NORTH FORK TIMES
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
RAPTOR COUNT
DETOX YOUR BODY
Field trip documents birds of prey in the North Fork Valley, B4
SPORTS FULL COURT PRESS
Quarterly magazine highlights women’s health, Inside
Regional play keeps girls’, boys’ basketball teams in the game, B7-8
DELTA COUNTY
MARCH 2, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 9
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Bowie #2 idled, 108 miners affected BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
After scaling back production at the Bowie #2 Mine near Paonia in September, Bowie Resource Partners last week announced the mine will be idled “as a result of continued market deterioration.” According to a Feb. 26 press release, the mine will remain idle while the market for Bowie #2 coal is evaluated. The Bowie #2 mine employs 108 full-time employees and one contractor. “Some of the affected employees will be relocated where possible to fill vacancies in other parts of the business; however, layoffs are unfortunately unavoidable,” said Gene DiClaudio, Bowie Resource Partners’ chief operating officer. It is anticipated that 68 full-time positions will be eliminated. Bowie Resource Partners owns and operates three underground coal mines in Utah and one underground coal mine in Colorado and is the leading western bituminous coal producer, with 14 million tons of coal sales in 2015. Bowie’s mines produce clean-burning, low-sulfur thermal coal primarily for consumption by domestic power generators in Utah. “First, we want to say we are deeply saddened for the impact on our families,” said Kurt Clay, assistant superintendent of Delta County Joint School District #50. “The mine and its employees have been huge support-
ers of our schools and communities, so it’s a difficult time for all of us,” Clay said. Delta County administrator Robbie LeValley echoed Clay’s thoughts. “First and foremost, our thoughts are with the families that are directly impacted,” she said. The long-term impact has yet to be realized, but continued declines in student enrollment are definitely a concern, as is the decrease in federal mineral leasing revenue coming to the county. Since Oct. 1, Clay said, school enrollment is down 28 students districtwide. Fortunately, state equalization funds offset the decrease in per-pupil funding. The county doesn’t have that safety net. “Delta County has been proactive in budgeting in the past two years, anticipating a decrease in revenue based on coal,” LeValley said. “We anticipate that we will actually have to cut $500,000 out of the 2017 budget to reflect the decrease not only in coal, but with families that leave the area.” The loss of revenue is due to a combination of sales tax, personal property tax, federal mineral leasing and severance taxes. “That’s why Delta County has been partnering with Delta County Economic Development and Region 10 to bring in broadband in partnership with DMEA,” LeValley said. “We need to continue to find ways to diversify the economy through broadband,
tourism, recreation and manufacturing.” “As a school district and community, we need to figure out ways to be innovative and bring new industry into this community,” Clay said. “Broadband is a huge component of that effort.” LeValley said Delta County must also continue to do what it can to showcase the “high
quality coal that can fit into a market economy, at the local, state and federal level.” “Colorado’s coal is the most compliant coal in the world,” said Michael Drake, former president of the Paonia Chamber of Commerce. “One would think there should be a market for our coal. “My simple thought is the coal market crashed because
of the abundance of cheap natural gas, combined with China’s reduced use of coal due to their economic slowdown.” Hotchkiss Mayor Wendell Koontz, who works in the coal industry, said of the Bowie announcement, “It’s a very sad event to see. We certainly didn’t need another mine BOWIE TO A3
Bowie Resource Partners photo
As noted in the Delta County Independent’s “Focus on Business” supplement in 2014: As the single largest taxpayer in Delta County, Bowie plays an integral role in the economic strength and socioeconomic vitality of the community. Bowie takes its role as a key local employer and community citizen seriously as it continues to invest in the Delta County economy. Last year the company spent $23 million on purchases of local goods and services.
