particular the fact that the Lincolns could not provide proof of a lease beyond the March 31^st expiration date of their current liquor license.    The Commissioners noted that state law requires proof of ownership or a lease with the application.   There is no long-term lease agreement between the Lincolns and the building owner because, Lincoln said, the building owner didn’t want to commit to one. He said he placed the bar for sale about two months ago.

In denying the liquor license Commissioner Ed Norden also noted that it appears as if efforts are made to avoid calling law enforcement when an incident occurs.   He said in fact it appears from police reports that victims of assaults or disturbances were the ones who finally called deputies.   Board Chair Debbie Bell said the most troubling to her is the number of citations or incident reports that never were written because eyewitnesses refused to come forward.

Marijuana Temporary Moritorium

The Board of Commissioners also voted at their March 12^th meeting to approve a temporary moratorium on recreational marijuana stores in the unincorporated areas of Fremont County.   The Commissioners said they decided to put all recreational marijuana retail stores, manufacturing facilities, and cultivation facilities off limits in the county until the State of Colorado arrives at a definitive set of regulations.   The marijuana moratorium will be in place until October 1^st which is the deadline for the state to have regulations in place.   The moratorium could be lifted earlier if the county adopts its own rules before then.

In other business at the March 12^th meeting the Commissioners:

• Re-appointed Paul Telck, Doug Burford, Ralph Kunselman, Curt Sorenson and Fred Smith and newly appointed Tony Telck and Darrell Deling to the Fremont County Weed Advisory Board;
  
• Appointed Michael Pullen to the Fremont County Planning Commission to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Dean Sandoval;
  
• Appointed members to a newly formed Fremont County 4-H Livestock Sales Committee for the county fair.   Three year terms went to Ralph Kunselman, Tami Ratkovich, and Mark Masar; two year terms to Bob Masse, Samantha Faoro, and Greg Van Riper; and one year terms to Jared Huston, Gina Grisenti and Kathy Kunselman;
  
• Approved a one-year Lease Agreement for Civil Air Patrol office space in a modular building placed at the Fremont County Airport;
  
• Approved a resolution denying an exemption from Fremont County Sales Tax for Low Emitting Vehicles.

If you’re sitting in someone’s basement or in someone’s kitchen, bathroom or garage and you’re getting a tattoo, you can bet with 100% certainty that you’re getting an illegal tattoo!

Fremont County adopted rules and regulations governing body art facilities, locations that provide mainly tattoos and body piercings, on June 30, 2009. Up to that date, Fremont County did not have a body art regulation, but the state of Colorado had a set of regulations that had been in place for a number of years, covering the entire state.

Fremont County Environmental Health Office Sid Darden says that under the county’s Body Art Regulations, the location where these procedures are performed must be inspected, approved, licensed, and must meet a set of minimum standards.   Darden also says the body artists who work in these facilities are required to meet minimum standards, including a knowledge of Universal Precautions (a set of precautions designed to prevent the transmission of HIV, hepatitis b and other blood borne pathogens). These procedures are invasive to the human body and if done improperly, can lead to a long list of serious problems including hepatitis b and other serious infections. In addition, there are stringent procedures for sterilizing reusable instruments, using single-use instruments that must be discarded after one use, sterilizing and sanitizing surfaces, having access to handwashing facilities, conducting a monthly spore test to make sure the autoclave is properly sterilizing the reusable instruments and keeping records regarding the same, and the proper disposal of sharps and other items that have been contaminated with bodily fluids.

In addition, Darden says the body art facility is required to keep client records, including completing a client consent form for each client, which includes the name of the body artist, direction on when to consult a physician, detailed after-care instructions, possible side effects from the procedure and an explanation that the body art should be considered permanent. In the case of a minor client (anyone under 18 years old), additional documentation and written permission is required from a custodial parent or legal guardian before a procedure can be performed.

In short, body art procedures performed anywhere, for any reason, except within a licensed body art establishment are against the law.

Currently there are only three licensed body art establishments operating in Fremont County; The Dungeon Inc., Tat’s, and Evo Tat. If you’re getting a body art procedure at any location other then one of these three, it’s illegal.    Keep in mind that locations that only offer piercing of the outer perimeter or lobe of the ear with a sterilized stud-and-clasp ear piercing system are not governed by these regulations.

If you have questions or if you’re interested in opening an approved body art facility in Fremont County, you should contact Fremont County Environmental Health Officer Sid Darden at 276-7460.

AT&T has activated two new 4G mobile Internet cell sites that will enhance coverage for area residents and businesses in Fremont and Chaffee Counties.   The new Fremont County site is located on RE-3 School District property along County Road 1A north of the intersection with Highway 50 at Cotopaxi.   A new site in Chaffee County is located near the intersection of Highway 24 and County Road 384 in Buena Vista.

“Demand for wireless speed is growing rapidly, and we are excited to continually bring these super-fast speeds to residents and businesses in Buena Vista and Cotopaxi,” said Bill Soards, President-AT&T Colorado.

Wendell Pryor, Director of the Chaffee County Economic Development Corporation said, “As AT&T continues to invest in our community by building infrastructure, local leaders must help build consensus with government and the private sector that recognizes the importance of connecting everyone to the benefits of broadband,”

Over the past five years, AT&T reports having invested more than $115 billion into operations and into acquiring spectrum and other assets that have enhanced their wireless and wired networks.