It’s been more than 10 years since Delta County cut the Sheriff department’s animal control budget by 85% eliminating support for local stray and abandoned cats and dogs. Area nonprofits including CAWS, Delta County Humane Society and Surface Creek Rescue have struggled to take up the slack but now help is on the way.
Delta County and the City of Delta have partnered with Roice-Hurst Humane Society, a long-standing animal rescue and shelter organization that has served Mesa County and Western Colorado since 1963. Delta County Commissioners have committed $20,000 in their 2021 budget to help support the work. The City of Delta has also appropriated significant funding toward the program.
In January, Roice-Hurst took over operations of the Delta-based facility owned and once operated by the City of Delta. An official grand opening is planned for Sunday, Feb. 28, 1am-3pm at 720 W. 4th St. Learn more about the organization.
County/City plan joint work session
Delta County Commissioners and the City of Delta Council will meet to discuss several important issues this Monday, March 1 from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the County Administration Building in Delta.
Among other topics of interest, officials will discuss the intergovernmental agreements between Delta County and the City of Delta. Since no meeting packet has been provided to the public and the agenda is devoid of detail, DCCR speculates that the discussion may involve changes made to designated Urban Growth Areas (UGA’s) in the new Land-Use Code Zoning Maps and how this will impact current IGA’s.
Another controversial topic surrounds the possible conversion of the historic Delta Library into a county jail facility. Again, agenda details are lacking.
To see the complete agenda and attend this joint session virtually, visit https://cityofdelta.net/meetings
New planning director presents Land-Use Code implementation plan
During a 25-minute slideshow presentation, Carl Holm, Delta County’s new Community Development and Natural Resource Director, described his vision of the county’s planning future with an emphasis on the County Master Plan and strict adherence to the regulations outlined in the new Land-Use Code.
Holm also described the role of the new Board of Adjustments (BOA) citing the recently adopted code: The BOA is a County Commissioner appointed group tasked to “hear and decide appeals where it is alleged that there is an error in any order, requirement, decision or determination made by the Director in the administration of the code. The BOA may reverse or affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirement, decision or determination as ought to be made; where the BOA finds that the Director acted: a. Without clear and convincing evidence to support the order, requirement, decision or determination; or b. Beyond the Director’s authority.”
The county planning department currently has a moratorium in place until April 1 and is not accepting applications for subdivisions, specific development, boundary adjustments, re-plats, mobile home parks, or variances.