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SURFACE CREEK NEWS
NORTH FORK TIMES
GIVING BACK
Garden club members beautify Horizons, Welcome Center, C1
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HEADLINE
SUMMER FUNDRAISER
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Delta Rotary Club’s annual golf tournament draws 23 teams, B7-8
DELTA COUNTY
JUNE 14, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 24
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
City broadband nears completion BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
As middle-mile broadband installation in the City of Delta nears completion, the Delta City Council has finalized a number of service agreements/fiber exchanges with Region 10, DMEA and Elevate Fiber. According to Glen Black, community development director, equipment installation and testing of fiber to the carrier neutral location should be finished by the end of the month. The activation, or lighting, of the fiber will be marked by a ribbon-cutting celebration. The carrier neutral location is situated in the city’s ML&P building. Region 10 will lease the space from the city for $1 a year, and will own and operate the equipment that will serve as a point of origin for the internet service providers, or ISPs, that will offer lastmile service to residents and businesses. Three to five ISPs are seen as optimal for a city of Delta’s size. The city has reserved the right to provide broadband
service if those ISPs are not meeting the needs of residents and businesses by providing affordable, reliable, high speed internet services. The city’s goal is not to compete with those ISPs, but to create a competitive environment that is beneficial for all consumers. Although the playing field must be level for all interested ISPs, city officials noted DMEA’s Elevate Fiber has “risen to the top” as a quality provider of last-mile services. A memorandum of understanding between Region 10, DMEA and Elevate Fiber clarifies an understanding that DMEA’s Elevate Fiber will consider, but not yet commit to, fiber installation to every premise within the city limits. DMEA has also reportedly submitted a letter of intent to acquire Deeply Digital, which would allow it to expand beyond its service territory. At a recent city council work session, Michelle Haynes, executive director of Region 10, said as the regional broadband project has unfolded, BROADBAND TO A3
Fishing is ‘solid’
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Although all the lakes on Grand Mesa are ice-free, forested areas continue to be “heavily, heavily” snow covered, limiting hiking and camping opportunities, the Grand Mesa Visitor Center reports. Only Jumbo campground is officially open, and while GMUG officials hoped to open the Island Lake campground this week, those plans may be delayed a few days due to Monday’s windstorm, which brought down a lot of trees and branches. Fishing is reported to be “solid,” with stocking taking place at Ward Creek Reservoir, Ward Lake, Baron, Alexander, Eggleston and Trickle Park. For the latest updates, contact the Grand Mesa Visitor Center at 856-4153.
Commissioners, GMUG eye forest plan BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
The Delta County commissioners met on Monday with GMUG officials to discuss the forest management plan revision process that the Forest Service announced earlier this month. Delta County’s policy on public lands is one of strong support for the doctrine of multiple use, and commissioners took the opportunity to emphasize that point once again on Monday. Commissioner Doug Atchley told the Forest Service representatives that because of the large amount of public lands in Delta County “the decisions you make have a dramatic impact on our county’s economy.” Attending the session were GMUG forest supervisor Scott Armentrout, forest planner Samantha Staley, and Paonia District ranger Levi Broyles. They laid out a proposed three-year-long plan for developing a new forest management plan. Armentrout sketched out a forest plan revision process that would be completed quickly. “No one would think of three years being quick. But it is quick in terms of forest planning,” he told commissioners. The last attempt at revision of the GMUG’s 1983 forest plan “took too long,” Armentrout said. As the plan was being written, changes in forest uses, in lands policies, and in politics took place. Just as the lengthy plan revision process was concluded,
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture ................... C6 Back Page ................... D6 Business ........................ A6 Church ........................... D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ............................ D3 North Fork Times ........B1-6 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone .................. A7 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................B7-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-6 TV Listings ..................C3-4
a 2007 federal court decision invalidated the Forest Service planning rule that had been used as basis for the document, and it has been sitting in administrative limbo ever since. Also since that time, forest use has increased. OHVs and dispersed camping have both become increasingly popular. Spruce beetle has invaded the GMUG, and recreational festivals have increased. Armentrout said he wants to conduct “purpose driven meetings” that will speed up the plan revision process — a process that will use and build upon information gathered in the last forest plan process. He said he is looking for “broad stakeholder participation.” As outlined for commissioners, the process will include open houses in all eight of the major GMUG land base counties. Two other counties have smaller portions of GMUG managed lands. County administrator Robbie LeValley noted the county was a major participant in the last forest plan revision and asked if additional data gathering would be required this time around. Armentrout explained the large database of information from the last attempt at a revision will be updated as needed, with the county’s help. The GMUG has other work on its agenda as well. Staff positions need to be filled, a major remodeling project at the Delta headquarters will be taking place, and in order to expedite the forest revision
process, GMUG planners are considering work on oil and gas policy documents separate from the forest plan. Armentrout said an online newsletter will track the revision process. The GMUG’s online site posted the following notice recently:
“The GMUG is finally starting its plan revision. The notice of intent to initiate assessments was published June 2, officially beginning the planning process. For now, our team is sifting through information to get a picture of current conditions
and trends on the forests. This summer, we’ll host a series of public open houses and webinars so we can hear from the public about what’s working, and what’s not working In the fall, we will publish our draft assessments for more feedback.”
