Delta County Independent, Oct. 18, 2017

Page 1

NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

ELECTION 2017

Crawford voters asked to increase levy increase, B1

SPORTS

COMMUNITY CAN HELP Excitement builds for animal shelter renovation, C1

DELTA COUNTY

MOVING ON

Panthers secure berth in 3A state softball tournament, C4 OCTOBER 18, 2017 VOL. 134, NO. 42

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

County awarded $680,000 to spur entrepreneurship, growth The Technical College of the Rockies is the recipient of a $680,000 grant awarded by the Economic Development Administration (EDA), as part of the 2017 Assistance to Coal Communities initiative. This grant will support the startup operations of the ENGAGE (ENergy - Growth - AGriculture & Entrepreneurship) Innovation Project, which will be operated under the umbrella of TCR. ENGAGE will provide the necessary entrepreneurial support to help launch new businesses in Delta County with a special focus on value-added food manufacturing, energy, and ag-related businesses. All Delta County businesses will benefit from ENGAGE as access to workforce development, and business resources will grow TCR. A press release from the Technical College of the Rockies notes that Delta County is beginning the slow recovery from the loss of coal mining jobs. ENGAGE will be one of the major tools in the toolbox to help support our community, and give the resources and support to entrepreneurs who are looking to start or grow their business. “EDA recognized the wide community support and partnership in this project,” said Michael Klouser, Technical

College of the Rockies director. “Delta County has recognized the need to come together on a catalytic project. With the leadership and involvement from Technical College of the Rockies, Delta County School District, Delta County Economic Development, Delta County, Region 10, Southwest Innovation Corridor, Edesia Community Kitchen and the City of Delta we have created a project that supports business growth and development, job training for the 21st century and creates an ecosystem for innovation.” According to Delta County Commissioner Doug Atchley, “ENGAGE will be a game changer for Delta County. Delta County has a strong entrepreneurial spirit, and ENGAGE will help harness that spirit. This project will put Delta County on the map as the place to grow great ideas and businesses.” An ENGAGE director will be hired to lead the initiative. An agricultural coordinator will coordinate the kitchen incubator program and other ag-related initiatives. TCR is currently seeking applications for the ENGAGE director position. EDA awarded a total of $30 million to support 35 projects in 15 states under the 2017 Assistance to Coal

Communities initiative. The funding will assist locallydriven efforts to communities and regions severely impacted by the declining use of coal through activities and programs that support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development and re-employment opportunities. Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D) and Cory Gardner (R), along with U.S. Representative Scott Tipton (R-CO-3), applauded the EDA effort to support business growth in rural Colorado. “These grants provide critical funding to assist rural communities with workforce development and job creation efforts,” Bennet said. “We will continue our work with the EDA in Delta and Montrose counties to assist communities that are struggling with job losses in the coal industry.” “This is great news for our state,” Gardner said. “The economic development funding will help advance broadband connectivity on the Western Slope, while also aiding new job growth in the agriculture industry in Delta County and the surrounding areas.” “Many parts of rural Colorado are struggling to spark economic growth and job EDA GRANT TO A3

Only One You

Photo submitted

Stephan Williams was the first student to find his rockfish among the 1,200 in the stream created at Bill Heddles Recreation Center to culminate the “Only One You” project. See page A5 for details about this collaborative effort spearheaded by Drug-Free Delta County, Altrusa International and Partners Mentoring.

Mill levy increase sought for EMS BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

This week, the Delta County clerk and recorder’s office mailed 13,728 ballots to residents of the Delta County Ambulance District (DCAD), plus another 947 to property owners for a total of 14,675. DCAD has been reaching out to as many voters as possible in Delta and the Surface Creek through a series of community meetings addressing the mill levy question on the ballot.

Voters are being asked to approve a mill levy increase of 3.250 mills, which would increase tax receipts an estimated $585,050 in 2018. The mill levy is currently 2.5 mills, the level approved by voters when the special district was formed in 1999. In a YouTube presentation available at www.dcadems. com, DCAD manager Kirby Clock explains the mill levy proved insufficient almost immediately. It was based on an assumption that Cedaredge

Arby’s robber is still at large At about 9:50 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, officers of the Delta Police Department were dispatched to a robbery reported at Arby’s, located at 107 Gunnison River Drive. An extensive search of the area was conducted and the suspect was not located. The suspect was reported to have walked into Arby’s and after a brief conversation with an employee, was able to leave the store with a small amount of cash and coins. The suspect then fled on foot to the north of the store. The suspect was described by witnesses as a male, approximately 5’6” tall, approxi-

INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D8 Business .......................A10 Church ............................B5 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Health & Fitness ..... B7-10 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone .................. A7 Sports ..........................C4-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ................. D5-6

mately 130-140 pounds, with a thin moustache, dark hair, brown eyes, wearing a brown hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and white shoes. The suspect did not show a weapon and it is unknown at this time if a weapon was involved. The Delta Police Department and Arby’s are still working on obtaining surveillance video. The Delta Police Department is asking that anyone with information on this event contact the Delta Police Department at 874-7676 (during business hours), Delta County Dispatch at 874-2015 or Crime Stoppers at 8748810.

residents would continue to be served by a volunteer crew supported by the Town of Cedaredge. Instead, Cedaredge went to the same level of 24/7 staffing that was provided in Delta with support from Delta County Memorial Hospital. There was another reason the mill levy was set at 2.5. The ambulance service in Cedaredge was funded by an annual subscription fee that was roughly equal to 2.5 mills. Today, the ambulance district operates two stations, one in Delta and the other on Highway 65 between Cedaredge and Eckert. Each station has round-the-clock coverage from two crew members. A third crew is on duty from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. primarily for interfacility transfers. That crew also provides backup services. Clock said every staff member is Advanced Life Support (ALS) certified and trained to respond to any type of medical emergency, from heart attacks to overdoses to breathing difficulties. They can provide many of the services available in the emergency room within minutes of response. Additionally, they relay information to emergency department personnel so they’re ready to take over as soon as the ambulance pulls into the bay. It’s become increasingly dif-

Hwy. 92, 50 corner eyed 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.

ficult to maintain this level of service, Clock explains. Over the past four years, reserves have been depleted. Without a property tax increase, service may be provided by oncall crews during nighttime hours, which would drastically increase response time. Additionally, Clock said, reduced hours or reduced pay would cause DCAD’s best providers to look for other employment. The cost of ambulances and emergency equipment continues to escalate, while reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid pay for only a portion of the cost of providing service. Clock explains that 58 percent of DCAD revenue is generated through property tax, and that amount is decreasing due to lower valuations and changes in residential assessments. On the flip side, the Affordable Care Act has increased the number of residents eligible for Medicaid. Medicaid pays about 13 percent of what is now billed; Medicare covers 46 percent. Clock says 66 percent of the population in Delta County is on either Medicare or Medicaid. Both pay only a fixed amount, regardless of the cost of providing service. “That’s why our average collection is less than 50 percent,” he explained. And it explains why raising rates does not result in a corre-

DCED request

As Delta County Economic Development begins the process of replacing executive director Trish Thibodo, the DCED board is asking the City of Delta to appropriate the $15,000 budgeted for economic development in 2017, to increase its 2018 investment, and to designate vendor fees for economic development, all in an effort to provide a more competitive salary/benefit package for both the executive director and the program coordinator. The request was addressed during the city council’s Oct. 17 work session.

sponding increase in revenue. “Last year we raised our rates by 8 percent, which should have generated $161,440, but actually generated $27,339.” The gap continues to grow between revenues and the cost of providing services, despite recent efforts to decrease operating costs by reducing expenses for transportation, education and vehicles. The most sustainable revenue stream is from property tax, which is why DCAD believes it’s justified in requesting a 3.250 mill levy increase. “This mill levy was calculated to allow us to survive for the next 10 years,” Clock said, and would amount to just $23.40 for every $100,000 of residential property value annually. Additional information concerning DCAD’s annual budget are available on the district’s website, www.dca dems.org. A tour of Station 2 at 1126 Highway 65, Eckert, is also planned Tuesday, Oct. 24, from 2 to 4 p.m. District personnel will be available to answer any questions. Ballots may be returned by mail, to 24-hour drop boxes outside the Cedaredge Library and the Delta County Courthouse, or to the clerk and recorder’s office during business hours Monday-Friday. To verify your voter information, go to www.govote colorado.com.

Fall cleanup The City of Delta’s annual fall cleanup campaign begins Monday, Oct. 23. Residents are advised to have their items out by 7 a.m. Monday to avoid being missed — city crews will visit each neighborhood just once. Place your items for easy pickup next to where you normally place your trash receptacle. Leaves should be bagged and branches (up to 4 inches in diameter) should be no longer than 10 feet in length. Crews will not pick up e-waste (TVs, computers, etc.), tires, batteries, refrigerators or freezers.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.