Delta County Independent, Jan. 24, 2018

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NORTH FORK TIMES

SURFACE CREEK NEWS

CERTIFIED GRADE A

SPORTS

TIME TO CELEBRATE

Goat farmers see cheese in the North Fork’s future, B1

MAKING A BIG SPLASH

Cedaredge chamber honors local achievers at annual banquet, C1

Hillman qualifies for state in two events, hopes to add third, B5

DELTA COUNTY

JANUARY 24, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 4

75¢

INDEPENDENT

www.deltacountyindependent.com

DURA drops fight with mosquito, fire districts US Hwy 50 St

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City of Delta GIS Data Disclaimer These data are being provided on an “as is” basis and may contain errors of content, completeness and positional accuracy. Data are retrieved from several sources, federal, state, county and municipal agencies. The City of Delta specifically disclaims any warranty, either expressed or implied, including, but not limited to the use of the data for establishing legal title, boundary lines, precise location of improvements, ownership, maintenance easements or public right-of-ways. The entire risk as to quality and performance of the data is with the user. In no event will the City of Delta or its staff be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or other damages arising out of the use of these data.

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INDEX

Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D6 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A6 School Zone .................. A5 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4

T.K. Mining parcel

Gunnison River Dr

Meeker St

STAFF REPORT

Project area

The Delta Urban Renewal Authority has included this map in a request for proposals sent to hotel developers and posted print: January 10, 2018 on the city website for anyone interested in the riverfront improvement project. If you have questions concerning these data, you should contact the Public Works Department, GIS, at (970) 874.7566 extension 230 or by email at frank@cityofdelta.net

RFP issued to hotel developers Carolynne White noted. The RFP was written by Better City, which was also represented at the Jan. 16 DURA meeting, and seeks proposals for a 70-room upper midscale hotel to be built along the Gunnison River as part of a two-mile riverfront improvement project. While the RFP will be distributed widely, DURA board members expect just a handful of developers to respond. For that reason, they rejected a suggestion from legal counsel and city staff that a selection committee be formed to “narrow the field.” As proposed, the selection committee would have included city staff, consultants and two or three DURA board members.

BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

The Delta Urban Renewal Authority has mailed a request for proposals, or RFP, to a list of 42 hotel development firms. The RFP will also be posted on the city website, with an invitation for any interested party to respond — including the current property owner, attorney

DCMH implements visitor restrictions Due to the high incidence of flu, Delta County Memorial Hospital is imposing visitor restrictions on children. No one 12 and under will be allowed in patient areas until further notice. Jody Roeber, chief clinical officer, said the double doors on the second floor are being closed to the medical-surgical unit. Flu season in Colorado is peaking currently, and Delta County is experiencing more flu cases as well, commented Jessica Walters, infection prevention nurse at DCMH. After absentee rates approached 25 percent at Paonia Elementary School last week, school administrators began contacting parents. District superintendent Caryn Gibson said administrators learned not all absences were due to illness. In fact, when she personally visited Paonia Elementary

to executive sessions, White tion will be supplied by hotel advised that negotiations developers will likely need to where proprietary SCHEDULE informa- be conducted A in private.

N Palmer St

In the interest of community unity, Delta Urban Renewal Authority will no longer pursue mediation as a means of gaining participation in tax incentive financing for the proposed hotel development. Delta County Mosquito Control District #1 and Delta County Fire Protection District #2 both declined to enter into agreements with DURA to give up any property tax revenues that would have been generated by the hotel development. Representatives from both entities also refused to discuss the matter further, rejecting attempts from city staff, council members and legal counsel to “come to the table.” The next step was mediation, but again the fire/mosquito districts refused to engage in formal discussions. “The only ones winning here are the lawyers, not the taxpayers who are paying for it all,” the mosquito control district noted in a letter to the editor. In a separate letter, fire district officials said taxpayers expect their tax dollars to be used for what they were intended — fire protection. Both entities also cited the additional services that development would necessitate. Last week, Carolynne White, DURA’s legal counsel, outlined three options for the DURA board — continue the unsuccessful efforts to get the mosquito/fire districts to the table, “escalate” the legal process, or drop the matter altogether. DURA has already given up tax incentives from Tri-County Water District and the Colorado River Water Conservation District, but those are small amounts. Property

I wish we had gotten a better response, but I think it’s time for us to move on.” “On a very personal level, I’m really disappointed these two districts have not at least seen fit to be semi-cooperative in trying to find a solution,” said Tom Huerkamp, the mayoral appointee to DURA. He believes a “gross misunderstanding” is at play, but starting a “shootout” won’t have any benefit. “It’s taken a lot to get us to this stage of unity. To start picking on a couple of the districts that ‘don’t get it,’ is local political suicide.” Council member Bill Raley commented, “To try to force these two entities into mediation does not make any sense at all. It will only take money they could spend on fighting fires and eradicating mosquitoes and spend it bureaucracy. I oppose that and I will always oppose that.” Huerkamp said he hopes that backing off will send the message that DURA would welcome an opportunity to return to the discussion at any time. “That’s a perfectly fine outcome and I for one am glad it took place in the open.” As the discussion returned

tax revenues from the mosquito/fire districts represent about nine percent of the annual revenue potential to be applied toward repayment of the bonds issued to cover project expenses. “It could be make or break, but until we have discussions with an actual developer, we won’t have an answer to that,” White said. Several DURA members have been against mediation from the get-go, statements council member Ron Austin said should have been confined to executive session, not open meetings. Austin said he does not disagree with the decision to forego mediation, but said for the record, “We ran ourselves out of choices just by the things that have been said ... we’ve made it clear we’re not going to pursue it, so why would other parties have any interest?” “It was my intent that mediation would hopefully open up discussions,” said council member Christopher Ryan. “For varying reasons that has not occurred, so I see no reason to prolong this. My vote was never intended to be a strong-arm tactic. We tried.

