NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
SPORTS
TIED VOTE
CEDAREDGE REMEMBERS
VOLUNTEER TRIBUTE
Crawford struggles with kids speeding on ATVs, dirt bikes, B1
American Legion observes 10th anniversary of 9/11, C1
DHS coaches, community members honored at halftime, B6
DELTA COUNTY
SEPTEMBER 14, 2011 VOL. 128, NO. 37
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
City will de-annex subdivision BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
Jennings Landing was one of several major subdivisions proposed for Delta when the recession hit and construction came to a standstill.
Located on a 102-acre parcel adjacent to Sweitzer State Park, Jennings Landing was annexed into the city in May 2007. Grace Homes, the developer, planned to subdivide the acreage and build 261 single
family homes. The subdivision was the topic of several planning commission hearings, as the developer worked through the requirements for extending city water and sewer beyond the current
Photo by Hank Lohmeyer
America will remember The 540 students of Lincoln Elementary School attended a 9/11 community remembrance sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. The ceremony was held Sept. 9 at the school. Above, Elanor Dare, Tyrell Cross, Ethan Dressel, Peyton McLaughlin and Hope Williams — students in Mrs. Menke’s first grade class — recite the pledge of allegiance.
Taxpayers ‘on the hook’ for $21B pension bill BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
Colorado taxpayers are the deep pockets of last resort to make good a $21 billion debt for pensions to public sector retirees. That’s billion, with a “b.” State treasurer Walker Stapleton in Delta last week said that every Colorado taxpayer has a $15,000 personal liability for making good on government promises to its retired workers, promises that exceed the money available to keep them by $21 billion. “This (unfunded liability) has to be back filled with taxpayers’ money,” he said. Addressing a joint meeting of the Delta Area Chamber of Commerce and the Delta Rotary Club, he said, “It is time for Colorado to face the hard choices...to address and deal with...this unsustainable system.” In a 2010 feature story on Colorado’s public pension time bomb, the New York times reported that the average Colorado public sector retiree is 58 years old and receives a check each month for $2,883. Stapleton told his audience of about 60 people that the state’s public employee retire-
INDEX Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A7 Agriculture .....................C8 Back Page ................. D10 Bruin Tracks ................C3-6 Church ........................... D6 Classifieds .................. D1-3 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-5 North Fork Times ........B1-4 Obituaries .................. A5-6 Service Directory ........ D9 Sports ..........................B5-8 Surface Creek News ...C1-7 TV Listings ................. D7-8
ment system, known as PERA, has been piling up liabilities in excess of available funds since 2001. PERA lost $12 billion on its investment portfolio in 2008 alone. What’s more, PERA’s governing board bases its $21 billion deficit estimate on anticipated future returns of eight percent annually on its investments. The deficit will skyrocket higher if future returns fall short of that figure. If investments do better, the deficit would decline or disappear. The crisis created by PERA’s overly generous pension promises to government workers has been the subject of legislative action and a retiree lawsuit. But the “estimated” $21 billion deficit remains. Stapleton said he has felt “extraordinary pressure” against making necessary changes for creating a fiscally sound PERA system. With a legislative “guarantee” of payment, members of its 15-member governing board who have vested interests in the system are opposed to needed reforms, he explained. PERA describes its membership as “employees of the Colorado state government, public school teachers in the
state, many university and college employees, judges, many employees of cities and towns, state troopers, and the employees of a number of other public entities.” Stapleton also shared his views on the state’s budget problems. The challenge is crafting and passing a balanced state budget which is three-fourths mandated spending. “It will only get worse with universal health care,” he said. Three-fourths of the state’s budget is taken by K-12 spending and Medicaid entitlements, Stapleton said. That leaves only a fourth of the state’s budget to cover corrections, mental health services, and infrastructure. Constitutional limits on government spending already in place are countered by mandated education spending. Even though Amendment 23 requires increased K-12 spending every year, “It has no connection with the amount of money available.” All the while, increased education spending yields declining graduation rates and stagnant reading scores. “We need results-based (education) budgeting,” Stapleton said.
