Finalization of conditions and contingencies for a zipline attraction in western Fremont County highlighted the business agenda for the Fremont County Commissioners regular meeting Tuesday.
The Board adopted final language for a special review use permit to allow Gene M. Holmes of Salida to operate his Captain Zipline Adventure Tours on his property off of County Road #7 at Wellsville. Holmes operated in 2006 without a permit and was forced to shut down. Among the conditions outlined by the Commissioners include a limit of 96 customers each day, 48 customers at a single time, and a maximum of four trips to the site each day. Holmes will also have to secure a $1 million liability insurance policy and transport all customers to the site in his own vehicles except for military vehicles that use the zipline for training.
District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden also emphasized that county officials will expect Holmes to strictly adhere to using County Road 54 in accessing the site. He said the county also will not tolerate travel across adjoining mining property or pedestrian trespass on private property, railroad right of way, or the irrigation ditch easement without written permission. Holmes said he's anxious to comply with the terms so he can get back into business.
The Commissioners appointed Rudl Mergelman of Florence to fill a vacancy on the Fremont County Tourism Council. Mergelman was one of four applicants to fill a vacancy created on the seven member council by the resignation of Kerry Ann McHugh who recently accepted new employment in Georgetown. Mergelman is a western and wildlife artist who has owned and operated the Sagebrush Gallery and Studio in Florence the past three years. He is also active in the Florence Merchants Group, the Florence Arts Council, and is on the Board of the Florence Chamber of Commerce. The Commissioners praised the quality of all four applicants. The others who sought the appointment were Morrie Aves, Larry Oddo, and Bill Edrington.
The Commissioners also heard a report from County Environmental Health Officer Sid Darden who said legislation passed by the 2007 Colorado Legislature will add a $23 surcharge to the cost of new septic system permits. Darden said $3 of the fee will be retained by the county for administrative costs while $20 will go to the state in the Water Quality Control Fund. The state fee will be used to hire an engineer and environmental specialist to provide more oversight of the 600,000 septic systems across the state and up to 8,000 new permits which are issued each year.
The Board adopted final language for a special review use permit to allow Gene M. Holmes of Salida to operate his Captain Zipline Adventure Tours on his property off of County Road #7 at Wellsville. Holmes operated in 2006 without a permit and was forced to shut down. Among the conditions outlined by the Commissioners include a limit of 96 customers each day, 48 customers at a single time, and a maximum of four trips to the site each day. Holmes will also have to secure a $1 million liability insurance policy and transport all customers to the site in his own vehicles except for military vehicles that use the zipline for training.
District 3 Commissioner Ed Norden also emphasized that county officials will expect Holmes to strictly adhere to using County Road 54 in accessing the site. He said the county also will not tolerate travel across adjoining mining property or pedestrian trespass on private property, railroad right of way, or the irrigation ditch easement without written permission. Holmes said he's anxious to comply with the terms so he can get back into business.
The Commissioners appointed Rudl Mergelman of Florence to fill a vacancy on the Fremont County Tourism Council. Mergelman was one of four applicants to fill a vacancy created on the seven member council by the resignation of Kerry Ann McHugh who recently accepted new employment in Georgetown. Mergelman is a western and wildlife artist who has owned and operated the Sagebrush Gallery and Studio in Florence the past three years. He is also active in the Florence Merchants Group, the Florence Arts Council, and is on the Board of the Florence Chamber of Commerce. The Commissioners praised the quality of all four applicants. The others who sought the appointment were Morrie Aves, Larry Oddo, and Bill Edrington.
The Commissioners also heard a report from County Environmental Health Officer Sid Darden who said legislation passed by the 2007 Colorado Legislature will add a $23 surcharge to the cost of new septic system permits. Darden said $3 of the fee will be retained by the county for administrative costs while $20 will go to the state in the Water Quality Control Fund. The state fee will be used to hire an engineer and environmental specialist to provide more oversight of the 600,000 septic systems across the state and up to 8,000 new permits which are issued each year.