NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
PICTURE THIS
Cameron Van Vleet’s photo puts Paonia on soda label, B1
SPORTS
COUNTY’S EYES & EARS
TOURNAMENT TIME
Bruce Bertram monitors oil/gas development in Delta County, C3
DELTA COUNTY
Basketball teams wrap up regular season play, C4-6
FEBRUARY 24, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 8
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Tri-State targets DMEA renewables BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
Tri-State Generation and Transmission has filed a legal action that would restrict DMEA’s ability to buy affordable electricity purchased from local renewable energy sources, according to an advisory from DMEA. Virginia Harmon, manager of member relations and human relations for DMEA, reports that Tri-State is asking the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) “to approve a rate penalty on utilities like DMEA when they purchase electricity from local renewable generation projects.” Tri-State’s move “threatens DMEA’s efforts to bring renewable generation — and the possibility of tremendous economic development — to DMEA’s service territory,”
Harmon noted in an information advisory. “If successful,” Harmon added, “Tri-State’s proposal would let it impose a ‘lost revenue recovery fee’ when DMEA makes... renewable energy purchases.” Last year, DMEA won a ruling from FERC that allows the local co-op to purchase more power generated by local renewable projects and less power from Tri-State Generation and Transmission. This year, Tri-State is pushing back against that ruling with a FERC counter filing of its own. Prior to last year’s FERC ruling, DMEA had been bound by contract with TriState limiting the amount of local power DMEA could buy from other sources. Tri-State is now trying to pull the plug on last year’s FERC ruling.
Last week, the Westminsterbased electric utility filed an action asking FERC to apply the additional “rate penalty” to local renewable power used by DMEA and by other local
electric co-ops that buy most of their power from Tri-State. DMEA sought the ruling from FERC last year because the local co-op was up against a limit on local power pur-
chases imposed by its contract with Tri-State. The contract required DMEA to buy 95 percent of its energy supplies from Tri-State, thus limiting RENEWABLES TO A3
County takes a hard look at staffing levels BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
County officials say they are anticipating some hits to revenue streams next year, and they’re tightening up on employee hiring. For example, the Board of County Commissioners during its Feb. 15 meeting reviewed a sheriff ’s report on the victim advocate position. The county’s victim advocate is retiring after years of service. In keeping with a county policy on hiring, the sheriff ’s office was asked to submit a justification to the commissioners for continued funding for the job. In some instances, department heads are being asked to submit actual business plans to justify filling vacancies and to examine replatooning staff for replacement positions, Robby
LeValley, county administrator, explained. The policy, explained LeValley, is due to anticipated revenue declines. For example, county income from both the federal minerals leasing program and the state minerals severance tax are expected to decline next year. Local municipalities also receive funds from the two sources. In addition, LeValley said the county will see an approximate $500,000 drop in property tax receipts due to production declines at the Bowie Mine as it deals with adverse issues both underground and in the coal market. Bowie is the only one of the three North Fork mines (two, actually, since closure of Oxbow) that is located in Delta County and which pays property taxes here.
Precinct caucus locations updated Precinct caucuses will be held Tuesday, March 1, at 7 p.m. Participation is open to registered voters who have been a resident of the precinct for 30 days, and who have been affiliated with the party holding the caucus at least two months before the caucus. The caucus locations reported in the Feb. 17 issue of the DCI require some clarification (noted with asterisks). Democratic Caucus Locations Precincts 1-8* — DeltaMontrose Technical College. Precincts 9-14* — Cedaredge Elementary School. Precincts 15-16 — Hotchkiss K-8 School. Precinct 17 — Crawford Elementary School. Precincts 18-20 — Paonia Campus Tech College.
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Agriculture .....................B8 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................B5 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 FFA Week ................. B6-7 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone .................. A5 Sports ..........................C4-6 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ................. D5-6
Republican Caucus Locations Precinct 1 — Delta First Assembly of God. Precincts 2-3 — Bill Heddles Recreation Center. Precincts 4-7 — Garnet Mesa Elementary School. Precinct 8 — Orchard City Town Hall. Precincts 9-10 — Eckert Presbyterian Church. Precincts 11-14 — Cedaredge Middle School. Precinct 15 — Rogers Mesa Community Center. Precinct 16 — Memorial Hall, Hotchkiss. Precinct 17 — Crawford Town Hall. Precincts 18-20 — Paonia Junior High School. Precinct boundaries and caucus addresses can be found at deltacounty.com.
