NORTH FORK TIMES
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Funds sought to support the artists of the North Fork Valley, B1
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Readers’ choices for “The Best of Delta County” spotlighted, Inside
DELTA COUNTY
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Football, volleyball teams begin postseason play, C6-8 NOVEMBER 2, 2016 VOL. 133, NO. 44
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Property owners weigh in on city utility changes gized for not involving property owners in the discussion from the beginning. The change in the city’s municipal code was intended to address cases where tenants move out of a rental unit without paying for electricity, water, sewer and other services provided by the city. The change would have placed the burden for collecting utilities directly on the landlord. But the landlords insisted the city is never left holding the bag for those utilities, because they themselves will pay the bill if necessary. Glammeyer agreed the city is not out any money, but is incurring “soft” costs for the staff time required to read the meters for tenants moving in
and out. Shut-off notices, termination of service and reinstatement of service all add to labor costs. “We will continue to get paid [for the cost of the utilities] either through the property owner or a lien on the property,” he said. “We get made whole on the utility bill one way or another. It just takes us many months to do it the way it currently is.” Several landlords at the Oct. 18 council meeting said the city has never had to place liens on their property because they always pay the overdue bills. “The city is not having to spend money to collect from our tenants,” insisted John Vigil, who manages the Windsors with his wife. “The city has not lost a dime from any of us,” he said, speaking for
DCED investors urged to seize the momentum
UTILITY CHANGES TO A3
BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
A proposal to make landlords responsible for utility costs, not the tenant as is currently the case, has drawn strong objections from owners of rental property in the City of Delta. After objections were raised during the Oct. 18 city council meeting, utilities/public works director Steve Glammeyer, city manager David Torgler and other staff members sat down with the owners of rental units to discuss their concerns. In the end, Glammeyer said he would withdraw the recommended change and “start a conversation” about reinstating a $75 utility deposit. He also apolo-
BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
As Delta County and municipalities are drafting budgets for 2017, Delta County Economic Development is urging all its public partners to increase their investment in economic development efforts. “If you think there is a need to improve the private sector economy, you need to step up now,” Tom Huerkamp told Delta council members last week. “I don’t think we’ve ever had the opportunity that’s in front of us ... we’ve got a lot of people working and pulling for us to make
things happen.” Huerkamp, DCED board vice president, and Trish Thibodo, executive director, urged Delta City Council to make the most of that momentum by increasing the city’s 2017 investment from $25,000 to $35,000. Never before have state and federal entities such as the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade or the U.S. Economic Development Administration shown such a keen interest in Delta County, the DCED representatives say. “We’re building a lot of DCED TO A3
BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
The Board of County Commissioners met with staff on Monday in a special session to refine final comments on the BLM’s Uncompahgre Field Office (UFO) Draft Resource Management Plan — comments which will re-emphasize the doctrine of multiple use as the basis of the county’s position on public lands. During the discussion Monday, Commissioner Doug
Photo by Tamie Meck
Democratic Senator Michael Bennet, state representative Millie Hamner and Third Congressional District candidate Gail Schwartz paid a visit Friday to Delicious Orchards in Paonia as part of Bennet’s campaign tour. About 150 people came out for the event. In introducing Bennet, who is seeking re-election against Republican challenger Darryl Glenn, Delicious Orchards owner Jeff Schwartz called “sustainable agriculture, sustainable community, and a sustainable economy and sustainable growth. They’re significant issues and these guys understand it,” he said.
INDEX
Costumed children, adults and even some pets paraded up one side of Delta’s Main Street and down the other, collecting Halloween treats from merchants on Monday. At the curb in front of Bank of the West, the Colorado State Patrol and Delta County Ambulance District also dished out candy.
BoCC sees multiple use as key to public lands
Campaign swing
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Agriculture .....................B5 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................B6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone ................B7-8 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ..........................C6-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ..................C4-5
Candy crush
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Atchley noted, “Multiple use is the key, and that includes mining. We should approach this from a multiple use perspective.” He added that a “tremendous amount of input” had been received on the draft document. During their Monday session, commissioner comments leaned toward the county favoring Alternative C of the draft plan. In materials provided by the UFO, Alternative C’s “appropriate and allowable uses and restrictions would emphasize maximizing utilization of resources, while mitigating impacts on land and earth.” Commissioners offered a few final suggestions and specific guidance to county administrator Robbie LeValley, and to oil/gas designee Bruce Bertram for finalizing the county’s letter to BLM. Commissioner Mark Roeber said, “I would agree with what Doug [Atchley] said. The goal is to reiterate multiple use in our comments, more in line with Alternative C to take in all multiple uses.” Commissioner Bruce Hovde said he prefers the BLM’s Alternative C for its handling of water contamination issues. Roeber also commented that the county received a lot of comment from people favoring multiple use “except for” certain uses. It is possible that a land parcel could be leased for energy exploration and then never be developed, he noted. The county should “provide the opportunity” and not be making the final parcel specific decision. He said there are a lot of questions about the development and use of coal bed methane that aren’t answered yet. “Coal
bed methane looks to be a viable source [of energy] in the future.” Atchley said, “It is my understanding that developing coal bed methane requires an oil and gas lease.” He said it should be preserved as an energy source. In addition, “Mineral rights are property rights. There are mineral rights owners in Delta County and the process should not exclude them,” Atchley added. Commissioner Bruce Hovde noted the coal bed methane project at Oxbow’s former mine site and added that some estimates state that using methane gas as fuel in an electric generation station produces 22 times less environmental impact than direct venting. Commissioners added thoughts about the Adobe Badlands Wilderness Study Area north of Delta. The BoCC has proposed that it revert to normal public lands administration. Adobe Badlands has been determined “not suitable” for wilderness by the BLM itself. The commissioners noted that it is being used for recreation now with perhaps hundreds of single-track and OHV trails already in existence there. Hikers and horseback riders also use the area, they said. Earlier in the day on Monday during a work session, representatives of Citizens for a Healthy Community and Western Slope Conservation Center made a scheduled presentation to the BoCC on their views of the BLM’s draft plan. The draft RMP is intended to become the governing management document for DRAFT RMP TO A3
Human remains found
Election winds down
On Saturday, Oct. 29, hunters in the Sawmill Mesa area of the Uncompahgre Plateau west of Montrose reported finding what they believed to be human remains. Montrose County Sheriff’s personnel were led to the location and confirmed the remains were human. On Oct. 30, sheriff’s deputies and members of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Posse returned and found several bones and items of clothing during a search of the area. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with the Montrose County Coroner’s Office of Medical Investigations, is conducting the investigation. The identity of the remains are pending and no further information is available at this time.
The Colorado Secretary of State reports that as of Tuesday, Nov. 1, 7,497 ballots had been returned in Delta County — 3,958 from Republicans, 1,597 from Democrats, 1,848 from unaffiliated voters and the remainder from other parties. Those who have yet to cast their ballots have several options. Ballots may be returned by U.S. mail (affix a 47¢ stamp), or drop them in a 24-hour ballot box at the Delta County Courthouse, Cedaredge Library or North Fork Annex. Polling centers are located in the county courthouse and at the North Fork Annex. Both are open Monday-Friday and until 7 p.m. Election Day. In addition, the polling center at the courthouse will be open Saturday, Nov. 5, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Election Day only, a polling center will be located at Orchard City Town Hall from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Voters may also drop off ballots at the Paonia Town Hall and the Crawford Town Hall, only on Election Day. Please be advised the clerk’s office will be closed for motor vehicle and recording transactions on Nov. 8 to dedicate all personnel to election duties.