NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
LABOR DAY BLAZE
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FINE FINALE´
Gusty winds down power lines, cause brush fire, B1
DESERT RUN
Vocalists pass the mike at chapel concert series finalé, C1-3
DELTA COUNTY
Devil’s Thumb Hill Climb puts cross-country runners to the test, B5 SEPTEMBER 6, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 36
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50J poised for burst of construction activity BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Delta County Joint School District #50 is embarking on three major construction projects — the relocation of the district office from Read to downtown Delta, renovation of the former Chaco building and an addition to Delta Middle School. In May, the school district approved a lease-purchase agreement for the acquisition of the former Bank of Colorado building at the corner of 4th and Palmer. A subsequent building inspection revealed the presence of asbestos, and negotiations were continued as the school district sought concessions from the seller to help with the cost of remediation. An updated lease-purchase agreement was final-
The building is currently occupied by Delta County Economic Development. Some Region 10 programs were also offered in the building. There will be few changes to the exterior of the building, Ventrello said. Inside, the teller line will be converted into offices, and the offices along the east wall will be reconfigured to include a large meeting room. A small reception area is also planned. The future of the current district office — once the Read School — is under discussion. Ventrello said a market analysis has been done on the property, but a sale would require relocation of the district warehouse. During a work session Aug. 17, school board members discussed whether hiring a
ized in August. John McHugh, the school district’s facilities supervisor, said he will be developing an asbestos abatement plan and filing for a demolition permit while remodeling plans are finished. Because the building is owned by the school district, a building permit must be obtained from the state, not the city. The asbestos abatement plan must be included in the application for a building permit. Jim Ventrello, school district business manager, said it’s likely no construction activity will take place for six to eight weeks. Initially, he said, the school district had hoped to move into the new offices over Christmas break, but spring may prove more realistic.
general contractor would be advisable, given all the other projects facing the school district. In conjunction with Delta County Economic Development, the City of Delta and Delta County, the school district has obtained a Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) grant for engineering and design of the TCR (Technical College of the Rockies) ENGAGE Center in the former Chaco building. In the meantime, scatteredsite programming will be developed, to demonstrate the
concept behind the ENGAGE Center, which combines job force creation/training, business incubation (including a commercial kitchen) and specialized resources for ag and energy. Additional grants are being pursued for the initial phase of renovation, and for a coordinator to pull all the moving parts together. School district officials said they’re feeling confident about the threeyear, $680,000 Economic Development Authority grant for operations. 50J CONSTRUCTION TO A3
DURA pursues mediation BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Following a lengthy executive session devoted to negotiations with legal counsel, the Delta Urban Renewal Authority last week rejected the property tax increment revenue agreements proposed by the Delta County Fire District and the Delta County Mosquito Control District. Both taxing entities sent back intergovernmental agreements with zero entered in the amount of property tax increment to be dedicated to the proposed riverfront development in the city of Delta. Those amounts were estimated at $6,061 for the fire district and $5,627 for the mosquito control district in 2019. Those amounts decline slightly every year over the 25-year life of the agreement. DURA board member Don Suppes said he cast the sole “no” vote on the fire and mos-
quito control district votes because he knows the next step is mediation, which could prove costly to all parties involved, and ultimately to the taxpayers. City officials have also wanted to avoid any hard feelings that might result. Delta city manager David Torgler said special counsel Carolynne White will be contacting the fire and mosquito control districts to advise them that the DURA will be initiating mediation. According to state statute, a mediator may be jointly selected by the parties. If they are unable to agree on one individual, DURA will select a mediator, the other party will select a second, and the two mediators will then select a third mediator. The mediator has 90 days in which to determine the appropriate sharing of incremental property tax revenues, taking into account the nature of the project, the
Sheriff to retire; Taylor seeks office BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
After a 37-year career in law enforcement, including 15 years as Delta County undersheriff and 16 years as Delta County sheriff, Fred McKee has decided he will not seek another term in office. His current fouryear term ends in January 2019. “It’s been a wonderful career,” McKee said. Undersheriff Mark Taylor announced his intention to run for the office of sheriff at the Delta County Republicans’central committee meeting Tuesday night. “It has been my pleasure to have worked for the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office for the Mark
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture ................... C7 Back Page ................... D6 Back Page ................... D6 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries .................. A6-7 School Zone .................. A6 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ................. D4-5
past 29 years,” Taylor said. “I am committed to upholding the longstanding tradition of excellence that has elevated the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office to one of the most respected law enforcement agencies in the state.” A graduate of the Criminal Justice Academy at Delta-Montrose Technical College, Taylor joined the Delta County Sheriff ’s Office as a patrol deputy in 1989. He was promoted to patrol sergeant and then assigned as an undercover drug investigator for the 7th Judicial District Drug Task Force. In January 2003 he was appointed undersheriff to SheriffTaylor elect Fred McKee.
