NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
MEET THE CANDIDATES Crawford, Hotchkiss council candidates profiled, B1
SPORTS
ANNUAL MIGRATION
ON TO SPRING SPORTS
Eckert Crane Days set for March 16-18, C1
Cedaredge girls wrap up 21-4 basketball season, B7
DELTA COUNTY
MARCH 14, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 11
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
City takes steps to clarify ballot measures BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The two marijuana questions on the City of Delta’s municipal ballot are creating confusion, as predicted by several council members. Although it is not legal to sell retail marijuana or to conduct a commercial grow operation in city limits, the city is asking voters to approve taxation on both those possibilities. At a candidate forum earlier this month, Ron Austin, mayor pro-tem, explained, “This was done as a way to get ahead of the game in the event that a marijuana petition was signed and approved and came to the voters.” Depending on the timing of the petition, it could be a year before the city could enact a tax on marijuana sales, he explained. State statutes allow tax measures to be presented only during a regular municipal election or a coordinated November election. City council and staff have also discussed zoning for marijuana at great length, but decided to shelve a proposed ordinance for now. If retail marijuana and commercial grow operations are ever allowed, either by council or by voters, “we could bring it off the shelf,” Austin explained. “People perceive when you take these measures that you are endorsing marijuana. That is not the case and we tried to make that clear from the get-go.” In response to numerous inquiries about the two ballot questions, the city has added wording to the city website in an attempt to clarify the situation. On Monday, the following verbiage was added to the two
taxation questions under the “Ballot Issues” tab: • These questions are NOT approving the retail sales of marijuana within the City of Delta. • These questions would approve the taxation of marijuana only if marijuana sales are approved in the future. There is no pending ordinance or proposal before the Delta City Council at this time to approve any marijuana sales in the City of Delta. • The City of Delta is limited on which election a TABOR question (such as a tax) can be presented to the voters. These questions are being presented now because the regular city election in April is one of those authorized times. Further questions can be directed to Delta City Hall, 874-7566. To verify voter registration, visit www.govote colorado.com.
Fire season
An out-of-control grass fire in Peach Valley spread to a large garage March 9, destroying about $20,000 worth of ATVs, trailers, river rafts and a riding lawn mower. As Delta firefighters battled the blaze on 1940 Road, the property owner, David Loveland, and his neighbors dumped buckets of water on the perimeter of the fire.
Master Plan review continues BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer
The Delta County Planning Commission continued its page-by-page discussion of the review draft of the Master Plan update at its March 7 meeting at the Maloney House in Hotchkiss. The commission began the discussion of the review draft on Feb. 28. At that meeting the section entitled “Desired Future Conditions,” consisting of a long introductory paragraph and six bullet points, prompted a lot of comments from the commission members over wording, revealing concerns about how some “desired future conditions” would impact on agri-
cultural, residential and other types of development. Elyse Casselberry, county community and economic development director, Kelly Yeager, the county’s contract planner, and Gabe Preston of RPI Consulting, came up with some clearer language, which was handed out March 7: Current Conditions Delta County has no land use regulations to determine where land uses may locate. As a result, there are areas of the county where rural residential, agricultural, industrial, and commercial land are mixed. This mix creates neighborhood conflict, especially when new, more intensive uses
Teresa Nelson announces candidacy for commissioner BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Teresa Nelson, a 17-year resident of Delta County, has announced her candidacy for Delta County Commissioner, District 1. She is a Republican. Nelson grew up in Rangely where she met her husband Mike. He works in Montrose but they chose to live in Delta because of the feeling of neighborliness. She and her family live on a 16-acre parcel in Peach Valley. As the mother of four “amazing” kids, ages 10, 12, 15 and 16, she says she loves that Delta is a familyoriented community. Her work exerience is varied. She’s been a waitress, worked in the finance department at the school district in Rangely, and successfully managed both a restaurant and an airport. Currently she’s a stay-at-home mom with a small cottage business, which has allowed her to be active in the Republican party
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................. D10 Bruin Tracks ............. C3-6 Church ........................... D6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-5 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone ............... A6-7 Service Directory ........ D9 Sports ..........................B7-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ................. D7-8
Photo by Pat Sunderland
at different levels. She has been involved in politics since a young age. “I believe as a conservative Republican woman, I have a valuable perspective to add to the Board of County Commissioners,” she said. “I think the job of county commissioners is a very unique position,” she said. “I
Teresa Nelson
feel there is no job out there that would fully prepare you for it. It’s kind of like folding a fitted sheet. No one really knows how. We just roll up our sleeves and do it.” Her experience in finance and airport management, plus a background of working with people would all be beneficial, but she believes her most important trait is her willingness to learn. “I am applying for a job,” she said. “The voters are the ones who decide if I am qualified to best represent them in the office of the county commissioner. “If elected, I will work for the people of Delta County. I would make it a priority to be available for them. They are the boss.” Republican Mike Lane previously declared his candidacy for the same office. Each must receive 30 percent of the delegate votes at county assembly to be placed on the June 26 primary ballot.
