Delta County Independent, Sept. 13, 2017

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NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

SEEING RED

Tomato Fest features fashion show, haiku, best-dressed tomatoes, B4

SPORTS

POPS IN THE PARK

A decade of entertainment from the Valley Symphony Association, C2

DELTA COUNTY

FILLING THE GAPS

Paonia volleyball team adjusts to new coach, rules, B7-9 SEPTEMBER 13, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 37

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INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Felony filings see ‘unprecedented’ increase BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Delta County is on track for what district attorney Dan Hotsenpiller calls an “unprecedented” year-to-year increase in felony criminal filings. “We’re not alone,” he said at a meeting that included Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee, Undersheriff Mark Taylor and Delta Police Chief Luke Fedler. “This is a statewide trend.” While Delta County remains a very safe community, there’s no denying the fact that case filings are on track for a 55 percent increase over 2016. The increase is across the board, led by drug use/possession, property crimes (often related to drug use) and bail bond/protection order violations. The county’s law enforcement officials point to legislative changes to bail bond statutes that allow individuals charged with felonies to post low bond amounts. While their court cases slowly wind through delay after delay, the defendants often commit new crimes — creating yet another delay. “We like to think we’re doing something with recidi-

vism through community corrections and Drug Courts, but the people we’re dealing with are the same people,” said Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee. “We’re arresting them. We’re putting them in jail; they’re going out and committing more crimes. We’re not seeing a lot of new criminals, but we’re seeing the old criminals over and over again. We don’t seem to be able to place them in prison where they need to be.” Fred Houghton IV is a prime example. While on supervised parole, he was twice charged with vehicular eluding. He was arrested and charged with two felonies in July, but was released on bail. While waiting for his cases to be heard in court, he was allegedly involved in another pursuit by law enforcement officers. He was ultimately arrested in Utah, along with Nicholas Pell, who was on probation. Both men are facing additional charges in both states. “We narrowly escaped having a really bad incident here in Colorado; they narrowly escaped having a really bad incident involving personal injury to law enforcement officers in Utah as well,”

Ambulance, Crawford questions on ballot BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

The Town of Crawford and the Delta County Ambulance District will again ask voters to approve a mill levy increase after seeing those measures narrowly defeated in the 2016 general election. Those two issues will be the only local questions on the November 2017 ballot. Three school board seats were also to be filled in the November election, but just three candidates filed petitions for the three seats. A resolution to cancel the election is on the agenda for the Sept. 21 school board meeting. Ron Germann is unopposed for District 1, which is Delta west; Jan Tuin is unopposed for District V, the PaoniaCrawford area; and Richard Hypio is unopposed for District IV, Hotchkiss area and north and east of Cedaredge. All three will be sworn into office in November 2017. Crawford voters will again be asked to approve a five-mill levy increase, the same question that was defeated by nine votes in 2016. The ballot question specifies taxes are to be used for town roads, town hall and other structures, vehicle maintenance and for a reserve fund. Previously, Mayor Wanda Gofforth said the increase is necessary due to losses in revenue from mineral and severance taxes. Crawford’s current mill levy of 2.420 mills is the lowest in Delta County. The increase

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would bring the mills up to previous levels, which were gradually reduced due to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, or TABOR, said Gofforth. The money will be used “to keep the town running.” A mill levy increase of 3.250 mills is being proposed to the Delta-Cedaredge voters who live in the Delta County Ambulance District. A 2016 question asking voters to approve a 2.5 mill levy increase failed 6,163 to 5,388. The ballot question explains that in 2018, the tax increase would amount to additional property tax of $23.40 for a residence worth $100,000. The funds would sustain emergency medical services at current levels and offset budget shortfalls which have caused the district to deplete its reserves over the past four years. Budget shortfalls are being blamed on declining reimbursement rates from Medicare and Medicaid. Rene Loy Maas, chief deputy county clerk, said ballots will be mailed the week of Oct. 16. Voter service and polling center will open at the Delta County Courthouse Oct. 31 and at the North Fork Annex Nov. 23. Twenty-four hour dropoff locations are provided at the courthouse, North Fork Annex and Cedaredge Library, and will be made available directly after ballots are available. There will also be a box at the Crawford Town Hall for the Crawford residents during business hours and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Election Day.

