NORTH FORK TIMES
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
NEW SIGNAGE
Metal artist designs museum, park signs in the same style, B2
SPORTS
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GRADUATION 2018
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BOUND FOR STATE
Area graduates celebrate the next chapter in their lives, Inside
Track and field athletes pick up the pace for state competition, B6-10
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DELTA COUNTY
MAY 16, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 20
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Groundbreaking kicks off DMS construction BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Photo by Pat Sunderland
A Link-Belt excavator provided a backdrop for a groundbreaking ceremony at Delta Middle School that included school board members, school administrators, contractors and student representatives Caleb Weams (sixth grade), Sarah Teel (seventh grade) and Jillian Carlson (eighth grade).
Delta Middle School students settled comfortably beneath the trees in the open grassy space just south of the seventh-eighth grade wing for a groundbreaking ceremony Monday afternoon. This spot will soon be fenced off, as the sixth grade wing is demolished and a new two-story structure begins to take shape. Monday’s groundbreaking ceremony included an introduction of school board superintendent Caryn Gibson, assistant superintendent Kurt Clay, and school board members Pete Blair, Jan Tuin, Richard Hypio, Jill Jurca and Ron Germann. Tammy Smith, a former school board member, was also instrumental in the decision to move forward with what Gibson called a “21st century learning environment.”
Bob Brashears of Reilly Johnson Architecture was also on hand, jokingly promising students he designed the building to raise grades and make classes easier. He said the building will be filled with cool spaces and an abundance of natural light. Kissner GC is the general contractor; Austin Civil Group provided civil engineering for the project. John McHugh, the school district’s facilities supervisor, has been involved in the project from the getgo, and was instrumental in obtaining the BEST (Building Excellent Schools Today) grant that will cover the bulk of construction costs. Gibson said the two-story building will include new safety entrances, a security system, six classrooms, bandroom, choir room, cafeteria, kitchen, media center and DMS CONSTRUCTION TO A3
Paonia residents rally against oil/gas BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer
The Delta County Planning Commission has worked on an update of the county’s 1997 Master Plan for over a year. Input has been solicited through a series of meetings and open houses. Individuals, businesses and organizations from across the county have responded through social media, mail and phone calls. On May 9, a highly advertised public hearing on the final draft was held at Delta High School. Twenty-eight people made comments, all from Paonia and the North Fork Valley. If people were present from other parts of the county, they
did not speak up. Before comments began, Bob Stechert, chairman of the planning commission, told the audience that the Master Plan applies only to the unincorporated area of Delta County and is advisory and aspirational. The Master Plan is a living document and it is envisioned that appropriate changes and additions will be made as needs arise over time. It is anticipated that rules and regulations will be enacted when the Master Plan is adopted so that existing and future landowners will know what they can expect on neighboring land. Stechert asked attendees
Salaries, security top 50J budget priorities BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Legislative action at the state capitol has paved the way for 4.6 percent salary increases for Delta County School District employees. As an added benefit, health insurance costs are holding steady and an increase in employee contributions to PERA, the state retirement system, won’t take effect until July 2019. The Delta County School Board was looking at more modest salary increases for both classified and certified staff members before state legislators approved the use of $150 million to “buy down” the negative factor, the difference between the current funding level and that established by Amendment 23. Delta County’s share of the one-time funding is $1,930,650, or an additional $454.46 per pupil. A portion
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D6 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Health & Fitness ...... A6-7 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone .................A10 Service Directory ........ D5 Sports ........................B6-10 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
of the funding must be shared with Vision Charter Academy and set aside for the Colorado Preschool Program, leaving a net of about $1.7 million. Of the school district’s $40.3 million budget, about $28.5 million, or 71 percent, is allocated for salaries and benefits. The 2018-19 budget, which will not receive final approval until June, also dedicates funds to student/staff safety, which superintendent Caryn Gibson describes as a top priority. District administrators recently met with Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee, Undersheriff Mark Taylor, and representatives from every law enforcement agency in the county to discuss security measures. Chief Luke Fedler, Delta Police Department, and Chief Dan Sanders, Cedaredge Police Department, also 50J BUDGET TO A3
