NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
THE FUN HAS BEGUN
111th annual Delta County Fair and Rodeo hits full stride, B4-10
SPORTS
WESTERN HERITAGE
A NEW GAME IN TOWN
New shooting sports competition embraces the Old West, C1
Adult baseball league is a hit for men ages 18-60+, C6
DELTA COUNTY
AUGUST 10, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 32
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Stormwater upgrade is having an impact BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The City of Delta and downtown businesses are already experiencing benefits from the stormwater project completed in June. Ellen Michelson, city engineer, reports that the tieins from sump pumps have reduced the amount of water being conveyed to the wastewater treatment plant. On average, the reduction of approximately 34,000 gallons per day is saving $48.62 in treatment costs. The sump pumps, located in the basements of many downtown Delta businesses, were formerly tied in to the sewer system. Now the storm water conveyance system carries water to two large detention ponds, one at 5th and Confluence Drive and the other on Kellogg Street. Detention ponds allow settling to occur, which reduces the amount of selenium, sediment loads and total dissolved solids entering rivers and streams, Michelson explained. The project included the installation of approximately 6,000 lineal feet of storm water pipe ranging in size from 18 to 54 inches in diameter. The project area encompassed 2nd Street from Dodge to Grand, 5th Street from Silver to Highway 50, and six blocks of alleys from 2nd to
5th on both sides of Main. During the project, the city’s contractor, Wells Excavating and Farming, also replaced water valves, lowered water lines, replaced concrete and asphalt, upgraded ADA ramps and paved the alleys from 2nd to 5th. Road reconstruction and pavement overlays will further improve street and drainage conditions in the downtown area, Michelson said. The project cost was $1,561,221, which was supported with a two-thirds grant from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs. Public works director Steve Glammeyer notes that with judicious planning, the project area was expanded while remaining in budget. The effort actually began in 2008 with the development of a comprehensive stormwater master plan. The study, completed by URS, identified the downtown area as the number one priority. Because there was no system in place to convey stormwater underground, it flowed through the streets. “And our streets can only carry so much water,” Michelson said. In addition to saving the expense of treating that stormwater, many businesses no longer have to furnish electricity to sump pumps around the clock.
Photo by Tamie Meck
Show of affection
Redneck, a 3-year-old Gypsy Varner, gives owner Taylor Carter of Delta a nuzzle during the gymkhana competition Sunday at the Delta County Fairgrounds.
Residents protest ‘sovereign citizen’ label BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Three local women are questioning how a peaceful meeting they hosted became the focus of a memo on “sovereign citizens” issued by city manager David Torgler. In late June, Torgler sent an email notifying city council and staff members of an upcoming meeting hosted by a “group of sovereign citizens.” He said he learned of the meeting from the Delta Police Department. “They will be here doing a fundraiser for the sovereign citizen who was shot and killed in the Oregon standoff,” the memo stated. “It has been reported that among the people attending will be the sovereign citizen’s wife who was shot and killed.” Barb Hulet was among the individuals who invited the widow of LaVoy Finicum and her daughter to address the July 6 gathering. While Hulet and company say they’re proud to be sovereign citizens, as defined in the Declaration of Independence, they are not part of any extremist group. They’re just American citizens interested in hearing the truth about the shooting of LaVoy Finicum early this year. Hulet, Rosemary Anderson and Beverly Watts addressed
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ......................A11 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A12 Church ............................C5 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Delta County Fair .... B4-10 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-3 Obituaries ................ A9-10 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports .............................C6 Surface Creek News ...C1-2 TV Listings ..................C3-4
the Delta City Council Aug. 2. They said the use of the term of “sovereign citizens” implies they are “bad” and “dangerous.” They referred to the FBI website, which addresses the domestic terrorism threat of the “sovereign citizen” extremist movement. “Sovereign citizens are anti-government extremists who believe that even though they physically reside in this country, they are separate or ‘sovereign’ from the United States. As a result, they believe they don’t have to answer to any government authority, including courts, taxing entities, motor vehicle departments, or law enforcement,” the website states. “Not every action taken in the name of the sovereign citizen ideology is a crime, but the list of illegal actions committed by these groups, cells, and individuals is extensive (and puts them squarely on our radar),” the website continues. Because the FBI classifies some sovereign citizen extremists as domestic terrorists, people were “scared to death” to attend the fundraiser, Hulet said. “The memo puts us squarely on the FBI’s radar,” Anderson said, using the wording from the website.