benefits of the project, and any capital or operating costs that are expected to result from the project. The cost of mediation must be split equally among the parties. The school district, library district, hospital district and ambulance district have agreed to give up 100 percent of their property tax increment for the project. DURA will continue negotiations with Delta County through a 30-day extension period that ends Sept. 20. County officials have said they’re asked to become the biggest contributor to the project, but they have just one seat on the DURA board. They’re asking for a second seat, as well as modification to the plan boundaries.
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Officials from the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade were interested to hear from Trish Thibodo, executive director of Delta County Economic Development Inc., how the vacant Chaco building is to be transformed into the ENGAGE Center to support innovation with a special emphasis on ag and energy. The building was recently purchased by Technical College of the Rockies, formerly Delta-Montrose Technical College, which will use the facility for business entrepreneurship courses, drafting and, if visions of a commercial kitchen come true, culinary arts. The building will also house entities that support business development, including Delta County Economic Development and Region 10.
Houghton and associate arrested after pursuit in Utah BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Fred Houghton IV, 29, of Cedaredge successfully eluded law enforcement officers in Delta County for days. His luck ran out in Utah on Wednesday, Aug. 30, but not before another foot pursuit and additional school lockdowns. The St. George News reports that while on patrol, a Utah Highway Patrol trooper attempted to make a vehicle stop in Parowan for a seat belt violation. This turned into a chase as the SUV to be stopped sped off. In Parowan Canyon, the SUV came to a washed out road and the occupants, a male driver and a female passenger, took off on foot. During the search for the occupants of the SUV, a tip came in about a man driving a pickup with Colorado license plates. According to the St. George News, the pickup was stopped by an Iron County sheriff ’s
Final DeltaFest on tap The Avalanche String Band will provide live music for the final DeltaFest of the season Thursday, Sept. 7, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Main Street will be filled with vendors, a kids’ bounce house, foot darts, classic cars, a bi-plane from Smiling Aviation and more. Many of the Main Street businesses will be staying open late that evening. “This is going to be a great last event of the season,” said Darnell Place-Wise, executive director of the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event. “I hope everyone comes out!”
deputy who attempted a PIT maneuver, but ultimately ended up crashing the two vehicles instead. “The man in the truck was taken into custody and was discovered not to be the man troopers had pursued that morning. Instead, police learned they actually knew each other and were both wanted out of Colorado on multiple felony warrants,” the newspaper reports. The first man was taken into custody after he was spotted by a Parowan resident. Houghton is being held on several charges in Utah, as well as three warrants in Delta County.
Houghton
Pell
In addition to Houghton, authorities arrested Nicholas Pell, 35, of Delta. He is facing multiple charges in Utah as well as four warrants in Delta County. Both men are being held at the Iron County Jail. Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee said the two men will be extradited when the Utah judicial system is through with them, “which will probably not be soon.” Due to the pursuit, schools in Parowan were placed in lockdown. On Aug. 23, four Delta schools were told to shelter in place or placed in lockdown while authorities did a door-to-door canvass for Houghton on Garnet Mesa. They had been active following every lead since; the sheriff ’s office had executed a search warrant at a cabin on Grand Mesa the day before Houghton was arrested in Utah. “We considered him a threat to the community,” said Undersheriff Mark Taylor.
VFW to commemorate Patriot Day Members of the Lee Marts Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3571 and its Auxiliary will be performing a commemorative service in remembrance of those who died or were wounded at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and rural Pennsylvania 16 years ago, the service men and women who have been killed or wounded since in the global war on terror, and all of their families. A short commemorative service and memorial tree planting will be held Monday, Sept. 11, beginning at 9 a.m. in Confluence Park, near Bill Heddles Recreation Center. After 16 years, some memories of that
fateful day have faded, others are still vivid, and for those youngsters under the age of 18 there is no memory of the attack at all. The heroism and sacrifices of the first responders to the attack must always be remembered, along with the heroism and sacrifices of all those who have served worldwide in the battle against terror. The battle is not over; we must still remain vigilant. All are invited to attend this service. Special invitation goes to those who were at the Twin Towers or have served against terrorism since, along with their loved ones. For more information, call 872-3327.