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West’s plaza design to be unveiled Tuesday BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
City staff and council representatives have had an opportunity to preview the conceptual design for the pocket park to be installed in the lot that’s soon to be cleared of West’s Home Center. Community members are invited to see the final concept themselves at the city council meeting Tuesday, April 16. The meeting begins in the city council chambers at 7 p.m. The design is the work of CU Denver master’s candidate students in the College
of Architecture and Planning, who combined their creativity with the feedback received at a community meeting conducted in Delta earlier this year. The result is a “cohesive park environment” off Main Street that celebrates Delta’s landscape and culture, explained Chris Endreson, University Technical Assistance supervisor for the Western Slope. The University Technical Assistance program provides rural communities with assistance on projects that enhance places and spaces through a partnership with
the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) and the Colorado Center for Community Development. The CU design team “absolutely nailed what we articulated,” said councilmember Christopher Ryan following a preview of the design. “I love
it,” Mayor Ron Austin echoed. The design features a terracotta-colored concrete surface with the Gunnison and Uncompahgre rivers represented by meandering paths of blue cobblestones. Boulders, a rock “canyon” and a natural playscape further reflect the
landscape surrounding Delta. There’s plenty of seating, water-wise plantings and gateways from both Main Street and the alley. Bike racks, public restrooms and a shaded stage are all incorporated into the design. To ensure the POCKET PARK TO A3
Moratorium lifted on medical marijuana BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
With a 4-0 vote, Delta City Council lifted the moratorium on medical marijuana establishments in the City of Delta at its April 2 meeting. Council action triggers a timeline that defines the application and approval process, as previously approved in an ordinance adopted by Delta City Council. The first step is notice that applications will be available at the city clerk’s office beginning at 9 a.m. April 10, until 4:30 p.m. on April 16. Pursuant to city code, the application deadline may be extended for some types of medical marijuana establishments if fewer applications are submitted by the deadline than the number of available licenses. A three-month moratorium was enacted shortly after voters approved the sale of medical marijuana in November, to give council time to address zoning and licensing issues. The moratorium was extended an additional three months and without council action, would have automatically expired on May 13. “If we did not lift the moratorium, would that in fact prevent medical marijuana shops
and sales in Delta?” Mayor Ron Austin asked at the April 2 meeting. His question was an attempt to clear up a misconception that as long as the moratorium remains in effect, there will be no medical marijuana establishments in the city. “No,” said city attorney David McConaughy, “and I don’t think you’d have a basis to extend it again either.” By doing nothing, and allowing the moratorium to expire automatically, McConaughy said council would simply be delaying the issuance of licenses and making it harder for staff and the planning commission to comply with the deadlines council adopted. After additional discussion about timelines, councilmember Gerald Roberts made a motion to lift the moratorium. “In light of the fact that we have those two ordinances in place (zoning and licensing), it has come time to terminate the moratorium,” he said. Council was in agreement. Councilmember Christopher Ryan was absent from the April 2 meeting, which explains why only four votes were cast.
Forum addresses tough conversations BY ANNETTE BRAND Staff Writer
In opening the third land use community forum, held at Paonia Town Hall, Elyse Casselberry, the county’s community and economic development director, noted that Delta County is made up of six diverse communities. “We need to hear from all voices, listen to all voices, listen to the ‘me-versus-you’ conversations, the ‘my rightsversus-your rights’ conversations,” Casselberry said. “We are setting a new foundation for how Delta County makes changes. “Delta County is a great place to live. We have been
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Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Back Page ................... D8 Bruin Tracks ............. C3-6 Business ........................ A8 Church ..................... B4, D4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ............................ D3 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ......................C8 School ........................ A5-6 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-7 TV Listings ................. D5-6
told to expect 2 percent growth for the next several years. We want to plan for opportunities for today’s children to stay in Delta County, or come back to Delta County after they have been away for higher education,” she said Casselberry introduced the governmental panel for the evening discussions: Angela Mackey, chairman of the Delta County Planning Commission, Mary Hockenbery, Hotchkiss trustee, and Chelsea Bookout, Paonia trustee. Members of Delta High School LULAC, described as “an amazing group of young people,” helped with the COMMUNITY FORUM TO A3
University Technical Assistance conceptual design
During a design workshop earlier this year, community members expressed a preference for an arched gateway, so that’s what CU students incorporated into a conceptual design for the pocket park at West’s Home Center. The pocket park, or plaza, does not yet have a formal name — the Youth Advisory Council has been tasked with that assignment.
