Delta County Independent, Aug. 17, 2016

Page 1

NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

FAIR ROUNDUP

County fair showcases livestock, produce, art, handiwork, B1-12

SPORTS

SUMMER WINDS DOWN

DYNAMIC IN THE WATER

Cruise night, town picnic round out summer activities, C2

Delta swimmer ends the summer with season’s best times, C5

DELTA COUNTY

AUGUST 17, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 33

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Court affirms Delta’s right to compete with DMEA BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

The Colorado Court of Appeals has upheld a district court decision, affirming the City of Delta’s right to provide electrical services in territory previously served by DeltaMontrose Electric Association. The issue arose in September 2012, when Maverik contacted DMEA about plans to build a convenience store at the corner of Highway 50 and Highway 92. A service station and convenience store had previously been located on that site, with electrical service provided by DMEA, although the 21-acre parcel had been annexed into the city in 2006. Maverik paid a $150 deposit to DMEA, but a short time later notified DMEA that it had decided to obtain service from the city instead. According to court documents, DMEA filed action seeking damages and declaratory relief. DMEA claims, in part, that it is owed compen-

sation under state statute. The city filed a motion to dismiss DMEA’s claims, asserting that a municipality operating its own electric utility has a right to compete with a cooperative for service to customers in annexed territories. The district court agreed, and DMEA appealed. The appeals court cited case law which makes it clear that a municipality may compete with a public utility for “new” customers without having to compensate the utility. DMEA responded with the following comment, emailed to the DCI Tuesday morning: “DMEA respectfully disagrees with and is disappointed by the recent Colorado Court of Appeals decision in DMEA v. City of Delta. We are working with our attorneys at Holland & Hart to assess our options and next steps. We believe that longstanding Colorado law requires compensation to electric cooperatives like DMEA in precisely situations such as what exists with the City of Delta.”

Commissioners okay large tax abatement BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer

County assessor Debbie Griffith got BoCC approval for a large tax abatement on a 1,267-acre parcel during the commissioners’ meeting Monday, Aug. 15. The abatement amount was $12,912. By state statute, Griffith explained, any property tax abatement over $10,000 needs BoCC approval before being sent to the state for additional approval. The subject property, located “up Leroux Creek,” was converted from the residential to agricultural use class by the assessor’s office in the first year of ag production. The new owner from Texas who bought the property out of foreclosure began running 100 cow/calf pairs on it and there

was decreed water for it also, Griffith told commissioners. So, the standard three-year ag production requirement for conversion to ag use assessment status is shortened. In other business at its regular meeting on Aug. 15, the BoCC dealt with the following matters: • Commissioners gave an approval for a $44,225 grant from the Western Colorado Community Foundation. The money is to be used at DeltaMontrose Technical College, at Colorado Mesa University, and at Western State Colorado University at Gunnison for the educational benefit of Delta County residents studying there, according to discussion at the commissioners’ meeting. The colleges are expected to COMMISSIONERS TO A3

Kevin Lucy steps down as coroner BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer

Kevin Lucy, Delta County coroner since winning his first term for the position in 2010, has informed the county commissioners that he will resign the post effective on Sept. 2. The letter is dated Aug. 2. Commissioners officially accepted the resignation at their regular meeting on Monday, Aug. 15. Sept. 2 is the cutoff date that allows Lucy’s replacement to be appointed by the county commissioners rather than

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ......................A11 Back Page ................... D6 Business .......................A12 Church ........................... D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Fair Results ............. B4-12 Health & Fitness ........ A8-9 Legals ............................ D3 North Fork Times ......B1-12 Obituaries ....................A10 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................C5-6 Surface Creek News ...C1-6 TV Listings ..................C3-4

placing the position on the November ballot. The BoCC said Monday that letters of interest are being accepted from individuals who want to serve the remainder of Lucy’s current term, his second, which expires January 2019. Lucy recommended that current deputy coroner, Lance Boren, in that position since January, 2011, be appointed interim coroner. Lucy’s letter to the BoCC concludes, “It has been an honor and a privilege to serve [as coroner] for the last six years.”

Photo by Randy Sunderland

No clowning around

The rodeo clown steps in to protect bull rider Conner Rowley during the rodeo at the Delta County Fair Saturday night. This year’s Delta County Fair rodeo was held in partnership with the RimRock Rodeo in Fruita, where Rowley is a regular competitor.