“I resent being called a sovereign citizen when the FBI defines me this way,” she said. “You labeled us.” Hulet filed an open records
request to obtain a copy of Torgler’s memo. City clerk Jolene Nelson responded with a redacted version of Torgler’s email. Citing the Colorado
Criminal Justice Act and the Colorado Open Records Act, Nelson said further disclosure would be contrary to the public interest.
Safe speed limits sought for Escalante Canyon Road BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer
Several people concerned about speeding vehicles on Escalante Canyon Road met Aug. 1 at the Delta County Courthouse to discuss the traffic situations that make it necessary to establish and post speed limits. Kent Davis, representing Escalante Ranch, noted that between the Capt. Smith cabin and the highway a lot of the land is being farmed. Sixteen-foot, 19-foot, 20-foot farm machinery is being operated in that area. With the increased number of vehicles, and the increased speed at which they are being driven, it’s not “if” but “when” an accident will occur. Davis said side-by-sides and four-wheelers are providing the biggest opportunity for an accident. Sheriff Fred McKee noted that during an engineering
survey, the average speed for all vehicles was 24 mph, with 59 mph the highest speed clocked. He recommended speeds of 15 to 30 mph, depending on road conditions. He added that signage should help. Dick Miller, owner of Escalante Ranch, said, “Signage is an issue, but ATVs being used as race cars instead of recreation vehicles is a major problem that needs to be addressed. “Not all the people driving them are 18. I see kids 10 to 12 driving the things.” McKee said he sees the same issue on Grand Mesa. Collin Ewing, DominguezEscalante NCA manager, said, “Since legislation declaring this area a National Conservation Area, people have become aware of it as a desirable place for recreation. OHVs are an appropriate vehicle to use to learn about the area. It’s an
opportunity for the public to learn about homesteading and ranching history.” Chuckling, those present volunteered other ways the area could be enjoyed — from a full-size vehicle, a bicycle, walking, and on a horse. Mike LeMaster, president of the Thunder Mountain Four-Wheelers, recommended signs at the kiosk on Hwy. 50 and two or three other locations down the road to remind OHV drivers that they must obey the same regulations as cars and pickups. The meeting was attended by Delta County Commissioners Doug Atchley and Bruce Hovde, as well as county staff. Atchley suggested taking the discussion to a public hearing, to allow more ideas to be heard. If an ordinance can be passed, the sheriff pledged to step up patrol during the summer months to get the word out to drivers.
Police chief search
Bentley named GOP chair
Delta city manager David Torgler last week provided an update on the search for a new police chief, at the request of councilmember Christopher Ryan. Charles Kettle has been serving as interim police chief since Robert Thomas left Delta in September 2015. In June, Delta City Council rejected a $10,500 proposal from a professional recruiting firm and directed staff to conduct the search for Thomas’s replacement. Torgler reports that the search is proceeding, although at a slower pace than a professional recruiter would require. The next step is polling police officers, city council members and citizens to determine what attributes, background and experience the city should be looking for. That step is necessary to ensure the next police chief reflects the community’s values. An active search will not begin until that process is completed. “We’re making the best effort we can,” Torgler reported at the Aug. 2 city council meeting.
Roger Bentley has been named chairman of the Delta County Republican Central Committee. Jim Wetzel, who chaired the GOP’s vacancy committee, said the committee reviewed two applications before selecting Bentley. He replaces Linda Sorenson, who resigned after an internal report found she had violated committee bylaws regarding preprimary neutrality. The report was compiled by the party’s accountability committee during an investigation into a post on Sorenson’s Facebook page which was widely critized as offensively racist. Committee members said that while they disagreed with the “share” of that meme, the post did not violate any rules or bylaws and the right of free speech must be protected.