The original master plan in 2005 depicted the suggested layout of structures on county property at Pathfinder Regional Park. The design grant being sought by the Commissioners will start work on specific designs for an Events Center and County Fair livestock facilities.
The Fremont County Commissioners are seeking grant funding to help finance final design work for several buildings at Pathfinder Regional Park that would eventually lead to the park serving as the location for the Fremont County Fair. The Board of Commissioners approved an application to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs at their July 22nd meeting for a $43,250 Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance grant. The grant amount represents 50 percent of the total cost of $86,497 for T.A. Duke & Associates of Colorado Springs to perform the design work.
After a request for proposals was circulated T.A. Duke came in with the lowest price to design the project. Commission Chairman Tim Payne said the county is looking towards the day when all 4-H County Fair Buildings will be located at Pathfinder Park. He said this design work is the first step in the process. A community events center will be a key part of the project which is expected to attract year round use.
The county’s half of the design cost will come from the Conservation Trust Fund (lottery money). The design work is only for the county’s portion of Pathfinder Park which is that property on the east side of the entryway. The Pathfinder design work follows on the heels of expenditure by the Board of Commissioners in late June for a flood elevation engineering study. The Board contracted with Atkins Engineering of Denver to conduct a hydrologic analysis and floodplain mapping service on the county property at Pathfinder Park near the confluence of Chandler Creek with the Arkansas River. The county is spending $73,690 for the floodplain study. The floodplain elevations must be confirmed before any buildings can actually be constructed under the new design plan.
Also at their July 22nd meeting the Commissioners approved a final plat for a three lot subdivision on vacant land next to the Canon Creek subdivision along Grandview Avenue. The approval actually creates only one new lot with the three lots now comprised of 36.1 acres, 54.2 acres, and 13.4 acres. Bill Balhiser explained that the owners are not developers. He said “We’re just trying to get back some of the money we loaned on the Canon Creek project to begin with.” Balhiser said dividing the property into three lots would make them easier to sell. The Commissioners' approval included a waiver for a turnaround at the end of Long’s Peak Street. Balhiser said the neighbors didn’t want a turnaround there either.
In other business at the July 22nd meeting the Commissioners:
- Voted to accept the annual audit report from John Cutler Associates. County Finance Officer Sunny Bryant said the county received an unqualified report that everything in the county’s books is in good financial shape;
- Approved a new hotel and restaurant liquor license for the Crossroads Bar & Grill at Crossroads indoor arena at Penrose. Owner William Peetz will be able to serve once a food service license is also issued. No scheduled opening date has been announced;
- Approved the reappointments of Dan Brixey and Larry Brown to the Fremont County Building Code Board of Appeals.