NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
UNCONNECTED
Damage to TDS line disrupts phone, internet communication, B1
SPORTS
ALL-AMERICAN EVENT
10th annual Pops in the Park takes listeners in musical tour, C2
DELTA COUNTY
THE BALL’S IN PLAY
Delta soccer team looks to make some noise in 3A conference, B8 SEPTEMBER 14, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 37
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
School enrollment is holding steady BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Fearing the worst, the FY2017 budget for Delta County Joint School District #50 was built around an anticipated drop in enrollment of 100 students. Early indicators, however, show enrollment is surprisingly steady countywide. The preliminary numbers were obtained from PowerSchool records; the official count won’t take place until Oct. 1. Per-pupil funding from the state is based on the official count. Kurt Clay, assistant superintendent, reports that enrollment at the district’s traditional schools is down just five. Cedaredge Elementary School is up 17 students and the
community is up 16 overall. In Paonia, enrollment is down by just one. Hotchkiss saw a big drop, primarily because the incoming eighth grade class is much smaller than the Hotchkiss High School class that graduated last May. In Delta, large kindergarten classes at both Lincoln and Garnet Mesa are driving up student numbers. Clay said each kindergarten class has between 20 and 21 students, compared to 25 or so in the upper elementary levels. Vision Charter Academy anticipates about 420 fulltime students, up from 395 last year. An estimated 250 students attend classes on the Delta campus, where a modular is being moved in to provide additional classrooms.
New business gets county’s go-ahead BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
Economic development efforts in Delta County got a major boost last week as the Board of County Commissioners approved a specific development application by Forgeworks. Forgeworks is a manufacturer of equipment used in the craft brewing industry. The company plans to move its operations from Ridgway and expand into a 24,000-squarefoot building on B-50 Road. Forgeworks general manager Arlan Collatz noticed the
Remembering 9/11
Vision Charter Academy learner Drew Harris gives his father a hug during a service of remembrance Monday at Vision’s Delta campus. An evergreen was planted in remembrance of 9/11, in conjunction with Lee Marts VFW Post #3571. “Today, as we plant this tree, remember those who not only died on that terrible 15-year-ago day in New York, our nation’s capitol and Pennsylvania, but all those patriots who are fighting for our freedom in Iraq, Afghanistan, here in America and around the world,” said Commander Mike Stahly. “Let us recommit ourselves to their cause, the triumph of freedom over tyranny. Let this day always be remembered.” Vision Charter Academy director Willyn Webb (in red) encouraged all the learners to invite a veteran to be honored at the observance. Harris was one of several learners who did just that. Drew received applause when he said his father John, a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, is his hero.
former home of drill rig fabricator Watson-Hopper sitting vacant as he drove through the county one day from Ridgway to Grand Junction. Forgeworks’ business plan calls for establishing its craft beer equipment manufacturing operation and adding a line of architectural hardware like custom hinges and doors to its activities. The company also plans BY HANK LOHMEYER to conduct seminars on craft Staff Writer beer making and it hopes to An observance on the 15th get a liquor license to sell anniversary of the 9/11 attacks small batches of its on-site was held in Delta Sunday as a made brews. new memorial was dedicated
Lee Marts VFW Post holds 9/11 remembrance
City council gets an urban renewal ‘refresher’ BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck provided an “urban renewal refresher” for members of the Delta City Council on Sept. 2. Carolynne White and Caitlin Quander, associates of the law firm, explained urban renewal is primarily intended to prevent and eliminate slums and blight — not to fund economic development, create jobs or increase tax revenue. But, they added, elimination of slum and blight through redevelopment almost always results in economic development, job creation and increased tax revenue. That’s the goal of the City of Delta, Region 10 and Delta County Economic Development, as the entities begin implementing a strategic plan developed by consultants from Better City. An urban renewal authority is one way to fund public improvements in the hope of attracting private investment.
