News Now Blog

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners is accepting letters of interest from citizens wishing to fill a vacancy on the Fremont County Planning Commission.    One seat on the seven-member Planning Commission is open following a recent resignation.   In the past this seat has represented the Penrose area.   The person appointed will serve the remainder of a three term which expires on December 31, 2016, and would then qualify for reappointment.

Following a fifteen minute appeal to the Board of County Commissioners about the financial problems facing the Fremont County Humane Society, County Commission Chair Ed Norden said it’s an issue that needs far more detailed discussion.    Humane Society Executive Director Doug Rae made his presentation to the Board of Commissioners at their November 24th meeting saying that for the first time the Humane Society is seeking across the board increases in funding next year from local government.

The Fremont County Commissioners will give more consideration to a proposal that would allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) through creation of a countywide overlay zone district.   That was the outcome of a public hearing on the proposed zoning amendment at the Commissioners’ November 24th regular meeting as the Board voted to table the amendment pending more study.   The motion to table was put forth by District One Commissioner Tim Payne after opposition was expressed by the Penrose Water District and the Beaver Park Irrigation Company.   Both voiced concer

The Fremont County Planning Commission will consider two issues on the agenda for their December 1st monthly meeting.   The Planning Commission will review a proposed service plan to create a new legally constituted district for fire and rescue services in northwest Fremont County.    The proposed service plan for the Tallahassee Fire and Rescue District was submitted to the county by the Tallahassee Volunteer Fire Department which has served the area both east and west of Highway 9 since 1999.   Since Northwest EMS Ambulance went out of service several ye

The Fremont County Tourism Council is accepting applications from community organizations for 2016 tourism funding allocations. Community organizations and non-profit groups that conduct special events which attract tourists and visitors to the area are invited to submit applications for funding assistance. The Tourism Council by-laws require that at least five percent of Fremont County lodging tax revenues each year be distributed to community groups to support their special events.

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners and County Administrators will be among 350 attendees anticipated to attend the three day winter conference of Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) in Colorado Springs November 30th through December 2nd.   Sponsored by the CCI Foundation the conference will focus on topics of statewide and local concern including water resources, transportation funding, and the extension of broadband services to the rural areas of Colorado.

The Colorado Tourism Office has announced that the Fremont County Tourism Council has secured another $25,000 tourism promotion grant under the state’s 2016 Marketing Matching Grant Program.   The state tourism grant dollars have been integral to the Tourism Council’s efforts to market the Royal Gorge Region across Colorado and a multi-state region.

Fremont County’s 2016 proposed budget was highlighted at the November 10th meeting of the Board of County Commissioners.   Finance Officer and Assistant County Manager Sunny Bryant presented a power point explaining that even with projected growth next year for both property tax and sales tax revenue, Fremont County will still draw down fund balances for 2016 spending.   With 2015 having been a property reassessment year, Bryant’s report estimates that Fremont County’s share of property taxes will increase by $135,000 to $5.3 million.