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DELTA COUNTY
OCTOBER 10, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 41
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Clerk, commissioner candidates face off BY EMY LYNN ROQUE CISNEROS Contributing Writer
The Republican and Democratic Central Committees of Delta County jointly hosted a candidate forum at Bill Heddles Recreation Center Oct. 2. Invitations were extended to 10 local and state candidates in five races. To keep the event moving, representatives from both parties sat down to brainstorm questions which were provided to the candidates in advance of the event. Over 50 questions from the public were compiled for the contested offices that will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot. The format was a departure from traditional candidate forums, but served the same purpose — to allow candidates to introduce themselves and for voters to learn more about their priorities for office. The conference room at Bill Heddles Recreation Center was filled to capacity as Stacy Lowe (D) and Teri Stephenson (R) opened the dialogue. They are running for county clerk and recorder. Based on a coin toss, Lowe began with her introduction. A Delta County resident for 10 years, she has owned a Paonia business for six and worked in health care prior to that for 13 years. Stephenson is an incumbent who is completing her first four-year term as clerk and recorder. Lowe was asked about protection of personal information. Her answer focused on how the current policies are satisfactory, but she would assess and make changes as needed to maintain privacy. Stephenson was asked about increasing access to services for people who work 8-5 weekdays. Stephenson responded with services that are offered outside of the office such as a marriage and license kiosk, online docu-
ments and registration, mail ballots, extended voting hours and 24-hour dropboxes. Asked about the best manner to publish the minutes of county meetings, Lowe said the most current online minutes are from August. With the technology available she wants to use Civic Clerk to simplify and automate meetings and keep constituents more informed. Stephenson vowed to keep the public informed and educated, and expressed a desire for more outreach. Lowe said she has a “vision of progressive change” involving a more digitized office offering a web-based citizen portal. She also wants to increase transparency by having audio or video streaming of commissioner meetings. She would like to see extended hours twice a week to make the office more accessible. On the county level, the only other contested race is for Delta County commissioner, District #1. Mike Lane, R, began with his introduction. He was born and raised in Delta and has an agriculture and banking background. Dick Gilmore, D, said he “quit a good job to move [to Delta]” and couldn’t be happier. Asked about the Master Plan, Lane acknowledged how much time and effort has been put into the plan and said the vision will be useful. However, he would like to see it shortened with more user-friendly language. Gilmore was asked about the county’s budget reserve. Additionally, the question asked, “At what point should unused money be given back to the taxpayers?” Gilmore said he would have more roads paved or libraries funded, but only if there was certain to be no more economic troubles. He likes that Delta County plays it safe. Reserve
Traffic stop yields meth and heroin
An Oct. 3 traffic stop resulted in the seizure of a large amount of suspected methamphetamine and heroin. According to Delta County Undersheriff Mark Taylor, a sheriff ’s deputy stopped a 2014 Toyota Tundra in the parking lot of 1410 Valley View Drive, Delta, after observing the driver make several traffic violations. During the contact the deputy learned the driver, Lonny Hilbers, 42, was on parole from the Colorado Department of Corrections. The deputy contacted Hilbers’ Lonny parole officer, who
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responded to the scene. A search of Hilbers’ vehicle and contents was conducted by the deputy and parole officer. Approximately 8 grams of suspected heroin and approximately 37 grams of suspected methamphetamine were seized, along with cash and other evidence. Hilbers was booked into the Delta County jail on charges of unlawful distribution (possession with intent to distribunlawful ute), possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) and unlawful possession of a controlled substance Hilbers (heroin).
funds, he explained, are also mandated by the state. Lane was then asked what pet peeves he has about government at his level, but couldn’t cite any. Gilmore was asked about priorities. One is to see more diversity in the courthouse. Economic growth is also a pri-
ority. Lane was asked his opinion on leasing public lands for oil and gas development. “Oil and gas provides revenue but needs to be done correctly,” he said. For example, working closely and monitoring the companies would be a priority, as would working with those
who are opposed. In response to a question about climate change, Gilmore said climate change is real, and is in fact the gravest threat facing the human race today. He said it’s important to make changes now because “soon it will be past the point CANDIDATE FORUM TO A3
Photo by Emy Lynn Roque Cisneros
Ten candidates for state and local office, including Senate District 5 candidates Olen Lund and Kerry Donovan (pictured above), answered questions at a joint Republican-Democrat forum held at Bill Heddles Recreation Center.
