The Fremont County Board of Commissioners Tuesday voted unanimously to approve a Special Review Use Permit to allow Steve and Lynette Harris to continue operating a free style training area for motocross dirt bikes and ATV’s on their property north of the Fremont County Airport. The site is on 120 acres of private property where the Harrises live on the northwest corner of County Road 123 and Phantom Canyon Road.
Asked by a neighbor why the Harrises were allowed to operate their dirt track for the past three years without a permit, Commission Chairman Ed Norden said it wasn’t until complaints were received and county officials observed the activities on site that it was determined that a permit was necessary. During the 90 minute public hearing neighbors in the nearby Dakota Hideout subdivision voiced opposition to the motocross tracks saying it posed problems from noise, dust, and stormwater drainage.
A number of youth and their parents also testified expressing support for the dirt track saying the Harrises have provided friends and family with a place to ride after access was shut off to the hogbacks area in Cañon City.
In approving the permit the commissioners modified the hours of operation from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. instead of from sunrise to sunset. Other restrictions include no more than 15 vehicles operating on the property at one time, requirements to have drainage improvements in place to prevent silt from washing to the Arkansas River, and that only friends and family are allowed to ride on the property. If the Harrises want to stage any events or exhibitions for spectators they will be required to seek approval of a separate temporary use permit.
At the request of Fremont County Sheriff Jim Beicker the Board of Commissioners approved a resolution suspending the fire ban that had been adopted on April 12th for all unincorporated areas of Fremont County. Sheriff Beicker said he requested lifting the fire ban as the result of recent rainfall and because the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Forest Service, and other area counties have also lifted their restrictions.
The Board of Commissioners approved a resolution adopting a procurement policy for Fremont County. Commissioner Mike Stiehl said development of a procurement policy is an example of the kind of project development County Manager George Sugars was tasked with when he was hired. Sugars said the policy is not only intended to serve as a guide for the county’s elected officials and department heads in purchasing goods and services but also as a guide to vendors on how to conduct business with Fremont County. Commission Chairman Ed Norden said the procurement policy puts into place reasonable limits on purchases made by county officials on their own or as the amounts grow with appropriate supervisory approval up to and including the Board of Commissioners on larger expenditures.
In other business the commissioners on Tuesday:
- Approved a Temporary Use Permit for Epic Relays to run a team relay foot race over Fremont County area roads on July 22nd. The relay race will start at Fort Carson and run through Fremont, Chaffee, and Gunnison Counties before ending in Crested Butte. Rob Eales said they expect up to 50 relay teams with six runners on each team. He said there would be no more than 50 runners on county roads at any one time, they will have staggered start times, and support vehicles will accompany the runners;
- Approved an interagency mutual aid agreement to assist in shared Emergency Management services between Chaffee, Fremont, Custer, Lake, and Park Counties and the City of Salida;
- Approved the appointment of Florence City Councilman Larry Baker to serve as the City of Florence representative on the Fremont County Planning Commission replacing Joe Caruso who said time restrictions prohibited his continued service;
- Approved an application by the Fremont County Department of Transportation for Colorado Limited Gaming Impact Funds for another 3 ½ miles of asphalt overlay in 2012 on Garden Park Road north of Cañon City.