NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
A NEW CHAPTER
Former HK-8 principal shares her wisdom with Hotchkiss grads, B1
CLASS OF 2019
SPORTS
Cedaredge High School awards diplomas to 66 graduates, C1
DELTA COUNTY
TITLE CHASE IS OVER
Baseball season comes to an end for Delta Panthers, B5 MAY 29, 2019 VOL. 136, NO. 22
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INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
DMEA ballots to be mailed this week STAFF REPORT
Delta-Montrose Electric Association’s attempts to buy out its contract with Tri-State Generation and Transmission are focal points for the five candidates seeking election to the DMEA board of electors. Incumbent Brad Harding is running unopposed for the District 3 seat. Ken Watson, incumbent for the District 4 seat, is challenged by David White. South Region candidates are Kenneth Otto and Jock Fleming. The seat is currently held by Tony Prendergast, who is term-limited. DMEA’s annual meeting and vote for three open seats on its board of directors is June 20 at Hotchkiss High School. Ballots are being mailed this week and must be returned before polls close at 6 p.m. June 20. DMEA, which has long chafed at Tri-State’s contract provisions limiting the amount of power it can purchase from other sources, is asking the Colorado Public Utilities Commission to help determine a fair exit fee it can pay Tri-State to leave the contract early. The cooperative says Tri-State has refused to set an equitable exit fee. Tri-State has contended the PUC does not have authority over the matter and that DMEA does not have a given right to seek an exit fee, but the PUC has determined that it does have jurisdiction. “I believe that we here in
Montrose and Delta are sending too much money to TriState (Generation and Transmission Association),” said Fleming. Fleming has practiced law locally for more than 30 years and is a past member of the Colorado Utility Consumers Board, which put him in front of the PUC a number of times over a 10-year period. “Having done that, I now understand the process of going through a PUC proceeding. I understand, after 10 years on the (utility consumers) board, how utilities work, how utilities operate,” Fleming said. “That is different than knowing how you get power. I know how to run the company that is delivering that power. I know how the company works. I know how the PUC operates and how to navigate through a PUC proceeding.” Fleming also expressed support for DMEA’s subsidiary internet company, Elevate Fiber. He said broadband is critical to rural areas’ ability to participate in the modern economy. “Without high-speed broadband, rural areas really aren’t part of the internet economy. Rural areas really get left behind without broadband. What DMEA is now doing with Elevate I think is very important. I think it needs to be done in a fiscally responsible manner, but it definitely needs to be done,” Fleming said.
Fleming also touted his experience on other commu-
Staff Writer
Progress was made at the May 22 meeting of the Delta County Planning Commission on the specific development application of Jared Graff Enterprises, LLC for Best Rock, Sand & Gravel Pit 1. Ben Langenfeld, P.E., of Greg Lewicki and Associates, shared information from discussions with neighbors who live along G Road, with the City of Delta, and further feedback from Delta County officials. Regarding City of Delta’s sewer line and Confluence Lake, which lies just east of the proposed gravel pit: 1) Prior to mining below the water table within 1,000 feet of Confluence Lake, the operator will provide the City of Delta with a hydrological analysis of the area groundwater regime with respect to potential impacts due to dewatering with the pit. This analysis will be conducted by a third-party engineer. 2) No mining will occur within 100 feet of the City of Delta sewer line. Mining along the sewer line path will be to a slope of 4H:IV, or shallower. Upon completion of mining this slope, riprap armoring
INDEX
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Back Page ................... D6 Business ........................ A8 Church ............................C6 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D2-4 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries ......................B6 Service Directory ........ D5 School ........................... A6 Sports .............................B5 Surface Creek News ...C1-5 TV Listings ..................C3-4
will be installed as shown on Map C-4 Slope Armoring. 3) Prior to any excavation within 500 feet of the City of Delta sewer line, the sewer line and associated setbacks will be marked in the field. 4) Jared Graff Enterprises will institute a three-strike system for all haul trucks leaving the site. For first complaint of excessive speed or dangerous driving, a warning will be given. A second infraction will lead to the driver being suspended from driving onto the site for two years. A third infraction will lead to a lifetime ban for the driver. The operator will provide a report of all complaints received. Graff visited personally with his neighbors after the April 24 meeting of the planning commission. Only four neighbors spoke at the May 22 meeting. All were in support of the gravel pit while expressing considerable concern about traffic. Andy Crawford said the traffic will be “horrendous” and the current road system cannot accommodate the expected amount of truck traffic over the next 30 to 50 years. He said the City of Delta needs to limit traffic headed west. Martha Mira said the cur-
He served on the MontroseDMEA CANDIDATES TO A3
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Rite of passage
Haylee Van Zomeran leads a parade of fifth graders through the halls of Garnet Mesa Elementary School, as younger students wish them well on their transition to Delta Middle School. The fifth graders exited the building to an outdoor continuation ceremony. All this took place during the last day of school on Friday, May 24.
