Delta County Independent, March 8, 2017

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NORTH FORK TIMES STATE-OF-THE-ART SYSTEM

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

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Take a look inside Paonia’s new water treatment plant, B3

FOCUS ON BUSINESS Delta

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Local businesses are in the spotlight, Inside

DELTA COUNTY

SPORTS EAGLES SOAR

Paonia girls, boys advance to final round of basketball playoffs, B8 MARCH 8, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 10

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INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Grant sought for DMS construction BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

A grant application that would have funded an addition to Delta Middle School did not receive priority from the Colorado Department of Education, but has been placed in the “backup” category. Delta County Joint School District #50 submitted an application for a Building Excellent Schools Today (BEST) grant in the amount of $11.3 million, pledging a matching contribution of $3.4 million for the Delta Middle School project. Previously,

the school district leveraged BEST funds for construction at Cedaredge and Garnet Mesa elementary schools. The matching contribution is about 23 percent of the total project estimate of $14.7 million. That strategy was successful for Cedaredge Elementary School, but may be one reason Delta Middle School did not rank higher in this grant cycle. Typically, explained assistant school superintendent Kurt Clay, BEST grants require a 55 percent matching contribution. “I think that’s why we were denied, so now the backup

plan is to look at how to come up to 55 percent, or $8 million. We have to figure out whether we go to the voters for that other piece, or try to get a loan, or certificate of participation, as we did with

the Cedaredge building. We do know that Delta Middle School improvements are a high priority.” To address both facility needs and security issues, the school district proposes

demolishing the cafeteria and sixth grade wing at DMS. The current building would be enlarged to accommodate the cafeteria, music and band rooms (which are located DMS GRANT TO A3

SH 92 access is under review BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer

A conceptual overview of the process that will eventually produce a highway access control plan (ACP) for Highway 92 across Rogers Mesa was presented at the county commissioners’ meeting on Monday, March 6. Stolfus and Associates, the traffic engineering firm that last year completed a highway access plan for the Highway 50/92 corridor at Delta, will be working on the access plan for the Highway 92 corridor from Hidden Springs to the grade crossing just west of Hotchkiss. Tentative completion date for the ACP is November. Present for the commissioners’ session were several CDOT officials, county road and engineering staff, and some residents of the corridor area. As Stolfus is set to begin work on the ACP, CDOT is also set to begin design and engineering for road improvement construction through the corridor. CDOT officials

reported on Monday that the agency is scheduled to allocate $400,000 beginning July for engineering and design work on their project. Road and traffic improvements to Highway 92 are currently ranked as the number two priority transportation project in the Gunnison Valley region. The project has been strongly supported by the county commissioners for years. Actual construction is still seen a number of years in the future. The Stolfus ACP will deal with a number of issues, including the 152 access points to the highway along its four-mile route across Rogers Mesa, commissioners were told. Stolfus is interested in an access concept that will provide no more than one access to any property. The traffic engineers will be looking for places where adjoining properties can share an access in order to reduce the total number of access points to Highway 92, a goal that is considered key to improving SH 92 ACCESS TO A3

Ordinance would allow OHV use BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer

On Monday, March 6, the county commissioners had first reading of a proposed ordinance that would allow and regulate the use of offhighway vehicles on county roads. Assistant county attorney John Baier told the commissioners the ordinance will be published in the DCI on March 15. The second reading will take place April 3, and if adopted at that time, the ordinance would become effective April 17. Commissioners were told that copies of the ordinance are available to the public, and county administrator Robbie LeValley said

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ......................A11 Agriculture .....................C8 Back Page ................... D8 Bruin Tracks ................C3-6 Business .......................A12 Church ........................... D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ....................A10 School Zone .................. A8 Sports ........................B8-11 Surface Creek News ...C1-7 TV Listings ..................B6-7

it would be posted on the county website. The proposed ordinance provides for rules, restrictions, violations, enforcement and penalties pertaining to use of the popular OHV vehicles on Delta County roads. Text of the ordinance notes that county roads are already multi-use infrastructure accessed by travelers using foot, horseback, bicycle, motorcycle, automobile and other motor vehicles. “Authorizing the operation of OHVs on county roads in a safe and prudent manner supports the promotion of economic development within Delta County,” states the ordinance.

Photo by Pat Sunderland

School board members Jill Jurca, Ron Germann and Tammy Smith tour the sixth grade wing of Delta Middle School with principal Jenn Ervin, superintendent Caryn Gibson and maintenance supervisor John McHugh (not pictured). The school district is pursuing a BEST grant for replacement of the wing, which was built in 1965.

