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DELTA COUNTY
JULY 5, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 27
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
City asks citizens to prioritize rec opportunities BY KAMI COLLINS Staff Writer
Photo by Kami Collins
The City of Delta parks department has launched its master plan process for trails, parks and outdoor recreational opportunities. The first step is gathering community input so a prioritized list of projects can be developed. Last week, the city hosted an open house where citizens were able to leave comments about what they loved about the city’s recreational offerings, what needs improvement, and what needs to be created. Comments can still be given to parks staff. In late August, a second open house will be held to reveal the results of last week’s meeting.
The City of Delta’s parks department kicked off a months-long planning process to address future development of parks, trails and recreational opportunities last week with a community open house. The process of gathering community input, drafting a list of potential projects and devising a plan of action will take the rest of the year, said Kristina Kachur, one of the consultants with the firm Logan Simpson from Fort Collins, which has been hired to guide the city through the process. “We’re really happy with Logan Simpson,” said Tony Bohling, the city’s parks department manager. “They’ve been great, and we’re excited to see what they build us.” The firm has been tasked with helping the city to draft a master plan addressing parks, recreation, open space and trails. The master plan will service the city for 10
years, providing a road map for improvements and areas of growth for recreational opportunities within city limits. The master plan will also include a needs assessment of existing facilities. This process is also a community-driven plan, Bohling said. The city has limited funds with which to maintain current recreational facilities; that pool of funding also has to cover new projects. “The city certainly has ideas on how we can spend that money, but it’s more appropriate, as good stewards, to get input from the community on what you want to see us do,” he said. To that end, Logan Simpson has devised a process that aims to get the most community input as possible, and the open house was the first step. Attendees at the event were greeted with a series of posters displayed around the room, which asked questions about current rec opportunities and areas for growth.
Changes loom for Delta museum BY KAMI COLLINS Staff Writer
Changes are on the horizon for the Delta County Historical Society and Museum. Director and curator Jim Wetzel has given the board of directors his notice that he will retire in April 2018, after 20 years on the job. Coupled with declining financial resources, his retirement has caused the board of trustees to look into new ways of operating the museum. “If the trends continue, we’ll be out of money in 10 years,” said Keith Lucy, the chair of the trustees. “We are just looking down the road. We have funding until then, but it’s important to plan for the long term.” When Wetzel was hired, the museum and historical society was able to operate off the interest of an endowment account. The interest paid his salary for the past 12 years or so, but in more recent years, the board has been drawing
off the principle of the fund. “We don’t want to do that,” Wetzel said. Wetzel’s retirement primes the board to move to an allvolunteer model of running the museum and historical society, instead of seeking a new paid staff person. It’s not a new concept: all of the other three museums in Delta County also run off of volunteer support. It’s a little premature to know if the hours or days of operation will be changed at this point, Wetzel said, but he did say that the museum is in no danger of closing. “That’s not going to happen,” he promised. “Everything is stable. The museum is not going away,” Lucy reiterated. What the transition does do is allow the trustees to refocus their efforts to ensure a long term solution. “We can do more fundraising or consider business sponsors,” he said. “The funding is a concern, but we
Jim Wetzel
INDEX
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also look at it as an opportunity for more people to get involved in their museum.” The board of trustees owns everything within the museum, except for the dinosaur exhibit, and if the museum were to shut down, all the materials would have to be donated to other museums. The board doesn’t want to see that happen. Thankfully, museum operations are pretty minimal. The City of Delta owns and maintains the building on 2nd and
Meeker streets that houses the museum, and the city also covers the museum’s utility bills, a relationship that has been ongoing since 1990. “We have good support from the City of Delta,” Wetzel said. Additionally, the museum has about 130 members, who pay anywhere from the $7.50 annual membership fee to the $250 lifetime membership fee. And of course there are daily admission fees, but that adds up to a very small amount, MUSEUM TO A3
