News Now Blog

Construction on the long awaited North Canon Sanitary sewer project could get underway this winter if all of the final legal hurdles can be cleared in the coming weeks. Properties in an area generally north of High Street between York and Lawrence Streets and several residences south of High Street between York and Pennsylvania are targeted to have their failing septic systems replaced by sanitary sewer lines. Many residents have dealt with septic problems for years caused by high water tables and poor soil conditions.

Two Fremont County Department of Human Services (DHS) employees received statewide recognition at a recent meeting in Snowmass of the Colorado Welfare Fraud Council and the United Council on Welfare Fraud.

After several months of language modifications the Fremont County Commissioners approved the 26th amendment to the Fremont County Zoning resolution at their October 14th regular meeting. The Planning Commission spent three months this past summer reworking language in the latest zoning amendment. Following a September 9th public hearing, the Board of Commissioners tabled final consideration for another month while they spent a pair of workshops with planning staff to review all of the proposed changes in detail.

The Fremont County Tourism Council is accepting applications from community organizations for 2009 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.

Fremont County has closed on a sale of eight acres of property near the Fremont County Airport which will be the site of a new federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing facility for immigration detainees. Sale of the property has been in the works for more than two years. County Commission Chairman Larry Lasha signed the sale documents last Friday. The buyer is JIOL L.L.C. of Lakewood. Managing partner Floyd Sack said excavation of the site began today with plans to complete work on the ICE facility within six to nine months.

The Fremont County Commissioners Tuesday appointed the seven inaugural members of the newly formed Fremont Heritage Commission. The seven members represent a cross section of geographical areas and historical preservation interests. They were selected from twelve persons who submitted letters of interest and were interviewed by the Board of Commissioners.

The Fremont County Commissioners are seeking three persons for appointment to the county's Building Code Board of Appeals. The board meets three times annually on the second Thursday in January, May, and September plus as needed to hear appeals of decisions by the county's building official and interpretation of the county building code. Board meetings are held at 6:00 p.m. in the County Administration Building in Canon City. Members are compensated at the rate of $50 per meeting.

The Fremont County Commissioners tabled for one month the proposed 26th amendment to the county's zoning resolution saying they want more time to study the proposed changes in detail. The postponement followed a public hearing during which several businessmen who operate at the Airport Industrial Park expressed concerns about restrictions on business growth at the airport.

A pair of applications to erect wind monitoring towers in the Tallahassee area northwest of Canon City make up the agenda for the Fremont County Planning Commission's September 3rd meeting. E.C. & R. Colorado L.L.C. is the applicant for the two towers described as Badger Creek wind monitoring masts which are both to be located on state school land.

The Fremont County Commissioners are accepting letters of interest from persons willing to serve on the newly formed Fremont Heritage Commission. After adopting a resolution last December designating Fremont County as a 'Preserve America' community the commissioners Tuesday adopted a resolution which formally establishes a seven member Heritage Commission. It will be the Commission's task to protect and preserve Fremont County's historic, cultural, natural, and economic resources and to enhance those historical values through preservation efforts.