Approval of an agreement with Colorado Springs Utilities regarding the Southern Delivery System highlighted a brief agenda of business for the Fremont County Commissioners at their April 8th regular meeting.
The intergovernmental agreement (IGA) was proposed by the City of Colorado Springs to set up the review process by Fremont County should the city and the Bureau of Reclamation settle on a Fremont County route for a 66-inch water pipeline that would be part of the Southern Delivery System (SDS). Under the IGA Colorado Springs Utilities would agree to pursue whatever Fremont County permits might be required and go through the review process by the Planning and Zoning Office, Planning Commission, and County Commissioners. The Commissioners noted that the IGA actually gives the county more oversight if Fremont County is the choice for the SDS route. That's because Colorado Springs could use its own independent authority and eminent domain powers to establish a route for the pipeline. The Commissioners say the IGA would allow them to have input on the route chosen for the pipeline and the location on the Arkansas River for a large pump station.
As part of the IGA, Colorado Springs Utilities agreed to put down $50,000 as a deposit towards the costs of the engineering and technical review by Fremont County. The Commissioners emphasized that the $50,000 is not a payment adding that if actual costs of the review are less than that amount, any remaining money would be refunded to Colorado Springs.
In other business the Commissioners acknowledged a request from Black Range Minerals to delay a public hearing on the company's application for a conditional use permit by another two weeks. The Commissioners set Tuesday, May 27th, as the date for a public hearing during the board's regular meeting on Black Range's permit application to resume exploration for uranium on the Taylor Ranch along County Roads #2 and #21 in the Tallahassee area northwest of Canon City.
The intergovernmental agreement (IGA) was proposed by the City of Colorado Springs to set up the review process by Fremont County should the city and the Bureau of Reclamation settle on a Fremont County route for a 66-inch water pipeline that would be part of the Southern Delivery System (SDS). Under the IGA Colorado Springs Utilities would agree to pursue whatever Fremont County permits might be required and go through the review process by the Planning and Zoning Office, Planning Commission, and County Commissioners. The Commissioners noted that the IGA actually gives the county more oversight if Fremont County is the choice for the SDS route. That's because Colorado Springs could use its own independent authority and eminent domain powers to establish a route for the pipeline. The Commissioners say the IGA would allow them to have input on the route chosen for the pipeline and the location on the Arkansas River for a large pump station.
As part of the IGA, Colorado Springs Utilities agreed to put down $50,000 as a deposit towards the costs of the engineering and technical review by Fremont County. The Commissioners emphasized that the $50,000 is not a payment adding that if actual costs of the review are less than that amount, any remaining money would be refunded to Colorado Springs.
In other business the Commissioners acknowledged a request from Black Range Minerals to delay a public hearing on the company's application for a conditional use permit by another two weeks. The Commissioners set Tuesday, May 27th, as the date for a public hearing during the board's regular meeting on Black Range's permit application to resume exploration for uranium on the Taylor Ranch along County Roads #2 and #21 in the Tallahassee area northwest of Canon City.