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Managing Editor

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BY PAT SUNDERLAND

School on Monday, just 15 students were absent. Those who need to visit the hospital are encouraged to use the masks that are available in the front lobby. If you are ill, please do not come to visit patients. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are three steps you can take to fight the flu: 1) Stop germs (wash hands frequently and/or use hand sanitizer). 2) Vaccinate. 3) Take antiviral drugs if prescribed by your provider. Flu is a respiratory illness caused by the flu virus that can infect the nose, throat and sometimes the lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to death. Complications of flu may be bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions.

“This is a decision worthy of the whole board,” said Don Suppes, the county representative. Tom Huerkamp said he would also feel more comfortable if the entire board was involved in the selection process. “We have such a variety of interests sitting around this table, all with the best of intentions for this community ... I would not be spending my evenings here if I wasn’t committed to this idea.” DURA’s legal counsel, who sat in on the meeting via Skype, cautioned the selection process may take a bit longer with the entire board involved. “When we get 20 proposals, we can revisit this conversation,” Suppes said.

Interested parties have until March 5 to submit proposals. The initial proposal called for the selection committee to have a recommendation for the entire DURA board by mid-March. Ron Austin, Delta City Council member, had no objection to the suggestion the entire DURA board serve as the selection committee; he just wants to keep the process moving as quickly as possible. “As Mr. Huerkamp pointed out, this has been going on for several years.” The proposed project is a 70-room upper midscale hotel placed along the Gunnison River as part of a two-mile riverfront improvement project. HOTEL DEVELOPERS TO A3

Elevate to take broadband ‘across the finish line’ in Delta BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor

Delta-Montrose Electric Association is expanding outside its service territory to begin offering high-speed Elevate Fiber in the City of Delta. While occasionally rivals in the world of electrical service, DMEA and the city are closely aligned in the desire to bring broadband to the community, first to businesses and then to residences. Elevate Fiber, a wholly owned subsidiary of DMEA, has been rolling out highspeed internet to communities in Delta and Montrose

140 new addresses At a recent meeting, the Delta County Commmissioners reviewed a report from the county GIS department on the number of new addresses certified in 2017. The total number of new addresses for Delta County is 140, distributed as follows: Austin, 9; Cedaredge, 31; Crawford, 15; Delta, 36; Eckert, 3; Hotchkiss, 19 and Paonia, 27. In addition, the commissioners signed an agreement with Benjamin Lowe to operate Ultimate Skydiving Adventures from Blake Field, as well as a new air tour service.

counties since November 2016. It will be the first internet service provider to begin delivering broadband on the network built in the city in collaboration with the county, municipalities and Region 10. The investment that the city made in fiberoptic lines has helped facilitate the decision by DMEA to provide lastmile service. “You will finally see the end result of those efforts,” said Jason Bronec, DMEA CEO. He and Mark Kurtz, project manager, updated the Delta City Council on DMEA’s installation plans last week.

City ballot finalized

Three candidates have declared interest in the two city council seats to be filled in the April election. Kevin Carlson and Jay Stooksberry are seeking the at-large seat currently held by Ed Sisson, who is term limited. Nathan Clay is unopposed for the District # 3 seat held by Bill Raley. In addition, Delta voters will be asked to consider taxation on the sale of marijuana, even though sales are currently prohibited. There will be two questions, one about excise taxes and the other about retail sales tax. Ballots will be mailed in mid-March.

Both referred to economic development as the primary catalyst for high speed internet, which is expected to promote a remote workforce, support “aging in place” for our elderly residents, and connect our students. The project has also put former coal miners to work building the Elevate network across the DeltaMontrose communities. In Delta, Kurtz said about two-thirds of the fiber will be installed overhead on city power poles; a third will be laid underground. (The same opportunity will be made LAST-MILE SERVICE TO A3

Input sought on trails

Delta County is beginning the second round of public open houses to gather input on Delta County’s Recreation and Trails Master Plan. The trails master plan team has been refining priorities and developing draft future trails maps. The public is invited to review the new information and provide feedback at two upcoming meetings. The first will be held at the Orchard City Town Hall Monday, Jan. 29, from 4 to 7 p.m. The second will be held at Paonia Town Hall, 214 Grand Avenue, on Tuesday, Jan. 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www. deltacountytrailsmp.com.


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Delta County Independent, Jan. 24, 2018 by Delta County Independent - Issuu