NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
WALDORF INSPIRED
SPORTS
YOUTH ON SKIS
Newest Delta County school is looking to expand, B2
Barnelopet introduces kids to the fun of cross-country skiing, C1
DELTA COUNTY
PUEBLO BOUND
Paonia girls, boys; Cedaredge girls earn state basketball berth, B6 MARCH 9, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 10
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Rejuvenation for Confluence Park BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
A couple of wily, old beavers have taken out swaths of cottonwood trees in Confluence Park. These tough veterans have managed to avoid the live traps set out by City of Delta parks crews. But at Confluence Park, the term “busy as a beaver” isn’t confined to the critters. Along the trail, an equally industrious parks crew is removing invasive tamarisk and Russian olive trees. Parks manager Tony Bohling says those species have been deemed noxious and detrimental to native species. Because they use an amazing amount of water, they’re being removed all over the state of Colorado. The ultimate goal is to restore the red rock trail to its original shape and openness. Parks crews have worked on the encroaching underbrush off and on, but with staff cutbacks it’s been hard to keep up. With the 25th anniversary of Confluence Park coming up
this summer, Bohling felt it was time for a more concentrated approach — beginning with all the growth within 15 feet of the trail. Safety was one concern, Bohling said. The thick underbrush has provided cover for wildlife and transient “camps,” and some parts of the trail were almost too secluded. “Two months ago you could not see the Gunnison River through any of this stretch,” Bohling said, as he led a tour from the Gunnison River boat ramp west toward the river’s confluence with the Uncompahgre River. Where the trail was once a narrow lane through the towering cottonwoods, the Gunnison River is now fully visible. “That’s just too pretty a river to keep it covered up,” Bohling said. In the distance, your eyes can follow the meandering path to the swinging bridge across the Uncompahgre. Turning south, the Uncompahgre flows CONFLUENCE PARK TO A3
Photo by Pat Sunderland
The City of Delta Parks Department is making a concerted effort to remove invasive trees from alongside the red rock trail at Confluence Park. The ultimate goal is to restore the trail to its original shape and openness. The Uncompahgre River can be seen on the right. Other improvements are in store for the park, culminating with a 25th anniversary celebration on July 2.
Delta will seat 3 new council members BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
There will be three new faces on the Delta City Council after this year’s municipal election wraps up April 5. Current council members Mary Cooper and Robert Jurca are term-limited; Ray Penick has declined to seek re-election. Districts A and B each have just one candidate, Ron Austin and Gerald Roberts, respectively. The at-large seat is a contest between Wilford “Fay” Mathews and Christopher Ryan. Profiles of all four candidates are provided. Fay Mathews At-Large A resident of Delta since 1969, Mathews retired in 2010 after 42 years with the City of Delta. He started in streets and alleys. A year later, he moved to the municipal light and power department and worked his way up to department head. Having reached the fiveyear mark, he decided he’d been gone from the city long enough. “I decided I could represent the citizens of Delta with hopefully a lot of good knowlege,” he said. “It’s time for me to once again give something back and I look forward to that.” He looks forward to tackling the challenges facing the city — a lack of community input, economic growth and a tight budget. Just a handful of citizens attend council meetings, and residents seldom even write letters to the editor. “With no feedback, council takes it that everything is fine with the way we’re going. Decisions that affect the whole community are made with no
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input.” As for economic growth, Mathews said he doesn’t have any answers, “but I will sure have open ears.” Unfortunately, there’s not a community that’s not looking for jobs. “Any gains we made over the last few years was lost when Meadow Gold abandoned us.” Delta has a lot going for it, including infrastructure and attractive property along the truck route. Mathews is concerned that maintaining that infrastructure will be difficult with little wiggle room in the city’s utility and street funds. He believes the council must closely monitor spending citywide, to ensure funds are being spent as budgeted. Voters who approved the combined parks/recreation departments felt the subsidies from the utility funds would disappear. They didn’t. “I don’t think people are getting what they voted for,” Mathews said. “I looked at the budget today and I’ll quote a figure: Each utility payer in the City of Delta contributes $20.61 to each round of golf played out there.” Revenue covers just half the cost of operating the golf course. “I don’t know what the answer is, but I feel very strongly they should live within their own budget,”
Mathews
Ryan
Mathews said. “It’s definitely wrong for the ratepayers of the city to be making up the difference.” Mathews said there’s no way he would contemplate closing the golf course. “We just need to manage it better.” He concluded, “Knowing the city, knowing the operation and knowing budgets, I think I can be beneficial to the citizens. I will listen, although I may not always agree.” Mathews and his wife Paula have two grown children and three granddaughters. Mathews was a volunteer
firefighter for 21 years, and chief for seven. When he was employed by the city, he was an alternate on the Project 7 water board and served on the board of directors of the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities. He chaired that board for 15 years. He is a Vietnam veteran and is looking forward to a 50-year reunion this summer in Colorado Springs. Christopher Ryan At-Large Christopher Ryan, a 2000 graduate of Delta High School and father of five, brings youth to the city council race.