Junior Market Livestock Sale brings in $239,475 A total of 211 market animals and pens and three cheese baskets were offered for sale by 4-H and FFA members at the 2016 Junior Market Livestock Sale, held Saturday, Aug. 13, at the county fair. Sales totaled $239,475.00, including $95,400 for 30 beef animals, averaging $3,180 per head; $5,775 for 13 chicken pens, averaging $444.23 per pen; $42,025 for 62 goats, averaging $677.82 per head; $25,250 for 29 lambs, averag-

ing $879.69 per head; $2,150 for four rabbit pens, averaging $537.50 per pen; $62,031.50 for 66 swine, averaging $981.82 per head; and $3,100 for eight pens of turkeys, averaging $387.50 per pen. Total sales for the cheese basket sale were $1,425 for three baskets, averaging $475 per basket. The Delta County 4-H and FFA members again thank all the supporters of the Junior Market Livestock Sale.

PLACING

Last year a total of 172 market animals were sold, with beef averaging $3,862.32 per head, chickens averaging $441.66 per pen, goats averaging $810.26 per head, lambs averaging $944.44 per head, turkeys averaging $450 per pen and swine averaging $1,286.57 per head. Three pens of rabbits went for $500 each. This year’s fair drew 248 4-H/FFA exhibitors and 287 open class exhibitors.

EXHIBITOR

BUYER

Luke Anderson

JC Propane - Carsten Simmentals Master & Doyle Petroleum

$8,000

Reserve grand champion market beef Erica Anderson Reserve champion - Delta County Bred & Fed

Ahlberg Farms Mountain Fresh Corn

$6,000

Grand champion pen of chickens

Bailey Miller

Hotchkiss Automotive

$800

Reserve grand champion chickens

Logan Green

Delta-Montrose Electric

$700

Grand champion goat

Lola Mitchell

JC Propane - Flower Motor Co.

Reserve grand champion goat Champion - Delta County Bred & Fed

Owen Craig

Delta County Farm and Livestock Bureau

$800

Reserve champion goat Delta County Bred & Fed

Haylin McCulloch

JC Propane

$700

Grand champion lamb

Jessica Craig

West Slope Ag Center

$2,300

Reserve grand champion lamb

Luke Anderson

Hellman Motor Company

$1,600

Champion lamb - Delta County Bred & Fed

Jayden Braslin

Dr. Jennifer Craig

$750

Reserve champion lamb Delta County Bred & Fed

Hailey Lofley

Buyers Pool

$800

Grand champion pen of rabbits

Jazemine Raley

Kwiki Tire Service - Kwiki Tire II

$500

Reserve grand champion pen of rabbits

Trenton Gaston

Tony Spears

$800

Grand champion swine Champion - Delta County Bred & Fed

Lola Mitchell

United Companies

$2,600

Reserve grand champion swine

Lane Stroh

Delta Hardware

$1,750

Reserve champion swine Delta County Bred & Fed

Tawny Roberts

Homestead Meats

$2,100

Grand champion turkey

Charlie Miller

Dr. Jennifer Craig

$600

Reserve grand champion turkey

Liam McCollum

Bolinger & Queen

$450

Grand champion market beef Champion - Delta County Bred & Fed

PRICE

$1,400

Photos of the grand champion and reserve grand champion animals and their exhibitors can be found on page B12 of this week’s issue of the Delta County Independent.

PILT payments increase $2 million

Congressman Scott Tipton has announced that the state of Colorado will receive approximately $35.6 million through the federal Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) program for fiscal year 2016, which is an approximate $2 million increase in funding from fiscal year 2015. Delta County’s share is $577,642 for 404,369 acres. The federal PILT program reimburses local governments for losses in tax revenues that are incurred due to the presence of large expanses of untaxable federal lands. On Nov. 23, 2015, Tipton joined a bipartisan group of his House colleagues in urging House leadership to prioritize funding for the PILT program. In a letter Tipton and his colleagues wrote: “For FY16, the Department of the Interior has estimated $452 million will be necessary to fully fund PILT payments and ensure the federal government upholds its longstanding obligation to counties with public lands. If we fail to fully fund the PILT program by the end of the year, these counties will be unable to provide essential servicess, such as education, law enforcement, search and rescue, road maintenance and public health. Moving forward, we hope Congress can work together to end the ongoing uncertainty our communities face and enact a long-term sustainable solution to fully fund PILT.”

BHRC maintenance Bill Heddles Recreation Center will be closed for annual maintenance beginning Friday, Aug. 26, with the main pool, and continuing Saturday, Aug. 27, with all pools. The basketball courts will be closed both Friday and Saturday for a special event. Then at 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 27, the full facility will be closed and will remain closed through Thursday, Sept. 1. Between Aug. 29 and Sept. 1, front desk staff will be available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for registration and general information only. The entire facility will re-open Friday, Sept. 2.


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