NORTH FORK TIMES
SURFACE CREEK NEWS
SPORTS
HOLIDAY GLOW
REINVIGORATION
COMPETITION FOR A CAUSE
Paonia, Hotchkiss residents light up their homes for Christmas, B1-5
Cedaredge Historic Preservation Board looks for fresh approach, C1
Paonia dodgeball tournament benefits Wounded Warriors, C5-6
DELTA COUNTY
DECEMBER 26, 2012 VOL. 129, NO. 52
75¢
INDEPENDENT
www.deltacountyindependent.com
Curriculum marked by collaboration BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
By focusing on just one facet of curriculum, the administration of Delta County Joint School District #50 has been able to allay many of the fears expressed by teachers and parents when the curriculum alignment process was launched two years ago. The goal was to ensure that every student at every grade level, regardless of school or community, was being taught the same core state standards at the same time. Previously, each school was allowed to chart its own path to student achievement. The changes sweeping through the school district left some teachers feeling threatened, and they shared their concerns with parents. After hearing from both teachers and parents, school board members put out a brief survey to determine whether the process should be put on hold. In the end, they voted to proceed and with a new leadership team in place at the district office, the effort was broken down into more manageable pieces. This school year the focus is on assessments; in 2013-14 the focus will shift to gathering and assessing data. The third-year goal is to change instruction based on that data. The result is less stress and anxiety districtwide. The tone is totally different from that expressed in a December
2011 DCI article titled “District curriculum effort creates anxiety.” “Our pace didn’t slow down,” said Connie Vincent,
district curriculum/instructional coordinator. “We’re just getting more focused on smaller pieces of it, not trying to do the whole thing at once.”
“When we started the work, we had in mind that it would be a three- to five-year process,” said assistant superintendent Kurt Clay. “We’re still
on that plan, but we’re trying to be more specific about the target.” Some schools are moving CURRICULUM TO A3
Photo by Pat Sunderland
Blue ribbon celebration Garnet Mesa Elementary students, staff, parents and community members crowded into the school’s Discovery Center last week for a National Blue Ribbon School flag-raising ceremony. The ceremony was originally scheduled for the school’s front lawn, but single-digit temperatures prompted the move indoors. The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Delta Mayor Ed Sisson who declared Dec. 20 “Garnet Mesa Elementary Day.” See story and additional photos on page A6.
City of Delta is open to explosives BY PAT SUNDERLAND Managing Editor
At the request of a local business owner, the Delta City Council has decided to allow storage of explosives and hazardous fuels in the B-3 and I (industrial) zones of the city as a conditional use. Applicants must gain approval of the Delta Planning & Zoning Commission and the Delta City Council before conditional use will be granted. The city will consider only “known materials” that have been identified, classified and regulated by a state or federal agency such as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF). According to the ordinance adopted last week on a 3-1 vote, “No materials shall be allowed where a regulatory agency is found to lack significant and regular oversight adequate to ensure compliance with respective regulations.” In addition, the storage area must be a suitable distance from existing or future habitable sites. The issue was first considered Nov. 20 and moved forward after a 3-2 vote. Council members Robert Jurca and Ray Penick expressed reservations about the safety of the city’s residents and cast the two “nay” votes. Other
council members noted the “incredibly stringent” state and federal regulations which must be met. “With conditional approval, you can consider each application on a caseby-case basis,” city manager Justin Clifton advised council members. Staff and city attorney Mike Schottelkotte were directed to develop an ordinance for the council’s consideration Dec. 4. In light of the split vote, and the fact that explosives are outside the expertise of staff and planning commission members, a work session was scheduled prior to the regular meeting. Two representatives of TK Mining Services were invited to explain how a change in conditional use would affect their business. Dave Schaaf, CEO, said TK Mining has opened a division to handle surface blasting. If a large boulder fell onto the highway, for example, his firm could be brought in to get the road re-opened as quickly as possible. There are several different types of explosives that could be used for that purpose, he explained. “The way those explosives are locked up in a magazine, and the way we deal with the ATF, I’d sleep beside them,” he said. For security purposes
he declined to state exactly where the explosives would be stored, but under the city’s procedures for conditional use, the site would be posted, a notice would be published in the DCI, and property owners within 100 feet of the location
would be notified of a public hearing before the Delta Planning & Zoning Commission. After listening to input from the applicant and those property owners, the P&Z would forward a recommendation for approval or denial to city
council. The public would have a second opportunity to comment before the council made its decision. During the regular meeting following the work session, council decided the proposed EXPLOSIVES TO A3
County expands development rules BY HANK LOHMEYER Staff Writer
The Board of County Commissioners acting on Dec. 17 adopted an ordinance that adds a fourth requirement for obtaining county development permits on new residential or commercial construction. The ordinance applies only in the unincorporated area of the county. The new ordinance adds the requirement for a site plan review on new construction. The requirement has been added to the existing requirements for a county address permit, a county road access permit, and a septic system permit. The commissioners last year adopted the county’s original development permit
ordinance, which brought the process of obtaining address, access, and septic permits together under one umbrella procedure. The ordinance also prescribes penalties that may be imposed for not following the procedure. In other business at their Dec. 17 meeting the Board of County Commissioners dealt with the following matters: • The commissioners directed the county attorney to produce an ordinance for the boards’ consideration concerning Amendment 64. The ordinance would effect the county’s right to “opt-out” from parts of voter-approved Amendment 64 which “legalizes” recreational marijuana businesses. The ordinance under consideration by the
commissioners would affect the unincorporated areas of the county only. If it follows other “opt-out” measures adopted by county municipal governments, it would place a temporary moratorium on marijuana retail, growing, processing, and testing businesses, collectively known as “marijuana facilities.” Other local governments are making their moratoriums temporary until the legislature gives some specific statutory guidance on the recreational marijuana amendment. At that point, expected by the end of July, local governments will be able to consider permanent regulations on the recreational marijuana business in their own jurisdictions. DEVELOPMENT RULES TO A7
INDEX
Ring in the New Year
New year, new hours
Unemployment drops
Accent ........................... A4 Activities ....................... A9 Agriculture .....................B6 Back Page ................... D8 Business ........................ A7 Church ............................C4 Classifieds .................. D1-2 Editorial ......................... A2 Legals ......................... D3-6 North Fork Times ........B1-5 Obituaries ..................... A8 School Zone .................. A6 Service Directory ........ D7 Sports ..........................C5-6 Surface Creek News ...C1-3 TV Listings ..................B3-4
Following a tradition begun at the turn of the century (2000), the Delta County Museum will ring its 10 courtyard bells at the stroke of midnight Dec. 31. As always, the bell ringing is open to the community, with museum doors opening about 11:30 p.m. for hearty people looking for a fun way to welcome the new year. Snacks and drinks are welcome, but no alcohol, please. The museum is located at 251 Meeker Street in Delta. More information is available by calling museum director Jim Wetzel at 874-8721.
All three libraries in the North Fork Valley will have new hours effective Jan. 2. Crawford Library will be open Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Friday afternoons from 2 to 6 p.m. The Hotchkiss Library is open Monday-Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Paonia’s new hours are: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit the Delta Libraries website at www.deltalibraries. org.
The Colorado Department of Labor and Employment reports the state’s unemployment rate decreased two tenths of one percentage point in November to 7.7 percent. The decrease in the unemployment rate was caused by a larger decline in the number of people actively participating in the labor force than the decline in the number of people reporting their status as employed. In Delta County, the unemployment rate was estimated at 7.9 percent, down from 8.1 percent a year ago. October’s unemployment rate was 7.6 percent.