DMEA moves forward with broadband BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
DMEA, one of the two major players on the broadband field, provided an update to the Board of County Commissioners on Monday. DMEA SmartGrid coordinator Mark Kurtz and chief operations manager Steve Metheney reported on DMEA’s progress building its own consumer broadband Internet service provider (ISP) network and business plan. Metheney said DMEA “has been in discussions with Region 10,” which is also in the process of building its own “middle mile” broadband backbone network. The Region 10 middle mile plan aims to make low-cost Internet service available to private Internet service providers (ISPs), and also to anchor institutions such as government and health care facilities. Metheney told the BoCC that DMEA also plans to offer “last mile” broadband Internet service independently to the anchor institutions Region 10 has identified. (Region 10 officials have also said they would allow private ISPs a chance to access Internet sig-
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D6 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ...................B5-6 School Zone .................. A5 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................B7-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
nal through the Region 10 middle mile.) Metheney noted that DMEA would want the revenue from anchor institutions to solidify its broadband business plan for the financial benefit of its members. DMEA officials point out they are entering the ISP business to satisfy member demand. DMEA’s broadband Internet project presumably is member-funded. The co-op has been tight-lipped about details of the project citing “a competitive business atmosphere.” The Region 10 plan has been promised public funding from a $5.2 million Department of Local Affairs grant, another $1.2 million grant from a different source, plus $2 million more collectively pledged by Delta County and the cities of Delta and Montrose, according to project documents. In addition, the Region 10 plan would cost local governments extra for extending fiber optic service to anchor institutions in their jurisdictions. Region 10 envisages an eventual middle mile fiber network serving six counties and costing an estimated $17
Meet library director Delta County Libraries’ new district director, Lea Hart, will be available to meet interested community members at the county’s five libraries. Stop by your library, enjoy refreshments, greet Hart, and share in some of her enthusiasm. She will be at the following libraries between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. — Cedaredge, Wednesday, March 2; Crawford, Thursday, March 3; Paonia, Friday, March 4; Delta, Monday, March 7; and Hotchkiss, Tuesday, March 8.
million. DMEA’s venture into the fiber optic cable world began two years ago with a $3.9 million plan to connect its electric substations for in-house operations monitoring. DMEA
is still working to complete those fiber optic loops. Using its in-house operations fiber optic loop as its own “middle mile,” the DMEA plan would then string fiber optic cable past, and eventual-
ly directly to, every customer meter in the DMEA electric service area, according to the report to BoCC. Metheney told the commissioners that DMEA “will put DMEA TO A3
Library board selects Lea Hart as new district director BY LEAH MORRIS Delta County Libraries
The Delta County Libraries Board of Trustees entered into a lengthy state-mandated hiring process in December to select a new district director for the library district. After a series of steps which included receiving numerous applications from around the country, the board finally reached a decision on Tuesday, Feb. 23. Following a long executive session at its monthly meeting, the board voted unanimously to hire Lea Hart for the position. Hart has been serving as the interim district director since November, and board president Laura Earley made it clear that Hart’s successful fulfillment of that
position strongly influenced the board in making its decision. At the meeting, Earley stated to Hart, “Your leadership, professionalism and hard work has been most impressive. You were thrown into a difficult situation and I think I can speak for all of us when I say you have far exceeded our expectations. This was obvious in the many notes we received supporting you as we moved through the director selection process. I would like to thank you for the job you have done in getting us to this point and I’m confident you will continue to provide the leadership needed as we move forward.” Earley also expressed
thanks to staff and to the other board members for “pulling together through this time and offering our patrons exemplary service.” As the new district director, Hart’s passion for her vocation is clear. She says, “I am thrilled about being able to work with our unique communities. I want to celebrate our individuality but also strengthen those things that bring us all together in a spirit of common goals. The libraries in Delta County are loved by their communities and we try very hard to reward that support with the very best staffing, services, and programming we can offer.” Hart also expresses great HART TO A3
Three openings on DMEA board Each year, three of DMEA’s nine board positions are put to voters. DMEA board positions in Districts 3 and 4, and in the south region are up for election this year. District #3 is comprised of the North Fork Valley and a Highway 92 corridor extending south into Montrose County. District #4 is comprised of an area along either side of Highway 50 in Montrose County, east of the city of Montrose and extending south to the DMEA service area boundary. The south region is comprised of DMEA’s service territory in Montrose County. Eligible members who live in these districts
may become candidates. Nominating packets will be available beginning Monday, March 28. Qualified candidates must be over 31 years of age; may not have been an employee of the co-op for three years prior to taking office; may not be employed by DMEA while serving as director; and may not be a relative of a DMEA employee while serving. Full details are available from the co-op or with candidate packets. Results of voting are normally announced at the annual meeting, which will be held this year June 16 in Montrose.
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