Bicycle Tour of Colorado leaves nonprofits hanging BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
“We have no funds. We are not sure when we will have funds.” That’s the response the Delta Band Parents received from organizers of Bicycle Tour of Colorado, which made an overnight stop in Delta in June. Early in the year, organizers reached out to the community, looking for service organizations willing to provide meals for the event’s 1,500 cyclists. Welcoming an opportunity to raise funds, the band parents agreed to provide breakfast. They spent $700 for food with the understanding they would be reimbursed, plus come away with a profit of about $1,100. Unfortunately, the $1,800 check from Bicycle Tour of Colorado bounced. The Kiwanis Club of Delta, which provided dinner, and chamber ambassadors, who served lunch, also came up short. “That’s almost $5,000 Bicycle Tour of Colorado owes the community of Delta,” said Darnell Place-Wise, who was executive director of the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce during the planning stages of the tour. In addition, Place-Wise made arrangements for a beer garden and live music, and facilitated use of Bill Heddles Recreation Center with city
staff. Nancy Doerer, the facilities coordinator for the City of Delta, confirms the city received payment in full. Jill Jurca, Delta Band Parents treasurer, reached out to the media as soon as she realized the band’s check had bounced. “As treasurer, I deposited the check they gave me and didn’t think much about it until I was balancing our books this past weekend. The check bounced; they have no money. So now the band and others (Kiwanis, chamber, city) are out money,” she said. “This money was going towards our 2018 marching season to help defray costs for students as well as pay for much-needed improvements to our front ensemble carts and for backdrops for the field. We are saddened by this occurrence and now are scrambling to make up the funds to keep a healthy reserve for future years and get the much-needed equipment. “The Bicycle Tour of Colorado should be held accountable.” Place-Wise explains the cyclists not only paid to participate in the ride, they also had the option of pre-purchasing meal tickets at each of the stops. She said 110 meal tickets were sold for lunch, 105 for dinner and 180 for breakfast. “Bicycle Tour of Colorado got
paid for those meals,” she said. Extra meals were prepared for cyclists who opted for payas-you-go meals. After the story hit Front Range media, Place-Wise said a Denver woman called with a $1,000 donation to the band. And despite the fact they’re out $1,365, the Kiwanis Club of Delta voted Tuesday to make a $500 donation to the band. “The club won’t fall apart because we didn’t get our $1,365,” said club president Al Formicola. “But the band is different.” “That’s what’s great about living in a small town,” said Place-Wise. In an email to Jurca, the mother-daughter tour organizers explain that some sponsors did not come through with money promised to the Bicycle Tour of Colorado. “If we had the funds right now, we would pay you immediately. We do not have the funds. We are doing what we can to resolve the issue.” On behalf of both the chamber and the band parents, Place-Wise said she’s outraged over the turn of events. “We have regionals coming up and we have a good chance to qualify for state. Since state competition is in Pueblo, that will mean meals and two overnight stays in a hotel. “It’s a lot of money, and that $1,800 would have helped.”
Sample ballots are available online
DMEA ballots due
Voters in Delta County will be receiving ballots that are three to four pages in length. If you want to get a head start on deciding how to vote, you can check out the sample ballot on the county website, www.deltacounty.com. Colorado has a number of open seats and will elect a new governor, attorney general, state treasurer and at-large member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents. The secretary of state’s race is the only constitutional office featuring an incumbent. Coloradans will vote to retain or reject judges, from the Colorado Supreme Court to the county court level. All seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are up for election, as are all 65 seats in the state House. In the state Senate, 17 of 35 state Senate seats are on the ballot. Voters will consider 13 statewide ballot measures — six put on by the Colorado General Assembly and seven by citizens. In addition, local governments will have their own issues on the ballot. Clerks will begin mailing ballots to in-state voters Oct. 15. Please go to GoVote Colorado.com to see if your mailing address is correct. Ballots do not forward.
Members of Delta-Montrose Electric Association are considering a proposal from DMEA to amend the co-op’s Articles of Incorporation. Mail-in ballots were mailed in late September and must be returned by Oct. 12. Members may also drop off ballots or vote in person at a special meeting to be held Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 8 to 10 a.m. at DMEA headquarters, 11925 6300 Road, Montrose. Visit www.dmea.com/voteyes to read a full copy of the proposed Articles of Incorporation and review the frequently asked questions.