are proposed. Proposed Policy Statement: A new regulatory system is needed to address future conflicts that are likely to continue between rural residential, agricultural, industrial, and commercial uses. This regulatory system should identify what range of land uses are permitted and where different types of land uses are allowed. Property owners across the county should be allowed to actively participate in determining permitted land uses for their property based on new land use regulations that are fair and predictable. Casselberry said the focus of the first four bullet points in the current document, the capsule of which is contained in the proposed policy statement above, will be mostly the same for all categories of use. Planning commission chairman Bob Stechert added, “Different development areas have similar characteristics.
This part of the Master Plan update we are discussing is descriptive; some regulation will develop downstream.” Planning commission member Tony Prendergast said he would like to see the resource conservation plan, written by Yeager in an earlier plan, returned to the Master Plan update. He would like to see hunting and wildlife included in the plan, both being important to people in Delta County. Stechert noted the need to adopt regulations for remote areas where there are no services and in high fire areas. Owners of such property may have to accept personal responsibility in those cases, he said. Bob Pennetta, a member of an area planning committee, said the county is losing development because the owner doesn’t know what he has to go through. Prendergast said the county needs broad zoning MASTER PLAN TO A3
Strong participation reported at caucuses BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Representatives of the Delta County Republican and Democratic parties say they are pleased with the level of participation in the county caucuses held March 6. Roger Bentley, chairman of the Delta County Republican Party, said about 150 party members gathered in two locations. Bentley chaired the caucus at Delta High School, and party secretary Betty Oglesby chaired the gathering at Hotchkiss High School. In a new format, caucuses opened with a joint session that included introductions and a video presentation put
together by county treasurer Lisa Tafoya. The video featured unedited comments from all the candidates who responded to the party’s invitation. The precincts then met separately and got down to the task at hand, selecting delegates for upcoming assemblies. No straw polls were taken. “Overall I think the two joint meetings went well, but we did have some suggestions that we should also have a meeting in the Cedaredge area, to allow for more grassroots involvement,” Bentley said. CAUCUSES TO A3
Health Fairs
Hospital election
BHRC turns 25
The series of three Health Fairs offered by Delta County Memorial Hospital began in Paonia this week and continues Thursday, March 15, at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. Blood draws, blood pressure screenings and other services will be offered from 6:30 to 11 a.m. In addition, vendors will be on hand with giveaways and information about health-related services. The third and final Health Fair takes place Friday, March 16, at the Cedaredge Civic Center from 6:30 to 10 a.m. For more information, visit the hospital website at www.deltahospital.org.
Elections for special districts throughout Delta County are scheduled for May 8. But only one — Delta County Memorial Hospital — has a sufficient number of candidates to trigger an election. All others have cancelled their elections, citing no more candidates than offices to be filled. For the hospital board, six candidates have declared interest in the three fouryear terms to be filled: Bruce Mixter, Wayne Wolf, Doug Speedie, Tammy Smith, Robert Stechert and Dick Gilmore. Jim Briscoe, Dory Funk and Bill Hellman are coming off the hospital board.
Bill Heddles Recreation Center is celebrating its 25th anniversary with activities throughout the year. The festivities begin Thursday, March 15, when the rec center hosts Business After Hours. Chamber members and friends are invited to meet the recreation center’s management team and network with other local businesses at this event. Open to all is a photo contest. The deadline is Friday, March 16, so don’t delay in stopping by the recreation center for an information packet.