New marketing coordinator hits the ground running BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
While divided on some issues, Delta City Council members have been united in their desire to better “brand” the city with the longterm goal of increasing tourism and expanding the city’s economic base. That goal was one of the top priorities of the 2019 budget, which included funding for a new marketing and outreach position. As outlined in the city’s strategic plan, essential job duties for the marketing coordinator include organizing and coordinating a variety of new and existing special events, facilitating citywide marketing and branding efforts, managing the city’s website and social media, and serving as the city’s public information officer. The new marketing coordinator will answer directly to Wilma Erven, director of parks, recreation and golf for the City of Delta. After combing through 18 applications, and selecting a handful for interviews, she offered the position to Darin Hamm. As a state CRAFT grant for tourism winds down, Hamm will be tasked with implementation of a “huge” action plan developed through a series of community stakeholder meetings. At the top of that action plan is the Smith Mountain Rally, a two-day mountain bik-
ing event to take place April 26 and 27. Hamm has already established a Facebook page and website for that event at smithmountainrally.com, and has set up a new Instagram feed @VisitDeltaCO. He designed Smith Mountain Rally brochures and posters to be distributed across the region. The first annual rally consists of three unique mountain bike experiences — a short evening race on Friday, April 26, followed by a tour Saturday of the roads surrounding the planned Smith Mountain bike trails on BLM land east of Delta. The day ends with an option to run the Sidewinder Short Loop Trail. “This is a really neat opportunity,” said Hamm, who said he’s excited to be part of the future of Delta. Hamm has resided in Delta for the past seven years, but visited family members in the area frequently prior to moving here. He earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising, design and marketing from Oklahoma Christian University and worked in graphic design before transitioning to ministry. He moved to Delta to serve as a church pastor, and has also worked with youth as a coach and substitute teacher. Though not employed full-time as a graphic artist, he continued to lend his creativity to a variety of causes. He’s enthusiastic about sharing all that Delta has to
offer with the outside world through a tourism plan that’s been dubbed “Destination Delta.” Erven echoes a sentiment frequently expressed by council members, who recall the energy and enthusiasm that brought All America City honors to Delta. “We need to recapture that passion,” she said. While his focus is on Delta, Hamm will also be fostering relationships with members of the Delta County Tourism Cabinet, as well as tourism officials in neighboring communities. As the city’s vision for the future moves into implementation, Erven said there will be a number of ways to measure success, including sales tax, hotel surveys and Google analytics. Hamm’s office is located at Bill Heddles Recreation Center, 874-0923, or he can be reached via email at darin@cityofdelta.net.
Darin Hamm
BLM plans prescribed burns
Call before you burn
The Bureau of Land Management Uncompahgre Field Office plans to conduct prescribed fires in Montrose County in the coming weeks when conditions warrant. The 554-acre Dry Mesa Prescribed Fire is planned 10 miles south of Highway 50 between Delta and Grand Junction to enhance mule deer habitat, improve range conditions and reduce fuel loadings in the area. “We will only ignite these prescribed fires if conditions are ideal for safe, effective burns, as well as for good smoke dispersal away from area communities,” said fire management specialist Rusty Stark. The prescribed fires may take multiple days to complete once initiated, and will be monitored throughout the process to ensure public safety. While smoke may be visible, most of the smoke will lift and dissipate during the warmest parts of the day. For additional information, contact Rusty Stark at 970-240-5393.
According to a county ordinance, Delta County Dispatch must be notified before initiating an agricultural burn. If you plan to burn a ditch or field within unincorporated Delta County, you must first call dispatch at 399-2955. If the fire danger is high, you will be notified it’s a “red flag” fire day and fires are prohibited. The ordinance establishes penalties and fines for violation of either failure to notify dispatch of the intent to burn and/or initiation of a fire on a “red flag” day. Delta County and the State of Colorado have additional restrictions on open burning. Those restrictions can be viewed on the county website, www.deltacounty. com. Municipal regulations can be obtained from your local city/town hall.