Delta City Council denies de-annexation of remote parcel BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
On a split vote, Delta City Council approved a disconnection from the city late last year. With a similar request before them June 6 — and fearing even more applications — members unanimously denied a de-annexation request from a neighboring property owner. In November, Delta City Council voted 3-1 to allow Wayne Gines to disconnect his propery at 863 1400 Lane from the City of Delta. His property, and that owned by current applicant Carl Wood, was annexed in 2002 as part of the Westend Addition. The only city service they receive is water. Like Gines, Wood said he never wanted to be annexed into the city to begin with. Both properties are on the northern boundary of city limits and are adjacent to BLM land. Both are accessed by 1400 Lane, which is a private drive. Wood said when his property was annexed, he believed
2018 grad dates under discussion
The Delta County School Board is taking a close look at 2018 graduation dates in light of feedback from the community. This year, all four graduation ceremonies were scheduled on Sunday, May 21 — two at 1 p.m. and two at 4 p.m. A petition from 50 individuals, primarily from the North Fork area, cited conflicts with Sunday worship services. In addition, some family members felt they had to choose between graduation ceremonies that took place at the same time. At a school board work session June 9, two school board members said they would like to move graduation ceremonies off the weekend entirely, to address those concerns as well as avoid state baseball and state track competitions, which conflict with Saturday ceremonies. School board members briefly discussed holding graduation on consecutive weekday evenings during the week ending May 25, the last day of school. The matter will be discussed with building principals before a decision is finalized.
the city made several promises, including road maintenance. The police don’t patrol the road to his house, and he doesn’t have sewer service. “I don’t feel like there’s any reason for me to be in the city unless you want to provide those things,” he said. He said he also objects to living under city rules that don’t apply to agricultural properties in unincorporated areas of the county. “It’s difficult for us to live under your rules out there in the middle of nowhere,” he told the council. “I personally don’t believe chopping up the city limits and de-annexing property is conducive to what we have planned,” said council member Ron Austin. “Then provide us services. Give me sewer and give me a road and I’ll be glad not to get out.” Wood added, “We’re way out of the way. It’s going to be a long time before there’s any development out there, whether it’s housing or new roads.” While owners of remote
parcels of land may not feel they benefit from being in the city, city manager David Torgler said it’s probably not in the city’s best interest to have a hole between the city and BLM land. He agreed city services may be limited because of the remoteness of the property, but he assured Wood the police would respond if there was an emergency. Police chief Luke Fedler chimed in. “Our patrols may not get to you, because you’re the last house on the road, but I promise you 1400 Lane is patrolled more than you might realize.” When questioned by the council, community development director Glen Black said two other remote parcels, in addition to Gines’, have been disconnected from the city. Council members began to envision one property, then another, de-annexing from the city. “I can’t in good conscience agree to that,” Austin said. “When you start something like this, you find it doesn’t end,” said council member Bill Raley.
16-year-old dies in accident According to the Colorado State Patrol, alcohol is suspected in an accident that killed a 16-year-old Delta girl and injured three others June 11. The accident occurred on Highway 65 just a short distance from the Highway 92 intersection at about 1:35 a.m. Ra Do, 23, was driving a 2008 Nissan Sentra southbound on Highway 65 when his vehicle traveled off the right side of the road and hit a fence, then the embankment of a ditch. The vehicle came to rest on its wheels. Two of the accident victims were airlifted to St. Mary’s, including Tee Kue, 16, who died at the hospital. The other passengers were Soe Do, 25, who sustained moderate injuries, and Ma Ngea, 22, who suffered serious injuries. Both women are from Delta. Ra Do was transported to Delta County Memorial Hospital with serious injuries. Charges are pending.