Attendees wrote suggestions on the posters. “Tonight, we’re just listening to what people want to see,” Kachur said. “We want to hear all the big ideas.” Those answers will be compiled into a draft of potential projects, conceptual ideas and community priorities. When asked what’s working well for the city’s recreational offerings, citizens wrote that Devil’s Thumb, the large open parks and Confluence Lake were big assets for the community. Having free or low cost recreational opportunities was also noted as something the city is doing well. Both the dog park and the new disc golf course received kudos from citizens. Not surprisingly, the city’s flower program also received praise. The poster asking what improvements need to be made garnered many more responses. Several people wrote comments about wanting more access to water, either through better swimming access at Confluence, more non-motorized water sports available at the lake, the creation of a whitewater park along the river, a splash pad or freestanding water park. Several people also expressed their desire for better play equipment at Cleland Park for children. Specifically, citizens are looking for a larger play area that appeals to kids of all ages, as well as replacing old and worn equipment. Having clean, well-stocked public restrooms open year round was also a common theme. Some parks and fields don’t have any public restrooms, and some city restrooms are closed seasonally. CITY RECREATION TO A3
Delta County, BLM implement fire restrictions Due to extended hot, dry and windy weather, the Delta County Commissioners have placed fire restrictions on all unincorporated portions of Delta County. The fire ban will be enforced until further notice and includes the following restrictions: • For purposes of this order, “open fires” shall be defined as all outdoor fires, including, but not limited to agricultural burning, campfires, warming fires, fused explosives, fireworks of all kinds and brands (except with a permit issued pursuant to state of municipal laws) and the prescribed burning of fence rows, wildlands, trash, and debris, but does not include gas barbecues and charcoal fires in enclosed firepans of permanent fireplace locations. • Also prohibited is the operation of a chainsaw without a USDA or SAE approved spark arresting device properly installed and in effec-
tive working order, and having a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher of not less than eight-ounce capacity by weight, and possessing one large size pointed shovel with an overall length of at least 36 inches. The extinguisher shall be with a chainsaw operator. The shovel may be kept with the fueling supplies but readily available for quick use. While the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests have no fire restrictions for the weekend, the Bureau of Land Management has implemented fire restrictions in Montrose, San Miguel, Ouray, Delta and Gunnison counties. The ban prohibits: • Building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire. ExcepPetroleum-fueled tions: stoves, lanterns or heating devices are allowed, as well as fires in constructed, permanent fire pits or fire grates
within developed recreation sites. • Smoking, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, in a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable material. • The use of fireworks, flares, or other incendiary devices, including exploding targets, are always prohibited on federal lands in Colorado. Holders of valid BLM permits, leases and authorizations are allowed to conduct approved activities, but are advised to take extra precautions to prevent fire starts. For more information, contact the Bureau of Land Management – Uncompahgre Field office 240-5300. To determine current fire restrictions throughout Colorado, please visit the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management website.
Marijuana 4-1-1
Downtown fun
Paddleboarder drowns
The Delta County Sheriff’s Office reminds everyone that commercial distribution of marijuana in Delta County is prohibited by county ordinance. Individuals cultivating marijuana plants for medical or recreational purposes must have their marijuana plants in an enclosed and locked space. Effective Jan. 1, 2018, a bill signed into law by Governor John Hickenlooper places a cap on the number of plants that can be grown on a residential property at 12 plants for both medical and recreational purposes.
Downtown DeltaFest is this Thursday, featuring live music, classic cars, kids’ activities and vendors along Main Street from 5:30 p.m. to dusk. New this month — Smiling Aviation will be bringing an airplane to Main Street. A wicked wing suit will be demonstrated and at about 6:30 p.m., Ultimate Skydiving Adventures will sky dive onto Main (weather permitting). This evening of downtown fun is sponsored by the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce.
On June 27 at approximetly 5:30 p.m., Delta County Dispatch received a report of a possible drowning in Eggleston Lake on the Grand Mesa. Delta sheriff’s deputies, Delta Search and Rescue, Cedaredge Fire, Delta Ambulance and Care Flight responded. Witnesses reported Larry Smith, 44, of Grand Junction had fallen off a paddleboard. One witness and a female companion of the deceased had attempted to get him out of the water but were unsuccessful. With their assistance, DCSAR members were able to locate the deceased and remove him from the water. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as accidental drowning.