G Road closure
Family gathering
Photo by Tamie Meck
An immature bald eagle flies above an adult perched on a utility pole along Crawford Road Thursday. Bald eagles reach maturity and grow the white feathers that make them appear bald at about 4 years of age, according to All About Birds. Bald eagles can live 30 years or more in the wild.
New director brings leadership to school-based health clinic BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
A new executive director is on board at A KidZ Clinic, the school-based health clinic operated by Delta County Joint School District #50 in partnership with the Center for Mental Health, Community Dental Clinic and Pediatric Associates. The clinic, which opened in July 2014, has suffered some growing pains, including staff turnover which led to the selection of Joey Montoya Boese as the new director. A search is also being conducted for a nurse practitioner, although it’s “business as usual” for any young person between the ages of 0-21 in need of medical services. The one-stop health care facility also provides mental/behavioral and dental health services. “The integrated care model is new to me, but in terms of the management and the leadership, that’s what I feel I can add,” Boese said. Boese had an opportunity to develop those skills at the Montrose campus of Colorado Mesa University. She served as assistant director for three years and director for seven years. In her 10th and final year with CMU, the campus doubled the size of its pres-
G Road will be closed through Friday, Feb. 26, between Sawmill Mesa Road and Deer Run Road west of Delta. The road will be completely closed for a culvert replacement project and will require traffic to be diverted. The northerly detour diverts traffic at Sawmill Mesa Road northwest onto G Road – G50 Road to 1250 Road. Turn north onto 1250 Road to Hwy. 50. The southerly detour diverts traffic on Sawmill Mesa Road to 1325 Road. Turn south on 1325 Road to F Road. Turn east (left) on 1325 Road to Hwy. 348. Traffic to and from the Delta Correctional Center from Hwy. 50 on G50 Road will not be impacted by the closure.
ence in Montrose. Boese was raised in Fort Garland, a small community near Alamosa, and attended Adams State College. A desire to help kids, possibly as a pediatrician, led her to pursue a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. But she was also ingrained with a strong work ethic. Her parents both worked full time while operating a small business and later a farm. She obtained a second degree in business administration. Upon graduation she was hired by Adams State as the marketing and public relations coordinator for distance learning. After three years she wanted to see what was beyond the San Luis Valley, so she moved to the “big city” of Montrose and began working for CMU. She obtained a master’s in organizational leadership and strategic management through Colorado State University. Boese says she was fortunate to be involved in the growth of the Montrose campus, but felt she was ready for the “next step.” When she saw a posting for the opening at A KidZ Clinic, she knew exactly what the next step should be. “I love the model of integrated care, being able to really address the whole person,”
Meet and greet Rep. Millie Hamner will host a meet and greet with Sen. Kerry Donovan and Majority Leader Crisanta Duran Saturday, Feb. 27, 4 to 5 p.m., at the Wisehart Springs Inn, 39508 Pitkin Road, Paonia. This is a great opportunity to interact with your elected officials and fellow Delta County constituents. The event is open to the public, but RSVPs are greatly appreciated. To RSVP, contact Erin Jame-son at 970-527-4680 or emj_58@hotmail.com. That evening, Duran will be the keynote speaker at the Delta County Democratic Party’s annual Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner.
she said. “Having a comfortable, accessible place like A KidZ Clinic adds value to our community.” The clinic has relied heavily on grant funding, and one of Boese’s primary responsibilities will be to create a more self-sustaining funding model. “The idea is to rely less and less on grant funding, although I still see grants as being part of the financial mix in terms of programs. Operationally, it is my goal to create a funding model that is sustainable.” The other challenge is marketing the clinic throughout Delta County, reaching out to families in the North Fork and the Surface Creek areas, making them aware of the clinic’s benefits. Behavioral health therapist Renee Joyce, dental hygienist Kristi Jenkins and the medical staff have taken some of their programs to the schools. “It’s important we get outside these walls and go connect with kids and their families,” said Boese, who is determing how the clinic can add value to what counselors, school psychologists, school nurses and building administrators are already doing in the school district. A KIDZ CLINIC TO A3
Tax Aide
IRS-trained AARP volunteers are available to provide free personal income tax preparation and filing. The service is offered at the Cedaredge Community Center Wednesday afternoons from 12:30 to 5 p.m., and evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. through filing season. In Delta, AARP Tax Aide is available at the Delta Senior Center Mondays and Wednesdays by appointment. Call 8747837 for an appointment.