News Now Blog

A brief meeting of the Fremont County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday was highlighted by the board’s adoption of new language in the county’s personnel policy which recognizes civil unions.   The county is required under new legislation passed by the Colorado General Assembly in the 2013 session to recognize civil union partners and that they are afforded the same rights, protection, and treatment as married couples.   Among the personnel policy language changes affected by civil union recognition are nepotism, bereavement leave, family and medical leave, employee ethi

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners approved a Special Review Use Permit at their May 14th regular board meeting to allow the Tallahassee Volunteer Fire Department to construct a new main fire station along Colorado Highway 9 northwest of Cañon City.   The fire department had a donation of five acres on the Dale Rideout Ranch to build the fire station 2 ¼ miles north of the junction with Highway 50.  The Special Review Use Permit was needed because the fire station was being constructed in the Ag-Forestry Zone District.

What are usually handled as routine ambulance license renewals turned into a marathon session for the Fremont County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, April 23rd, as they reviewed the six month performance record of Arkansas Valley Ambulance which serves western Fremont County.    County Ambulance Inspector Tom Anderson told the Commissioners that there is a certain standard of care and trust that comes with operating an ambulance.   He said over the last six months a lot of those trust issues have been questioned.

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners approved an all mail ballot election at their April 9th regular board meeting.    County Clerk Katie Barr explained that 63% of the registered voters in Fremont County are registered as permanent mail-in ballot voters.  Barr said mail ballots save the County a lot of money by not having polling places.    She said the November 5th ballot will have municipal and school board elections and some statewide ballot issues.    Barr said so far there are no countywide issues scheduled for the November ballot

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners took another step towards eventual construction of a parallel taxiway at the Fremont County Airport on Tuesday.   The Commissioners approved a professional services agreement with the county’s airport consultant, Armstrong Consultants of Grand Junction, to begin work on the design and engineering phase for the parallel taxiway.   The Armstrong contract calls for an expenditure of $304,748.

Local officials and businesses are once again gearing up for the annual Cañon Proud Clean-Up Campaign.  A limited number of trash vouchers for free disposal of household trash, construction debris, brush, leaves, and yard waste will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to Fremont County and Cañon City residents beginning on March 25 and ending on April 30.  Trash vouchers are good for free disposal of 2.5 cubic yards (one regular pick-up truck bed filled no higher than the sideboards) at Twin Enviro’s “Phantom Landfill” along County Road 67 north of the Fremont County

The Fremont County Planning Commission will consider a permit for a Tallahassee Fire Station northwest of Cañon City and an amendment to the county’s subdivision regulations when the commission gathers for its’ monthly meeting on April 2nd.

Public Health Director Carla Dionne (second from left) greets visitors at the March 11th official opening of the new Public Health Clinic at Florence City Hall

The Fremont County Public Health Agency now has a presence in eastern Fremont County with the opening of a clinic in the Florence City Hall.   The clinic officially opened on March 11th.