Hotsenpiller said. “That happens a lot.” Many defendants who have not just one or two felony cases, but five or six or more felony cases pending against them, are getting out on bail, despite strenuous arguments from the district

attorney’s office. The state Legislature also significantly lowered penalties for drug felonies, based on what Hotsenpiller said is the false premise that people with drug problems were being sentenced to prison without

Remembering 9/11

exhausting drug treatment efforts. That’s simply not true, Hotsenpiller said. Judges have the option of Drug Court sentences, but Drug Court loses its effectiveness without the possibility of punitive FELONY FILINGS TO A3

Photo by Hank Lohmeyer

Members of Delta VFW Post and Auxiliary #3571 along with Delta County Sheriff’s Office and Delta County Ambulance District personnel pitch in to help unload and plant a Colorado blue spruce in memory of victims of the 9/11 attacks.

Survey reveals community’s vision for city parks, trails BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

A survey targeting the city’s open spaces, parks and trails yielded data about the most utilized facilities — picnic areas and trails — and a “wish list” for additional amenities that includes climbing features, outdoor water play areas and additional trails/ connectivity. The survey was mailed to city residents and made available online to anyone who wanted to offer input on the city’s parks and recreation master plan. A total of 583 surveys were completed this summer. The survey was made available to city residents as well as other individuals who utilize city facilities. The survey results were shared with a citizen advisory council, then the general public by the city’s consultant, Logan Simpson. The master plan process continues through September, with the public’s visions refined into a conceptual plan identifying project priorities and implementation strategies. The draft master plan will be made available to the public in October. A third public meeting is scheduled Nov. 15 to take input on that plan, prior to final adoption by Delta City Council. Prelimi-

nary results are being made available to the council as the 2018 budget is developed. Logan Simpson has already crunched the numbers. Currently, the city budgets $100,000 per year for capital maintenance and projects. In reality, the amount needed to maintain the existing system is $340,000. Basic enhancement projects are estimated at $360,000 annually, leaving

a funding gap of $600,000. In comparison to other communities, the consultant found Delta has more “high maintenance landscapes” such as parks and plazas. The amount of acreage maintained by staff members is also higher than Rifle, Cortez and Fruita. (Delta’s paid parks staff is augmented by an inmate work crew from CITY PARKS TO A3

MASTER PLAN: THE HOT TOPICS

Trails/connectivity - more trails, plus pave some Maintenance, restrooms and playground upgrades More festivals, concerts, cultural activities and events Climbing, archery, bicycling and group camping Confluence Park • Trails, paved and unpaved • Lake uses - swimming, water play, water quality/management • River access Cleland Park • Restrooms, playground • Tennis courts repaired/replaced • Garnet Mesa drainage issues Cottonwood Park • Restrooms, playground, irrigation improvements • River access • Trail access to park

Dedication planned

Tour TCR

DURA negotiations continue

The official dedication of Fort Uncompahgre as the first Colorado interpretive site on the Old Spanish National Historic Trail will take place at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the fort, 440 N. Palmer Street, in Delta. The ceremony will occur during the fort’s Mexican Heritage Celebration, Colorado Old Spanish Trail Days, scheduled to run from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 16. A variety of events will honor the Mexican trappers and laborers who once worked the fort. For more information call 970-874-8349.

The Technical College of the Rockies is hosting a community open house complete with tours, free lunch and program presentations. The open house celebrates the new name of the college, as well as the new director, Michael Klouser. The open house runs from 9:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. Stop by the student services center in the main building to get started.

Negotiations continue between the Delta Urban Renewal Authority and Delta County concerning the county’s commitment to tax increment funding for a riverfront project in the City of Delta. After an executive session Monday night, DURA rejected a proposal from Delta County that modified plan boundaries for sales tax increment and eliminated lodging tax increments altogether. The county, which is currently represented by Don Suppes, is also seeking another seat on the DURA board, to reflect its level of involvement. Suppes said the county commissioners will discuss changes to the intergovernmental agreement at their meeting next week, but said it’s unlikely the county will “sweeten the pot.” While he’s hopeful mediation can be avoided, he said the commissioners’ first commitment is to the county’s taxpayers.


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Delta County Independent, Sept. 13, 2017 by Delta County Independent - Issuu