• Commissioners approved three unnoticed agenda items added during the meeting: early capital spending for a water tanker and two resolutions to replat SUB17-023 and SUB18-001.
• Commissioners signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the County Commissioners and The Nature Connection that outlines county funding in conjuction with a $1.7 million lottery-fund grant awarded to the Nature Connection to promote youth in the outdoors. A few of the proposed projects include the long awaited boat ramp at the County Fairgrouds; a climbing wall in Cedaredge; ski rental equipment on the Grand Mesa; and career path programs for kids interested in outdoor jobs.
FROM The Nature Connection website:
GOCO Award:
$1,729,663.50
Partner Cash/In-Kind Match:
$1,222,325.56
The Nature Connection GOCO Inspire
Grant Project total: $2,951, 979.06 (over three years for all of Delta County and Olathe – to the penny!)
Place Developments:
– Cedaredge: Climbing wall, archery, pump track, walking path with exercise equipment, GEAR hub satellite at Cedaredge Library
– Crawford: Climbing boulder, Shade structure, Community garden, C-hill trail improvements, StoryWalk trail at Crawford State Park
– Delta: Climbing Boulders at each school, Confluence Park wildlife viewing mound; Tipi camping, GEAR Hub satellite, and interpretive trails at the Fort; StoryWalk at Sweitzer Lake
– Hotchkiss: Central GEAR Hub with mountain bike trails, pump track, and Low Ropes Challenge Course; Delta County Fairgrounds River Access, and StoryWalk; HK8 climbing boulders, and shade structures
– Olathe: Climbing boulder at Olathe Elementary School (OES); playground equipment at OES, Lions and Town parks; walking paths, shade structures, StoryWalk, GEAR Hub satellite at Lions Park
– Paonia: Climbing boulder, outdoor classroom, shade structure
– Program expansion: K-12 and summer programming in all Delta County and Olathe Schools in cooperation with partners: TNC, CPW, USFS, BLM, CCA, WSCC, IAWC, SEI
– Pathways to Jobs in the Outdoors for High School students through our Youth Outdoor Network and partner organizations – 140 jobs over 3 years for kids! Plus 7 jobs for community members.
• More than half a dozen residents of Mira La Vista subdivision were present to express concerns about a proposed resolution to formalize a vacation of Phase II of the subdivision. The issues included confusion about how subdivision covenants would be enforced on the 19 acres that had formerly been planned for Phase II; and concern about their irrigation water, supplied by lines that currently cross the 19-acre parcel.
Planning cited a caveat in the original subdivision plan – now six years old — that called for an automatic vacation of Phase II if development was not completed within three years of Phase I. Commissioners agreed and voted to formalize the vacation and noted that they had no say about how the subdivision’s covenants would be enforced. Planning told Commissioners that while current regulations permit development in phases, there should be language that requires clear communication between the developer and lot buyers about what could happen if later phases are not completed.
Caleb Jones and Tori Christman purchased the 19-acre parcel and intend to farm the property. Caleb assured the Mira La Vista residents that he would not interrupt the community’s irrigation water.
• Tony Vervloet, Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Local Government Designee, was not present at the meeting but submitted his 2017 fourth quarter report into the meeting record. Administrator LeValley told attendees that the report would be available with the official minutes.
• ENGAGE Center Director Shawn Gardner introduced himself to Commissioners and talked about future plans for the Center. Read more about Gardner at http://www.deltacountyindependent.com/director-selected-to-move-engage-center-forward-cms-9635
NATURE CONNECTION PHOTO.