Matt Soper looks back on a successful legislative session BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Although Republicans are in the minority in the Colorado House of Representatives, Matt Soper, House District 54,
Negotiations continue with Best Rock Sand and Gravel BY ANNETTE BRAND
nity boards as positioning him for DMEA service.
rent traffic onto Graff Road is terrible and the road is too narrow for the increase in traffic. She said the city and the state need to address traffic at Highway 348 and Confluence Drive. Virgie Ramos expressed concern with the road and how close it is to their house. “The entry to the road is horrible,” she said. Luis Ramos agreed, noting that the dust and mud created by the traffic is “really a mess.” Luke Fedler, Delta chief of police, was present representing Delta. He is also a nearby resident. Fedler agreed that the neighbors’ concerns are valid, stating that 19 cars were backed up at the intersection recently. He called for a traffic study. Planning commission members discussed the neighbors’ concerns and other matters that will be dealt with at their meeting in June — hours of operation, the condition of Graff Road, whether a stoplight is needed at Hwy. 348 and Confluence Drive, screening between Graff Road and the houses on the road, screening between the pit and Confluence Park, and traffic study.
believes he and his colleagues demonstrated effective leadership during the first regular session of the 72nd General Assembly. “Even though the 2019 legislative session was crushing, as a minority, the Republicans were not crushed,” he said in an interview last week. He referred to numerous committee hearings that ran until midnight, and even a few that didn’t end until 4 or 5 a.m. “It’s lucky that I’m naturally a late night person,” he said. “When people were starting to nod off, I had my second boost of energy.” Soper has left the gold dome and returned to his home on Hartig Drive. Questions about that residence generated a great deal of controversy in the days following the November election, but Soper said those concerns have been laid to rest. He’s planning some remodeling projects on the historic home and finalizing plans for his marriage to Sarah Wang on Oct. 19. He will also hold town halls in Delta, Palisade and Fruita, the three largest communities in his district. The Delta town hall is set for Saturday, June 1, 1 to 3 p.m. at Needle Rock Brewing Company. On June 29, he will participate in a national popular vote debate sponsored by the Libertarian Party of Delta County. The time and location of that event are to be announced. In his first year in office, Soper was named to the Judiciary and the Health and Insurance Committees, two of the biggest commitees with some “hot ticket” bills.
Of the many bills passed during the 2019 legislative session, Soper said one that will immediately impact the citizens of Delta County is legislation that caps out-ofnetwork charges for medical care. Three bills have the potential to increase revenue for Delta County Joint School District #50 and Technical College of the Rockies. The funding of all-day kindergarten, which is already offered in Delta County, will free up funds for other needs. In speaking with Caryn Gibson, superintendent of schools, Soper said he encouraged 50J to move those funds to teacher pay. Expansion of the BEST (Building Excellent Schools Today) opens the door for grant funding of metal shops, wood shops and auto mechanics classrooms. The third bill allows the state’s three vocational colleges, including Technical College of the Rockies, to apply for capital funds from the state. Soper said he sponsored 13 bills, 10 of which made their way to the governor’s desk. That’s an impressive record for a first lawmaker by any account. HB 1087 allows local governments to post meeting notices online. HB 1030 makes it a crime for a person in a position of trust to send sexually explicit text messages. After a great deal of political maneuvering, the bill passed with just one no vote was signed into law by Governor Jared Polis last week. HB 1265 prohibits the SOPER TO A8
Watch for flooding on trails
Coffee with the Chief
On May 22, City of Delta parks supervisor Tony Bohling posted the following on Facebook: “Starting today (5/22) the Bureau of Reclamation will begin ramping up the flow of the Gunnison River from the Aspinall Unit dams until a target flow of 14,350 cfs is reached. That will be the same amount of water that caused flooding in Confluence Park in 2017. This flow will be held at that level for 10 days which means the heaviest flooding will take place between June 1 and approximately June 12. Because of the high flow, please consider not using the trails in Confluence Park during this time. We don’t have the ability to close off all access because of the size of the area, but warning signs will be set up. The swinging bridge will be raised and fenced off starting this Friday. I expect that we will see the same amount of damage that we saw in 2017 ... we will do our best to complete any needed repairs by early fall. Water will be on approximately 2,000 feet of Confluence Trail ... please use caution.”
Chief Luke Fedler and the Delta Police Department invite the community to the second quarter Coffee with the Chief on Thursday, May 30, from 7 to 9 a.m. at Bill Heddles Recreation Center. An introduction to the K-9 program will be featured, including a meet-and-greet with K9 Raico and Officer William Hammon. Detective Clint Swope will have a drug awareness presentation, and the chief will discuss current criminal trends seen by Delta PD in our community. There will be time for a Q&A session and to visit with attending police department staff. Coffee and pastries will be provided by the Delta Police Department.