Ryan is a self-employed web designer who works out of his Delta home. “People of my generation often talk about things they’re discontented with, but don’t take action, me included,” he said. “I decided I wanted to be a more integral part of the community. It’s not so much that things are entirely broke, not at all. But our economy has changed, our way of doing business has changed. Delta has not changed sufficiently with that.” He wants the city to move forward with technology and DELTA ELECTION TO A7
DMEA announces Phase I of fiber-to-the-premises project South Montrose, Paonia, Orchard City slated first Delta-Montrose Electric Association (DMEA) will kick off its much anticipated fiberto-the-premise business this month. The first three areas set to receive quality high-speed Internet services through DMEA are south Montrose, Paonia and Orchard City. By mid May, DMEA plans to offer members in these areas an opportunity to start signing up for service. “Today, quality of life and economic development are tied to the availability of highspeed Internet. Communities within our service territory are underserved, and we recognize the positive role DMEA
can play in meeting our members’ needs. I give credit to my fellow board members for their fastidious dedication to our members and the thorough work of the management team. Both were needed to make this project possible,” said DMEA board president Bill Patterson. Phase I will include offering service to approximately 7,500 homes and businesses. The selected locations explore the many scenarios DMEA will encounter throughout the construction process, including urban and rural areas, both Delta and Montrose counties, and both underground and overhead installations. In response to member requests and after diligent research, DMEA’s board of directors unanimously voted to establish a wholly owned subsidiary Internet service
provider in order to bring reliable broadband Internet service to the citizens and businesses in Montrose and Delta counties. “Bringing broadband to our service territory is part of DMEA’s long range plan to bolster the foundations of our communities. It’s a vital piece in developing and delivering quality educational, medical, safety, and governmental services. Broadband has also become a proven economic driver that attracts and retains businesses and families. Our members deserve access to such a necessity,” stressed DMEA South Region board representative Tony Prendergast. Homeowners and business owners within the Phase I regions will receive information about how to sign up DMEA TO A3
Devil’s Thumb is #2
Candidate forum
Health fair
The magazine “Colorado Avid Golfer” recently conducted an online survey to determine the recipients of its annual CAGGY awards for the Best of Colorado Golf. A record 3,862 online votes were cast, and for Best Western Slope Course, Devil’s Thumb Golf Club came in second, behind The Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction. Third place went to Ironbridge Golf Club in Glenwood Springs. Devil’s Thumb manager Ken Brown reports all 18 holes are open and the weather’s been great for a round of golf at preseason rates.
Delta County Republican Women will hold a forum for county commissioner candidates from District #2 and #3 Tuesday, March 15, at Memorial Hall in Hotchkiss. Bring your friends/neighbors and have your questions ready for the candidates. The forum will run from 6 to 8 p.m. District #2 candidates are Nancy Hovde and Don Suppes. Roger Bentley and Mark Roeber are District #3 candidates. On March 19, all four will be campaigning for delegate votes at the Delta County Republican Assembly in Delta.
Delta County Memorial Hospital’s annual health fairs take place March 16, 17 and 18. Basic screenings will be provided at the Paonia campus of DeltaMontrose Technical College Wednesday and at the Cedaredge Civic Center Friday, both from 6:30 to 10 a.m. The event at Bill Heddles Recreation Center Thursday, March 17, from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., will include free health screenings as well as information from community health partners. A 12-hour fast is required for all bloodwork. Please bring a check or cash; your insurance can not be billed.