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................. D12 Bruin Tracks ................C3-6 Business ........................ A8 Church ........................... D8 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-6 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone .................. A5 Service Directory ...... D11 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-7 TV Listings ............... D9-10
Photo by Pat Sunderland
The Denver-based law firm has been contracted to provide expertise as the city moves to revitalize the Delta Urban Renewal Authority that was created in 1985. The original scope of work centered on the downtown area, but future plan areas are expected to include the property eyed for a riverfront hotel/conference center near the intersection of Highways 50 and 92. White and Quander explained that DURA’s boundaries are the same as the city’s, but within those boundaries multiple areas can be designated for improvement. They said the word “blight” can be applied broadly to 14 different criteria, including deteriorated structures as well as inadequate public improvements or utilities; environmental contamination of buildings or property; and defective or inadequate street layout. “The principal purpose of an urban renewal plan is to attract private investment, to get the private sector to
do the things you want done within the plan area,” White explained. “While URA has authority to issue bonds and build public, or even private, improvements, the whole purpose isn’t that the URA is going to do everything — it’s that you’re going to do enough to attract the private sector to do it.” Tax increment financing is one of the tools an urban renewal authority can use to finance bonds. This type of financing requires buy-in from the county, school district and other taxing entities that agree to give up the property and/or sales tax generated by the new development. The “increment” is pooled to fund rehabilitation. Because those taxing entities have a stake in the new development, state statute requires they be represented on the urban renewal authority board. In addition to the five council members, who currently serve as the DURA board members, any new plan URBAN RENEWAL TO A3
City, Stantec reach agreement Stantec Consulting Services and the City of Delta have mutually agreed to drop claims and counterclaims surrounding design work on the city’s alternate truck route. The city filed civil action in August 2015, claiming project deficiencies cost the city time and money. Stantec filed a counterclaim seeking unpaid fees and the case ended up before a mediator in Glenwood Springs. According to a settlement agreement approved by Delta City Council Sept. 6, the parties have mutually decided to avoid further costs, inconvenience and the uncertainty of litigation by dropping the matter. No money will change hands. A stipulation to dismiss with prejudice Delta’s claims against Stantec and Stantec’s counterclaims against the city will be filed with the District Court. Fault and liability are expressly denied by each party.
at the Lee Marts VFW Post home. The memorial is a chain saw carving of the Soldier’s Cross – also called a Battle Cross, Fallen Soldier Battle Cross or Battlefield Cross. The poignant assemblage is comprised of a soldier’s boots, rifle and helmet that are placed at the site of a fallen comrade’s final battle. According to an online authority, a tradition of assembling a lost comrade’s gear in this manner began with the American Civil War, or possibly earlier. The prac-
tice served as a way to identify bodies on the battle field before removal for burial. The wooden memorial was carved from a tree stump with a chain saw by an individual in fulfillment of a community service obligation. In addition to dedication of the Soldier’s Cross Memorial, the Post and Auxiliary added the first 10 engraved brick pavers to its military service flag display on Highway 50 at H-38 Road. The bricks have been purchased out of respect to honor, or in some cases 9/11 REMEMBRANCE TO A6
Walkaway offender quickly apprehended COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS PRESS RELEASE Delta Police Department apprehended a Colorado Department of Corrections work crew offender within an hour of being reported missing. On Monday, Sept. 12, offender Ray Butler, age 55, was assigned to the Delta City Work Crew, working at the city cemetery. At approximately 2:05 p.m., the city crew notified the Delta Correctional Center that Offender Butler could not be accounted for. Staff from the Delta Correctional Facility notified the Delta Police Department and the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office. Working within their
protocols, the Delta Police Department immediately notified the local schools and advised them to shelter in place. A Delta police officer patrolling the area observed a pedestrian acting suspiciously in 700 block of Highway 50. When the officer attempted to stop the man for questioning, the man fled over a fence into a salvage yard. At approximately 2:43 p.m. the suspect was apprehended and identified as Ray Butler. Within 30 minutes of the schools being advised to lockdown, they were notified that the offender was in custody and they could resume normal WALKAWAY TO A3
School board finalizes policy
At a work sesssion last week, the Delta County School Board finalized the process for making noncurricular materials available through district and school websites. Flyers for student activities approved by the building principal will be uploaded onto the school website and will also be available in the office. The single-page flyers can be posted by building secretaries using Alert Solutions. They are automatically deleted after a week. Noncurricular materials to be distributed districtwide are limited to three pages in length and must be approved by the school district leadership team. That information will be available on the school district website. School board members believe the district website will be more useful, while communication is improved with parents and the community.