The Fremont County Commissioners voted 2 to 1 at their August 9th meeting to approve the continued operation of a rescue kennel primarily for German Shorthair dogs in the Penrose area. Kris Schnobrich was seeking a Special Review Use permit to allow her to continue operating a rescue kennel for up to 25 dogs on property located northwest of 4th and ‘G’ Streets at Penrose. Schobrich acknowledged at the outset of the public hearing that she had already operated the kennel for several years with full knowledge that she needed a kennel license.
Three neighbors testified in opposition to the permit saying the barking dogs get extremely loud and annoying at times. They also said that 25 dogs would be too many dogs for an area that is surrounded by residential property. Mike Schobrich said the residential property had actually built up around them during the 1990’s. But Commission Chairman Ed Norden said it was disrespectful to neighbors to operate so long without a permit given the fact that one neighbor had been there since 1986. Commissioner Debbie Bell said she had driven by the address twice over the previous week and did not hear any barking dogs.
In approving the permit the Board of Commissioners modified the conditions limiting the term of the kennel license to 25 years, to no more than 15 adult dogs, and requires the dogs be housed indoors from dusk to dawn to limit the noise from barking.
The commissioners on August 9th also voted to lift the fire ban in unincorporated areas of Fremont County at the request of Sheriff Jim Beicker. Beicker said Fremont County has been the hold out as all surrounding counties have already lifted their fire bans while the federal agencies were lifting their fire bans as well. Beicker said he made the recommendation with some reservations recognizing that conditions are still quite dry despite some recent rain showers. He said if problems arise he would request that it be imposed again.
Beicker also reported that the Sheriff Department’s Wildland Firefighting Team responded to seven fires so far this summer with 1,000 firefighting hours. He said 300 of those hours were volunteer hours. Beicker said the county’s price tag on the Duckett Fire which burnt in Custer and Fremont Counties totaled $36,000.
Fremont County Code Enforcement Officer Robert Sapp reported on Code Enforcement activities. Sapp said they have not issued a single ticket or citation since taking over the enforcement of Special Mobile Machinery registrations and people are still in compliance. Sapp thanked Commissioner Norden and the Board for their help in getting the waste tire grant from the state in the amount of $32,000. He said the tire cleanup project in North Cañon was a success and all of the tires have been removed from the subject property. He said they are currently working with two other possible property owners for tire projects as the state has grant funds available.
Sapp also reported that so far this year they have had to re-address over 100 properties with the main benefit to aid emergency responders in finding addresses. Commissioner Norden said the address changes are much appreciated by the E-911 Board as this helps clean up the 911 data base.
In other business the commissioners:
- Approved an amendment to the county jail food service contract with CBM Managed Services for 2011-2011 food service;
- Approved liquor license renewals for Cat’s Corner in Penrose and Sugarbush Campground in Howard;
- Voted to opt out of a Strategic Sustainability Study for the county under a contract with CSU Extension but agreed to continue work with the CSU Energy Coordinator;
- Approved a letter supporting a GOCO grant application for a conservation easement along County Road 45 at Coaldale.