The Fremont County Commissioners took comment Tuesday during a public hearing on proposed changes to the county’s ordinance that restricts open fires and open burning in unincorporated areas of the county. Sheriff Jim Beicker told the board that the changes are intended to more closely parallel the language of fire bans employed by federal and state agencies. Bureau of Land Management Officials in attendance said the ordinance language more closely resembles the three stages of fire restrictions that federal officials use.
District 1 Commissioner Mike Stiehl said another significant reason for the ordinance changes is due to legislation adopted by the 2011 Colorado Legislature. That law allows agricultural producers to continue to burn ag land under certain conditions. The ordinance also allows burning of slash piles under permission from the sheriff. Before the commissioners consider the ordinance on second and final reading on June 26th they asked the county attorney to add language dealing with disposal of hot ashes and possibly allowing use of wood burning stoves and fireplaces if appropriate spark arrestors are installed on chimneys.
Sheriff Beicker said he will likely ask that Stage 1 fire restrictions be imposed at the same June 26th meeting after the ordinance is adopted.
The Board of Commissioners Tuesday also conducted a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the county’s building code regarding proof of water and sanitation facilities in order to secure a building permit. The controversial section of the building code deals with language that requires a property owner to make an “attempt” to drill a water well as part of getting a building permit. The amendment approved in a unanimous vote by the commissioners would allow use of a cistern as proof of water if a dry well results from drilling at least 600 feet deep or if two well drillers sign an affidavit stating that drilling a successful water well in a specified location would be unlikely.
District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden said proof of water has been an issued for the 7 ½ years he’s been in office. Norden said while individual property rights and a choice to rely on a cistern may be important, it’s also important not to add the cost of rural residential development onto all taxpayers. Norden noted that studies show it costs counties $1.70 to deliver various services to rural homeowners for every new $1.00 collected in property tax. Norden said that’s why it’s important to uphold rural property values by requiring water wells to be drilled whenever possible.
The commissioners said if examples of successful proof of water policies from other counties are brought forth they are open to consider future amendments to the building code.
The commissioners scheduled three public hearings for the board’s July 10th regular meeting. Those include a public hearing on a request by Black Hills Energy to allow for four miles of a transmission line upgrade from the Portland area east towards Pueblo County. A hearing was set for a special review use permit request to allow for a chainsaw carving carpenter shop at a residence on 8-mile hill west of Cañon City. The third public hearing on July 10th will be on a request to erect a 130-foot wireless communications tower on Cotopaxi School property.
In other business on Tuesday the Board of Commissioners:
- Approved a major modification for Eden West Ranch special review use permit on nearly 45 acres along Highway 69 south of Texas Creek. The approval allows the owners to shift from a child care center and summer youth camp to a business offering lodging and special events for groups up to 40 persons;
- Approved an expenditure of $40,996 in Dell computer servers to accommodate the county’s conversion to Tyler Technologies for all of the county’s financial data operations;
- Issued a proclamation observing June 15th as Elder Abuse Awareness Day in Fremont County;
- Approved a new hotel-restaurant liquor license for the Coyote Coffee Den along Highway 115 in Penrose.