to make comments about the Master Plan and the Master Plan alone. Stechert repeated this request two other times during the meeting. It was ignored all three times. Eighteen of the speakers spoke unalterably against all oil and gas development in
the North Fork Valley. Some included advocating for the protection of clean air, water and soil. Roger Smith said the Master Plan does not reflect what the residents of the North Fork have said in opposition to oil and gas. He said the
county commissioners have influence over development of oil and gas if they work with the Bureau of Land Management. Alex Johnson, Western Slope Conservation Center, said the Master Plan should MASTER PLAN TO A5
Gilmore launches bid for Dist. 1 county commissioner BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer
Dick Gilmore is declaring his candidacy for the District 1 county commissioner position. Gilmore is a Democrat. His campaign slogan is “The Sensible Choice.” Gilmore says, “Lately I have been soliciting input from Delta County residents — retirees, small business owners, wine makers and others. “What I hear from these conversations is what I will call ‘economic envy.’ Folks wish there was a little more money changing hands in Delta County, a higher standard of living, like some surrounding counties have. “This wish comes up against the tightly held conviction that Delta County should stay just as it is — a rural, agricultural, quiet, wonderful place to live.” Gilmore also attended recent Planning Commission meetings regarding the update of the county Master Plan, the three open house meetings seeking citizen input, and the public hearing on the Master Plan. “There are conflicts of interest in the county and different thoughts about the possibility of zoning,” Gilmore said. “The only way forward
to accommodate conflicting interests is through a sensible plan of zoning and reasonable regulations for future development, which will actually increase property values and encourage new businesses to come to Delta County. “Next year the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners will be making decisions concerning all these interests and thoughts. There is the need for open-minded, factualbased leadership in dealing with these complex issues,” Gilmore said. “The decisions the commissioners will make require someone who can communicate with citizens, make sure citizens are heard and their
Dick Gilmore
opinions valued. The road ahead requires leadership experience and personal commitment. “As county commissioner I will bring these needed qualifications to carry out the commissioners’ responsibilities,” he said. Gilmore was born in St. Louis and raised in central Pennsylvania. He has a master’s degree in counseling from Penn State and worked for the Pennsylvania Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation. Gilmore and his wife, Ginny, lived in Golden for many years. Gilmore retired to Delta after 25 years with E.I. DuPont, working in pharmaceutical sales. “I utilized the latest research studies as I shared life-saving facts with specialized medical people,” Gilmore said. He also owned and managed residential rental properties for 20 years. With a skilled partner, he developed about 15 restaurants in Denver and Sedona, Ariz. He says these ventures gave him valuable business experience and respect for small business owners. The Gilmores built their dream home on a 40-acre parcel overlooking Sweitzer Lake.
Spring Cleanup Day
Hospital election
Graduation combined
Weather permitting, Delta County is hosting a free day at the Adobe Buttes Landfill, 12211 Trap Club Road west of Eckert. Spring Cleanup Day is open to residents of Delta County only Saturday, May 19, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The landfill will accept brush, appliances, furniture, tires, etc., but no household trash and no electronics. You’re reminded to secure your load! Standard tipping fees will be waived for the day. The North Fork Transfer Station will be open; regular tipping fees will apply at that location.
Bruce Mixter, Doug Speedie and Tammy Smith were elected to the Delta County Memorial Hospital board of directors during the special district election on May 8. A total of five candidates were on the ballot. In just a few weeks, ballots for the state’s primary election will be mailed. For the first time, unaffiliated voters who have not indicated a preference will receive both a Republican and a Democrat ballot, but they can only vote for one. For more information, visit www.deltacounty.com.
Graduates from the Vision Charter Academy campuses in Delta, Cedaredge and Paonia will be recognized in a combined commencement ceremony Wednesday, May 23, at the Delta Performing Arts Center, 822 Grand Avenue, Delta. The ceremony begins at 5 p.m. Graduates from the Vision Charter Academy, Paonia High, Hotchkiss High, Cedaredge High, Delta High and Olathe High are featured in a special supplement to this week’s issue. Unfortunately, the VCA information is not correct in the supplement, which had gone to press when the error was realized.