NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
ELECTION 2018
MAJOR MAKEOVER
Voters consider special district for ambulance service, B1
SPORTS SOFTBALL HISTORY
Buell Foundation funds remodel of Little Sprouts playground, C2
DELTA COUNTY
Delta Panthers celebrate regional title, B7
OCTOBER 17, 2018 VOL. 135, NO. 42
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Delta Fire Protection District #1 seeks mill levy increase BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Ballots are in the mail
Chief deputy county clerk Rene Loy Maas organizes the ballots that will be mailed this week. She advises that some eligible voters who live outside of the Delta Fire District 1, North Fork Ambulance Health Service District, North Fork Park and Pool Recreation District or Crawford Water Conservancy District but own property within those districts may receive more than one ballot packet. For information about polling places, drop boxes and other details, see the ad on page A6.
The November ballot will contain a question from Delta County Fire Protection District #1, which covers the Delta area, seeking its first mill levy increase since the fire district was organized in 1944. The mill levy is currently 3.17 mills, reduced from the original 5.0 mills as a result of “ratcheting down” provisions in the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR). If the 1.8 mill increase is approved, the fire district’s total property tax would be slightly less than the 5.0 mills previously authorized by voters. Property tax collections would increase an estimated $210,000 annually. According to figures provided by the fire district, the increase amounts to $1 per month for every $100,000 of residential property, and $4.35 per month for every $100,000 of commercial property.
A second ballot question asks voters to exempt the fire district from TABOR revenue and spending limitations. A “factual summary” recently mailed to electors within the special district outlines the fire district board’s three-year strategic plan, which calls for: a) constructing living quarters for firefighters at the existing station; b) hiring the fire district’s first two paid firefighters; and c) building and equipping two substations. According to the summary, the additional staffing, facilities and equipment will significantly improve the quality of service, cut response times and reduce the fire district’s ISO rating, which could reduce insurance costs for home and business owners. Adam Suppes, a former firefighter who now serves as chairman of the fire board, explains the reasoning behind
the three-year strategic plan. He says a growing call volume is straining the all-volunteer crew of 26. “A big majority of our volunteers have 8 to 5 jobs, and our pool is just not big enough to provide weekday response,” he explained. The board believes the answer is hiring two paid firefighters to cover those weekday calls. Suppes said about half the department’s calls are minor fender benders, carbon monoxide/smoke alarms, fluid clean-ups, small brush fires and other incidents that can be handled by two firemen and one truck. To continue that coverage 24/7, volunteers would be assigned to cover night and weekend shifts from the fire station, with the goal of reducing response times and volunteer callouts. FIRE DISTRICT TO A3
Sheriff expresses frustration with mental health care system BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Delta County Sheriff Fred McKee last week released a press release highlighting the urgent need for mental health services for individuals who are a serious threat to our communities. After sharing his frustration with the lack of options available to a mentally ill inmate, he says he received a positive response from the state Office of Behavioral Health. “Although the subject remains in jail, I believe they’re sincere about trying to find appropriate placement for this individual,” he said on Monday. McKee was a board member with Midwestern Center
for Mental Health for 12 years and served as president of that board for two terms. He helped initiate the movement that eventually led the way for legislation which prohibits sheriffs from incarcerating individuals suffering mental health crisis without criminal charges. He was appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to a mental health task force to work out the details of this new legislation. “Mental health care for our citizens is a serious matter to me,” he said in his press release. “With that said, I am very frustrated with the behavioral health care in our state.” He detailed the situation currently facing the individual in question, who is
described as facing an acute mental crisis. “He does have criminal charges but they are minor and he needs to be in a hospital. A district judge has issued an order stating that this individual has mental illness and as a result, is gravely disabled and long term care and treatment is appropriate. A senior mental health care provider has stated that he is the most seriously ill person she has ever worked with. A bio-hazard clean up team has to be called upon to clean his cell. Also, his immediate family and close relatives have all received restraining orders against him. He has been evaluated and re-evaluated several times in the last MENTAL HEALTH TO A3
DCMH expands, updates services to meet changing environment BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer
“It is remarkable to look back over the past decade and see how far Delta County Memorial Hospital has come in a rapidly changing and challenging health care environment,” Jason Cleckler, CEO, says. “The hospital has grown to be a system that is focused on improving access, quality of care, reducing cost of care, and treating the whole person.” Delta County Memorial Hospital has been a part of the community for over 100 years. In 2018 Cleckler, the board and staff of 650 people adopted
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ......................A11 Back Page ................... D8 Business .......................A12 Church ..........................A10 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Health & Fitness ...... B4-6 Legals ......................... D3-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ....................C12 School Zone .................. A9 Sports ..........................B7-9 Surface Creek News .C1-11 TV Listings ................. D5-6
an aggressive strategic plan: 1) Stabilize and build primary care; 2) Provide access for special services to patients through complementary medicine; 3) Achieve financial viability. Revenue has improved in the last couple of months, Cleckler said. He stresses that DCMH has a commitment to service for the entire community and has established a total of nine clinics: DCMH Family Medicine, Delta; DCMH Urgent Care; Grand Mesa Rheumatology; Grand Mesa Oncology and Infusion Center; West Elk Walk-in Clinic in Paonia; West Elk Clinic in Hotchkiss;
Fall cleanup
The City of Delta’s annual fall cleanup campaign begins Monday, Oct. 22. Residents are advised to have their items out by 7 a.m. Monday to avoid being missed — city crews will systematically visit each neighborhood just once. Place your items for easy pickup next to where you normally place your trash receptacle. Please separate brush and branches from other items. Branches (up to 4 inches in diameter) should be no longer than 10 feet in length. Crews will not pick up tires, batteries, refrigerators, freezers, oil, paint or e-waste, including TVs or computers.
