Delta County Independent, Oct. 11, 2017

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NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

LOCAL AND BEYOND ShadeScapes shares spotlight with local entrepreneurs, B1

SPORTS

APPLEFEST 2017

TEEING UP FOR STATE

Food, vendors, music prove to be a huge draw for Cedaredge, C1-6

DELTA COUNTY

Four local golfers compete in condensed tournament, B8

OCTOBER 11, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 41

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

Bull Mountain drilling plan gets a green light The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Uncompahgre Field Office released the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Bull Mountain Unit Master Development Plan, providing direction for the development of approximately 19,670 acres of federal and private mineral estate near the town of Paonia. The plan provides a framework for developing up to 146 natural gas wells, four water disposal wells and construction of associated access roads and pipelines for leases operated by SG Interests I, Ltd (SGI). The decision also approves one Federal application for permit to drill. The plan is a part of the President’s America First Energy Plan, which includes environmentally-responsible development of oil and gas, coal, strategic minerals, and renewable energy sources such as wind, geothermal and solar. “We developed the plan through close coordination with stakeholders and our cooperating agencies,” said Dana Wilson, BLM Colorado acting Southwest District

manager. “It represents the best combination of management decisions to allow SGI to exercise its lease rights while limiting the impacts to natural resources.” A Master Development Plan allows for orderly development of oil and gas resources, resulting in fewer wells drilled and less surface impacts. The Bull Mountain Master Development Plan includes conditions of approval, best management practices for responsible development and measures to protect air and water resources. Additionally, the plan includes key wildlife provisions intended to reduce impacts to winter elk habitat and other big game species. Throughout the planning process, seven cooperating agencies reviewed and provided comments to develop these protective measures. In addition to cooperating agency comments, the BLM reviewed all public comments and provided responses in the ROD. Last week’s decision to approve one application for permit to drill does not guarantee approval of additional wells. Any future federal

applications must go through site-specific environmental review. During the drilling phase, the Bull Mountain project could generate up to $100 million in employment income and 470 jobs annually. The production phase could generate up to $14 million in employment income, and up to 135 jobs annually. The State of Colorado receives 49 percent of royalties from oil and gas development on federal minerals. In fiscal year 2016, oil and gas development directly contributed $796 million to the economy and produced $98 million in federal revenues. Statewide, more than 22,900 jobs are tied to mineral and energy development on public lands. For more information about the Bull Mountain Master Development Plan or to review the ROD and associated documents, please visit the BLM website at https://eplanning. blm.gov/epl-front-office/eplan ning/legacyProjectSite.do?met hodName=renderLegacyProje ctSite&projectId=66641.

Drawing a crowd

Photo by Pat Sunderland

A large bear perched in a tree in the area of 2nd and Main Street captivated area residents Thursday, Oct. 5. Through Facebook posts, the Delta Police Department urged everyone to avoid the area as much as possible. Still, crowds gathered, many arriving in the morning and staying through much of the day. At about 2 a.m. Friday morning, after darkness had fallen, traffic had quieted and most folks had left the area, the bear came down from the tree. According to a special release from the Delta Police Department, the bear was not harmed, tranquilized or trapped. The DPD expressed appreciation to D&B Liquors, Cruisin Clean Carwash, Dominos, John Wendt and the city’s public works employees.

Parks maintenance seen as a top priority BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

An update on the master plan being developed for the city’s parks, trails, recreation and open space was provided to members of Delta City Council and a citizens’ advisory group last week. The city contracted with the Fort Collins firm of Logan

Simpson to develop the plan with input from a community survey, public visioning sessions, focus groups and city staff. Throughout the public process, residents of the city showed a great appreciation and general satisfaction with parks, recreation, open space and trail facilities. Nearly

70 percent of the community agrees that Delta provides a quality park system. While there’s been some “dreaming” of future amenities, most citizens recognize the need for maintenance and improvements of current facilities. Logan Simpson observed that improvements to existing parks are valued three to one

over building new parks. And that’s without taking any costs into consideration. A long list of potential projects for parks throughout the city adds up to a staggering $26 million, with a large percentage going to develop Cottonwood and Riverbend. Analysis reveals that the city needs additional funding just to maintain the existing system over the next five years. The city budgets $100,000 in Conservation Trust Funds for park maintenance annually. Parks staff and equipment are stretched so thin, Logan

Simpson estimates another $100,000 is needed every year. With prioritization a must, Logan Simpson returned to the survey, where natural surface trails, playgrounds, paved trails, an outdoor play area and bicycle connections were valued most highly. “Only you guys can figure out allocation of resources,” Jana McKenzie, a principal member of the Logan Simpson team, told council members. Additional funding could be generated through a sales tax increase — not a popular CITY PARKS TO A3

Broadband rolls out, piece by piece BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Fall fun

Photo by Don Benjamin

Alecia McGehee and Landon Kennell climb the hay bales at Red Shed Produce. Red Shed, DeVries Produce and Orchard Valley Farms & Market are among the area locations celebrating fall with pumpkin patches, corn mazes and fresh produce. See the full story on page D8.

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ......................A11 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A8 Church ..................... B6, D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-6 Obituaries ................ A9-10 School Zone ............... A6-7 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ........................B7-10 Surface Creek News ...C1-6 TV Listings ..................C3-4

An agreement to allow Region 10 the use of excess fiber moves the City of Delta one step closer to opening its broadband network to the providers who will deliver high speed internet service to homes and businesses in the community. The intent is for Region 10 to actively market the fiber to last mile internet service providers for low cost, high quality and high speed broadband services. In exchange for the excess fiber, Region 10 will operate and maintain the system. The high speed broadband has been deployed to several anchor institutions, including the Delta Library, Delta City

Hall, Delta Police Department, Bill Heddles Recreation Center, and the city’s public works and municipal light and power departments. A circuit was recently made available to Deeply Digital to provide service to the Center for Mental Health. An agreement is pending with Delta County, and once the county is hooked up, the hospital plans to use it to connect with the West Elk Clinic in Hotchkiss. The broadband project has been rolling out piece by piece, as Region 10 develops a diverse network with multiple partners. The City of Delta was an “early adapter of the concept,” Region 10’s Michelle Haynes and Chris Kennedy said at a city council work BROADBAND TO A3

Hwy. 92, 50 corner eyed

Changes at DCED

CDOT has been reviewing the intersection of Highway 50 and 92 to improve traffic movement. CDOT will host a public open house at the Bill Heddles Recreation Center from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 18. This public open house will provide the community with an opportunity to: • Learn about the proposed intersection improvements • Discuss the project with project representatives • Provide comments on the proposed plan • Discuss how the project will be constructed Notice of this meeting is being sent to property owners in the proposed project area by CDOT representatives.

Big changes are in the works at Delta County Economic Development. The nonprofit has moved to a new home in Suite 107 of the Delta Professional Building at 540 Main Street, Delta. DCED will be located there until the ENGAGE Innovation Center is renovated and open for business. DCED was formerly housed in the Bank of Colorado building at the corner of 4th and Palmer. That building has been purchased by the school district. After renovation, the district offices will be moved from Read to downtown Delta. In addition, DCED is searching for a new executive director. Trish Thibodo has accepted a newly-created position with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs as the Rural Response, Recovery and Resiliency (4R) manager. This new position creates a coordinated response of state, federal and other resources for Colorado rural communities to help them recover from industry or significant job loss and create more resilient economies.


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