The Fremont County Commissioners hosted a meeting with area legislators on December 19th to discuss issues of concern impacting local government and issues that local officials would like to see addressed during the 2006 Colorado Legislative Session. Attending the two hour informal discussion was State Senator Ken Kester, and State Representatives Keith King, Tom Massey, and Buffie McFadyen. In addition to County Commissioners Larry Lasha, Ed Norden, and Mike Stiehl; other officials attending included Fremont County Human Services Director Steve Clifton, Human Services attorney Rocco Meconi, and Human Services Finance Officer Linda Smith; County Finance Director Dana Angel; Florence Mayor Cindy Cox; Cañon City Mayor Bill Jackson; Florence Councilmen Edgie Walrath, Paul Villagrana, Ron Hinkle, and Kevin Bradley; Florence City Manager Tom Piltingsrud; and Cañon City Administrator Steve Rabe.
Clifton detailed the County’s concerns over the amount of money state government contributes towards Human Services administrative costs and the fact that the county has severely drawn down its’ Human Services contingency monies in 2005 and 2006 to balance the budget. Meconi talked about a bill being sponsored by Representative Massey in the coming session intended to amend the Colorado Children’s Code to do away with costly jury trials in dependent and neglect cases. He also said the bill would seek to amend language giving county human services departments, which have been provided custody of a child, to intervene and have rights to a hearing to review a magistrate’s decision in a child placement order.
The Commissioners also raised concerns about the fiscal impact to counties from the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Commissioner Ed Norden said the county is facing costs in excess of $300,000 to comply by placing electronic handicapped voting machines in every polling place. He said the Commissioners are considering using three or four polling centers in the county. Fremont County Clerk Norma Hatfield is among those encouraging legislation to permit mail balloting in all general elections. Senator Kester and Representative King said they would oppose all mail balloting expressing concern that it increases the possibility of voting fraud.
Other topics included possible legislation to exclude distribution of specific ownership taxes to governments seeking voter approved bond issues, Department of Corrections inmate work crews, construction of Colorado State Penitentiary-II, and state spending issues stemming from passage of Referendum ‘C’.
Clifton detailed the County’s concerns over the amount of money state government contributes towards Human Services administrative costs and the fact that the county has severely drawn down its’ Human Services contingency monies in 2005 and 2006 to balance the budget. Meconi talked about a bill being sponsored by Representative Massey in the coming session intended to amend the Colorado Children’s Code to do away with costly jury trials in dependent and neglect cases. He also said the bill would seek to amend language giving county human services departments, which have been provided custody of a child, to intervene and have rights to a hearing to review a magistrate’s decision in a child placement order.
The Commissioners also raised concerns about the fiscal impact to counties from the federal Help America Vote Act (HAVA). Commissioner Ed Norden said the county is facing costs in excess of $300,000 to comply by placing electronic handicapped voting machines in every polling place. He said the Commissioners are considering using three or four polling centers in the county. Fremont County Clerk Norma Hatfield is among those encouraging legislation to permit mail balloting in all general elections. Senator Kester and Representative King said they would oppose all mail balloting expressing concern that it increases the possibility of voting fraud.
Other topics included possible legislation to exclude distribution of specific ownership taxes to governments seeking voter approved bond issues, Department of Corrections inmate work crews, construction of Colorado State Penitentiary-II, and state spending issues stemming from passage of Referendum ‘C’.