CEO: DCMH is ‘vulnerable,’ but not at risk of closing BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Recent media reports have placed Delta County Memorial Hospital on the “critical condition” list, but CEO Jason Cleckler says the hospital is in no danger of closing. In January, Steven Summer, president and CEO of the Colorado Hospital Association, was quoted in the Denver Post, saying as many as eight Colorado hospitals “could have sustainability problems” if the Affordable Care Act is repealed without a similar replacement. While the Republicans released their plan for redefining the Affordable Care Act this week, legislators at the state level wrangle over the hospital provider fee. Cleckler is watching all the state and federal developments very closely. “The Colorado Hospital Association has come out and said eight hospitals are vulnerable to potential closure this year,” he said. “The reason is finances, but I will tell you DCMH is not one of those.” Several of those eight hospitals are extremely small, he said, with 50 or fewer admissions a year; DCMH can see 50 admissions in three to four days. Those hospitals also lack the reserves DCMH has been able to build up over the years. “I will admit we are vulner-

Avoid waiting for blood work Avoid the waiting lines at the upcoming health fairs and register online at deltahospital.org through March 12. Just click on health fair registration and hot link to the Western Health Screenings registration site to set an appointment for blood work. Walk-ins are welcome, but may have to wait for those with appointments. The health fairs take place in Paonia Wednesday, March 15, at the DMTC building, 6:30 to 10 a.m.; in Delta Thursday, March 16, at Bill Heddles Recreation Center, 6:30 to 11 a.m.; and in Cedaredge Friday, March 17, at the Civic Center, 6:30 to 10 a.m. In addition to blood draws, the health fairs will offer free blood pressure screenings. The health fair in Delta on March 16 will feature information and giveaways from about 25 vendors offering health-related services.

able, but DCMH is not at risk of closing in the coming year,” Cleckler said. That being said, rural hospitals across the state are facing some serious challenges, from the expansion of Medicaid to the uncertainty surrounding the legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act. But one of the biggest factors affecting DCMH is the hospital provider fee, which is administered by the state and which has become highly politicized. Cleckler explains all hospitals in the state of Colorado pay a fee to the state. The state draws a dollar-for-dollar federal match that is used to cover the uninsured by expanding eligibility for Medicaid and CHP+. The provider fee also increases the amount that providers are reimbursed for treating patients enrolled in Medicaid or the Colorado Indigent Care Program. These funds provide a “safety net” for rural hospitals like DCMH, helping maintain care in the community, providing assurances for potential health care providers, and covering the cost of providing care for the uninsured. Urban hospitals like Denver Health, which cares for a large population of uninsured, also rely on the hospital provider fee. But because of TABOR restrictions, the state has had to look at cutting income, and

the hospital provider fee has been an easy target. DCMH once received close to $2 million a year; now it’s looking at $700,000 to $800,000. “Yet we’re still paying into the hospital provider fee,” Cleckler said. The hospital is still on the plus side of the equation, but barely, Cleckler said. While DCMH has “taken a wise path to create reserves,” the diminishing hospital provider fee is creating a challenge, and if the cuts continue beyond a year, “each year will just become increasingly more difficult for us.” Rural hospitals are not only critical to the health and well-being of their residents, they’re also anchor institutions within the community. With 625 employees and a $31 million payroll, DCMH is the largest employer in Delta County. Access to quality health care is a top priority for families, retirees and businesses looking to relocate to an area. The Affordable Care Act has brought some stability to DCMH, and Cleckler is concerned that potential cuts to Medicaid could drive up the number of uninsured. One of the positive aspects of the Affordable Care Act, he said, is that more people are insured. At DCMH, the number of self-pays and those without insurance has dropped from 10 to 11 percent down to 2.25 DCMH TO A3

DPD, bomb squad respond

On the morning of March 3, law enforcement officers from the Delta Police Department, Delta County Sheriff’s Office and the Colorado Department of Corrections (Parole) conducted a home visit at the residence of Alexander Fultz, 22, at 208 E. 5th Street in the City of Delta. During the visit and subsequent investigation, a handgun, ammunition, suspected heroin, suspected marijuana, explosive components and drug paraphernalia were located inside the residence. Fultz was transported to the Delta County Jail where he was placed on a parole hold. Seth Brave, 21, who was also at the residence, was arrested on two outstanding/active warrants. The Grand Junction Police Department bomb squad responded to the residence and took possession of the explosive component. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) was also contacted in regards to the items located. This case is still under investigation and charges are pending.


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