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January 26th Commissioners Meeting
 The Fremont County Commissioners handled a busy agenda of business at their January 26th regular board meeting highlighted by a salute to the volunteer efforts of a Fremont County Sheriff's deputy.
Deputy Bruce Briscoe was honored by Colorado Special Olympics with a plaque for his many years of volunteer efforts to organize law enforcement torch runs in southern Colorado. Ralph Maher, coordinator for the southeastern Colorado Special Olympics Torch Run said Briscoe started with the torch runs in 1997 when he was a deputy in Custer County and then continued to organize them when he began work with the Fremont County Sheriff's Department. Maher said Briscoe's efforts have helped to raise over $10,000 for Special Olympics. Briscoe said what hooked him in helping with Special Olympics was the joy he saw on the faces of the athletes. Briscoe has also volunteered as a Special Olympics coach.
The Commissioners also saluted the work of former Canon City Mayor Bill Jackson on the Fremont County Planning Commission. The Commissioners presented Jackson with a crystal award noting his 13 years of dedicated service to the Planning Commission as the City of Canon City's municipal representative.
With a recommendation from County Clerk Norma Hatfield and four support letters from citizens, the Commissioners voted to conduct the 2010 August Primary Election by using all mail ballots. Hatfield said it's much more economical to conduct a mail ballot election. She said mail ballots are also very popular with voters throughout the county.
The Commissioners heard a presentation from Steve Foute from the Pueblo Regional Office of the U.S. Census. Foute spoke about the importance to local government to see that all citizens are counted in the census. Foute said the distribution of federal and state grant dollars are tied directly to census population counts every ten years. It's also vital to the drawing of boundaries for legislative redistricting. The Commissioners unaimously approved a resolution calling attention to 2010 as "Census Awareness Year" urging citizens to cooperate by filling out the census forms when they begin arriving in the mail in March.
The Commissioners voted to approve a resolution adopting new fees in the Planning and Zoning Department dealing with minor and major modifications to Site Development Plans, Special Review Use Permits, and Conditional Use Permits; Master Plan amendments; Zoning Resolution amendments; and zoning compliance letters.
Commission Chairman Ed Norden said the $300 fees being established on Master Plan amendments and Zoning Resolution amendments that are initiated by citizens will be monitored closely to determine if the fees are fair. Norden said the board wants to make sure that citizens are not discouraged from initiating their own amendments but that they felt some type of fee needed to be in place to avoid a situation where the entire process comes to a standstill if there were an influx of citizen initiated amendments. He said under that scenario, the Planning and Zoning staff would be tied up on amendment reviews.
Commissioner Mike Stiehl agreed saying the fees are not intended to have a chilling effect on citizens participation but to set a reasonable fee for the staff time invested.
The Commissioners adopted two other resolutions on Tuesday's agenda. One resolution is in support of a possible resolution being drafted by the National Association of Counties calling on railroads to be more considerate to the needs of local government in solving problems created by rails pass through various communities. The other resolution formally adopts a job description for County Manager George Sugars who recently completed his first year on the job. Chairman Ed Norden said there was always an understanding of Sugars' responsibilities but when he was hired a year ago the Commissioners felt it was a priority to get him on the job and then to work on the final job description as the year progressed.
In other business Tuesday the Commissioners: Received an annual report from Code Enforcement Officers Robert Sapp and Ron Zenisky on 2009 Code Enforcement Efforts; Appointed Dan Grenard to fill two years remaining on an unexpired term on the Fremont County Heritage Commission created by the resignation last fall of Flo Orona; Authorized the chairman to sign a lease agreement being negotiated with AllTel for possible location of a wireless communications tower on county property at Cotopaxi;
Approved the transfer of a use permit for Forge Food Mart along Forge Road south of Canon City from Sheila and Ronnie Kimmel to Bill Tezak for two more years. The Commissioners were told there are no immediate plans to reopen the business; Awarded the 2010 county stationary bid to Rocky Mountain Print and Copy for $767.
January 12th Commissioners Meeting
The Fremont County Commissioners' first meeting of 2010 was highlighted by annual reorganizational business and the awarding of a contract for engineering design services for a water line from Florence to Pathfinder Regional Park.
The reorganizational business saw the board electing District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden as the Chairman for 2010 with District 2 Commissioner Larry Lasha filling the post of Chairman Pro-Tem. The Commissioners also voted to reappoint County Attorney Brenda Jackson for 2010 and to reappoint Veterans Service Officer Betty Hanawalt to serve in that position for another two years.
The Commissioners decided to keep their regular meeting dates for the board on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 9:30 a.m. Other routine annual business included designating posting places for meeting notices, official newspapers, and official bank depositories.
The Commissioners voted to approve a contract with The Engineering Company (TEC) of Fort Collins for engineering design of a water line from Florence to the county's property at Pathfinder Park west of Florence. The contract approval includes the negotiated contract price under three defined tasks of $25,195. Commission Chairman Ed Norden said the board was pleased with the contract price given the fact that the original estimate for the work was $43,000. Norden said that was the basis of a Colorado Energy Impact grant application in which the county was awarded $21,500 representing up to fifty percent of the cost. The lower contract price of $25,195 means the state grant will pay half and the county will pay the other half. The $12,598 county share will come from the Conservation Trust Fund (lottery dollars) which has a restricted use for such park projects.