boundaries — a process that was certain to be costly and time-consuming. Now, the owner recognizes that the housing market is not likely to rebound any time soon. Since the acreage will be used for agricultural purposes for the foreseeable future, the owner sees no compelling reason to remain within city limits. Glen Black, the city’s community development director, said staff also believes there’s no strong reason to keep the property within the city. The city has made no investment in infrastructure and actually is responsible for maintaining all of E Road and a portion of Highway 50, which were annexed to create contiguity to city boundaries. Two homes located within the 102-acre parcel are technically served by the Delta Police Department. If the property is deannexed, those services would revert back to the county. The property owner, B & W Investments, was represented
Purchase of river access finalized BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
The City of Delta has finalized the purchase of an abandoned gravel pit in North Delta. While the 56.5-acre parcel will one day become part of the city’s parks system, it is currently closed to the public for reclamation. Parks director Paul Suppes told city council members last week that he would like to try to open the facility — which has yet to be named — for fishing, walking and boating by spring 2013. The parcel has two prized attributes — an 11-acre lake and access to the Gunnison River. It adjoins the old Cottonwood golf course, which provides an opportunity for an extensive trail system which could one day extend along the banks of the Gunnison River to Confluence Park. But to begin with, the city envisions a trail around the lake, a lake stocked with trout, some picnic sites, river access and a boat dock for the lake. The property was permitted as a gravel pit by Lafarge in the 1970s. As a condition of the sale, the city assumes responsibility for reclamation from Lafarge. That process will involve the removal of piles of gravel, limestone and used asphalt. Some of the open space will have to be covered with topsoil and planted with native grass. The tamarisk and Russian olive trees that have been allowed to proliferate will need to be cut back and treated. Downed cottonwood trees and branches will be burned. Suppes and
DPD will provide accident reports It turns out you can fight city hall. At a city council meeting last month, Orval Proctor complained about traffic accident reports that are available only online. After struggling to access his accident report through the Internet, he said he would gladly pay $10 to $20 at the police department just to get a copy. Proctor, a local business owner, reiterated his concerns in a letter to the editor (DCI Aug. 31). The City of Delta responded with the announcement that accident reports will now be available at the police department
at the Sept. 6 city council meeting by attorney Aaron Clay. He assured council members that the owner has no intention of developing the property. City attorney Mike Schottelkotte said according to state statutes, it is the duty of the governing body to give due consideration to requests for de-annexation if the governing body is of the opinion the city’s interests will not be prejudiced by the disconnection. “City staff is probably right,” he said. “The city could safely give up its interests.” The only objection was voiced by council member Guy Pfalzgraff, who said he is “adamantly opposed” to de-annexation. He believes there’s the potential for “opening the floodgates.” With four out of five council members in favor of de-annexation, city staff was authorized to prepare the necessary documents. A fee of $300 will be required to cover the cost of staff and attorney review.
for $9 — the same price as accessing the report online. When an accident occurs, DPD officers have been providing a card which outlines how to obtain the accident report at www. docview.us.com. The information can be accessed by the driver and their insurance company 24 hours a day. The online accident reports remain an “excellent tool,” city manager Joe Kerby said. He believes most citizens will find them useful and convenient. But for those without Internet access, there’s now another option.
his crew will look at a pump house and a weigh house that are on the property, to determine if they might be of use in the future. If not they’ll be demolished or removed. During the reclamation process, Suppes said he plans to apply for a Fishing is Fun grant to stock the lake and a GOCO grant to develop a master plan for both Cottonwood and the new property. The city is already seeking GOCO funds to reimburse itself for the $250,000 purchase of the property. The city will also be working with the county to identify a river corridor through Delta. City manager Joe Kerby says the purchase is a “critical piece of ground” for rafters, especially now that removal of the Hartland Dam is underway. To avoid the hazardous roller dam, rafters and canoeists have been forced to use the Hwy. 65 takeout. With the removal of the dam, they’ll be able to downstream and, eventually, to the new takeout near Cottonwood. After reviewing the fiveyear land management plan, Mayor Mary Cooper said there was one line that “trips my trigger.” That line referred to the development of more ball fields at Cottonwood. It was her understanding, she said, that the property was not to be developed, that it would simply be added to the city’s “inventory.” “Now here we go,” she said. Suppes said the planning grant will look at the “downrange” need for ball fields RIVER ACCESS TO A3
Volunteers needed The Abraham Connection Homeless Shelter is in need of volunteers to work in shelter overnight, in six-hour shifts. The shelter is open November-April, and serves Delta County homeless families, men and women. This is a community effort, which will not be successful without your support. Please consider volunteering just one shift a month. Volunteer training will be held Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m., at the Delta United Methodist Church basement (where the shelter is located). Dinner will be served. If interested, or if you have questions, please call 773-8290.