Local governments in Fremont County are expected to again utilize the services of state inmate work crews from the Colorado Department of Corrections (D.O.C.) for a number of spring and summer maintenance projects. The loss of inmate work crews in 2004 was noted at the joint meeting in January of the Fremont County Commissioners and the Florence City Council. Florence Mayor Pete Gamache noted the importance and value of the work crews to Florence and the County in the past and urged their reinstatement.
Commissioner Ed Norden reports that he relayed the request to State Senator Ken Kester and Representative Lianne 'Buffie' McFadyen while attending the Commissioners ' Orientation at the State Capitol. Kester met the next day with D.O.C. Executive Director Joe Ortiz who pledged that arrangements would be made to again make the inmate work crews available at a minimal cost of 63 cents daily per inmate. Kester said he had a follow-up meeting with Ortiz who reported that local governmental managers will be able to work directly with the prison wardens to arrange for the work crews.
In the past, Fremont County , the City of Florence , City of Canon City, and the Canon City Recreation District have all utilized the services of inmate work crews on a variety of projects. Without those crews in recent years local government either hired extra seasonal help or did not complete the maintenance work.