Also at the January 12th meeting the Commissioners: Appointed Canon City Councilman Daryl Robinson to the Fremont County Planning Commission as the city's representative following his selection by new Canon City Mayor Tony Greer. Robinson replaces former Mayor Bill Jackson who served 13 years on the Planning Commission; Reappointed Peggy Sorenson and Sherry Johns to full three year terms on the Fremont County Heritage Commission; Approved the annual participation agreement in the Upper Arkansas Area Council of Governments' Regional Recycling Program at a fee of $24,898. The money comes from the surcharges collected on waste dumped at the local transfer stations and the landfill; Approved a liquor license renewal for Shadow Hills Golf Club; Set public hearing dates on February 9th for a pair of AllTel wireless communication towers in the Deer Mountain and Texas Creek areas and for the proposed First Amendment to the Fremont County Zoning Resolution.
Tourism Council Awards 2010 Community Events Grants
The Fremont County Tourism Council has voted to award $9,000 in 2010 for use by eight organizations in promoting events in Fremont County that bring visitors to the area. Recipients of the grants and the amounts awarded include: Canon City Music and Blossom Festival - - $1,000; Florence Chamber of Commerce - - $1,000 (for tourism brochures, maps, marketing); Museum of Colorado Prisons - - $1,750 (for the Smithsonian "Between Fences" Exhibit); Florence Eureka Days BBQ Competition - - $1,000; Canon City Chamber Western Heritage Days - - $2,000; Colorado Country Music Association - - $750 (2-day statewide talent competition); Penrose Apple Day - - $750; Fremont Center for the Arts' Brew-Ha-Ha - - $750.
The Tourism Council received applications from ten organizations for funding assistance totaling $22,000. Tourism Council by-laws require that they distribute a minimum of five percent of the proceeds from Fremont County's two percent lodging tax to local organizations to help promote their events. The five percent minimum funding level would have been just over $7,000.
In awarding the grants the Tourism Council also stipulated that all of the groups receiving money must use the Council's new Royal Gorge Region theme logo in any promotional materials.
H1N1 Vaccinations Available at Fremont Public Health
Despite a significant decline in the incidence of H1N1 flu, the Fremont County Public Health Department continues to offer weekly H1N1 clinics for persons who still have not had the opportunity to get a vaccination.
Public Health Director Becki Vettese reported to the County Board of Health (Board of Commissioners) at last week's monthly meeting that her department has administered 4,247 H1N1 vaccinations. Vettese said the H1N1 flu vaccinations clinics will continue at her office at 172 Justice Center Road every Tuesday afternoon from 1:30 until 4:30, but persons wanting a vaccination must call ahead to make an appointment. The number to call for an appointment is 275-1626. The H1N1 vaccinations are free of charge.
Vettese said her office will continue to take appointments for the H1N1 vaccinations on Tuesdays as long as they continue to have the vaccine available. The Public Health Office has now received more than 8,000 doses of the vaccine. She says close to 4,000 of those doses have been distributed to local physicians and other vendors who administer the vaccine.
Vettese said nurses in her department have also administered over 1,100 doses of seasonal flu vaccine.
Heritage Commission Vacancy
The Fremont County Commissioners are seeking letters of interest to fill a vacancy on the Fremont County Heritage Commission. One of the charter members of the Heritage Commission, Flo Orona, resigned her seat last fall to devote her time to other interests. Orona was originally appointed to serve as the museums' representative on the commission. She was appointed to a three year term and the new appointee will serve the two years remaining of that term.
The Fremont Heritage Commission works to protect, preserve, and enhance the historic features of Fremont County, and to foster and promote understanding of the area's heritage.
Persons submitting letters of interest should have an affiliation with any of the museum organizations in Fremont County. Letters of interest should be mailed, e-mailed, or submitted in person to the Board of County Commissioners, Room 105, 615 Macon Avenue, in Canon City no later than 4 p.m. Thursday, January 21st.
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.
Citizens Invited to Radon-Indoor Air Quality Program
Pueblo Community Action for a Renewed Environment (CARE), the Fremont County Board of Commissioners, and Fremont County Environmental Health are hosting an informational presentation about indoor air quality on Thursday, December 10th, at 6:30 p.m. The event will be held at the Garden Park High School located at 201 N. 6th Street in Canon City.
The evening session will focus primarily on radon, but information will be available on mold, lead, and household hazardous chemicals, as well. The topics to be covered in the session include:
RADON: Why radon is dangerous How to perform a radon test in your home How to interpret radon results What to do if you have high levels of radon
MOLD LEAD HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS Everyone attending the meeting will receive a FREE radon testing kit. For more information about radon and radon testing call the Radon Hotline at 252-6258 in Pueblo. Seating for the presentation will be limited to 75. If you have questions about the program, call Sid Darden at 276-7460.
Planning Commission to Outline Master Plan Review
The Fremont County Planning Commission will spend time at its' December monthly meeting on Tuesday evening to focus on Master Plan issues. Without any applications to review the Planning Commission's only agenda item is to discuss the establishment of an outline and schedule for rewriting the Fremont County Master Plan.
Because of the need for Planning Commission members to discuss the Master Plan in some detail, the Commission has announced that no verbal comment will be received from the public although citizens are certainly welcome to attend the meeting to listen to the discussion. Citizens wanting to offer input on the Master Plan issues can submit their comments in writing to the Planning and Zoning Department at least ten days prior to the January 5, 2010, Planning Commission meeting.
The Commission meets at 7 o'clock Tuesday evening, December 1st, in the lower level board room of the Fremont County Administration Building at 6th and Macon in Canon City.
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