Delta Montrose Home Health; Premier Women’s Healthcare of Delta; and Internal Medicine Associates. Several complementary medical services are available in the DCMH network, including acupuncture, Tai Chi classes and yoga classes. Several nurse practitioners have been hired by the hospital and are located throughout the county in primary care and urgent care clinics. DCMH has been part of an ACO (Accountable Care Organization) for two and one-half years which provides services within the Delta, Montrose, Gunnison and Aspen health care systems. The goal is to DCMH TO A3
Photo courtesy Delta County Fire Protection District #1
In addition to fire suppression, Delta volunteers are trained to handle rescues, extrications and hazardous materials.
Millions in marijuana seized by Delta PD PRESS RELEASE Delta Police Department
On Oct. 12, eight Delta residents were arrested in connection with an illegal marijuana cultivation and processing facility within the City of Delta. The ensuing investigation led investigators to believe the marijuana was being cultivated and processed for the purpose of illegal distribution in Miami, Fla. Multiple firearms were seized, along with marijuana processing equipment valued in the thousands. In addition to the equipment and firearms, 28 marijuana plants and approximately 860 pounds of processed marijuana were seized. The Florida street value of the marijuana was estimated between $2.75 and $3.44 million. The search warrant was executed at 1293 H25 Road with the assistance of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, U.S. Bureau of Alco-
hol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s Black Market Marijuana Task Force and the 7th Judicial Drug Task Force. At the conclusion of the investigation, the Delta Police Department arrested eight Delta residents — Lisset Alvarez-Perez, age 48, Balmer Able Sierra, 45, Yasser Able Sierra-Marin, 43, Yosbany Atucha-Pelaey, 41, Freddy Perez-Maya, 27, Manuel Antonio Morejon-Urquiaga, 80, Dayami Guerra-Arias, 25, and Juan Ayala-Milian, 54. All eight are charged with cultivation of marijuana, a Class 2 drug felony, and possession with intent to distribute marijuana, a Class 1 drug felony. Lisset Alvarez-Perez, Balmer Able Sierra and Yasser Able Sierra-Marin face additional charges of keeping/maintaining property for controlled substances, a misdemeanor.
Ballots require 71¢ in postage County clerks in Colorado began mailing ballots on Monday, Oct. 15. With the exception of Orchard City and Cedaredge, most active registered voters in Delta County will be receiving a two-page ballot for the 2018 General Election. The first page will be printed front and back; the second page will be printed on the front only. The Delta County clerk and recorder’s office reminds voters to complete both pages. Ballots may be returned by mail or at a 24-hour drop box located at the Delta County Courthouse, 501 Palmer Street in Delta; the North Fork Annex, 196 W. Hotchkiss Avenue in Hotchkiss; or the Cedaredge Library, 180 SW 6th Avenue, Cedaredge. The polling location in the Delta County Courthouse opens Oct. 22. The county clerk must receive your ballot no later than 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 for it to be counted. Mailed ballots will require a first class stamp and an additional ounce stamp. Eligible voters who live outside of the Delta Fire District 1, North Fork Ambulance Health Service District, North Fork Park and Pool Recreation District or Crawford Water Conservancy District but own property within these districts may receive more than one ballot packet.