News Now Blog

The Fremont County Road and Bridge Department has finally received some positive news in the aftermath of the destruction caused by the July 5th flash flood in the Upper Beaver Creek area northwest of Penrose. The Colorado Department of Local Affairs recently notified the Fremont County Board of Commissioners that an out of cycle grant has been awarded to Fremont County to help rebuild County Road 132 in the Upper Beaver Creek area.

The Fremont County Commissioners said Tuesday that while voters defeated two property tax measures in November, under the 2007 County budget the property taxes paid by many homeowners and business owners to county government will actually go down next year. Those comments came as the Commissioners formally adopted the 2007 county budget, set the property tax mill levy, and appropriated the necessary funds for next year's budget.

Fremont County Planning Department Director Bill Giordano has announced that the Planning and Zoning Department will begin operating with reduced customer service hours starting on Monday, December 18th. Due to budget reductions which reduced the clerical staff in the front office by fifty percent, the Planning and Zoning Department will offer counter and telephone service to the public from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The Fremont County Commissioners tabled consideration of a moratorium on requiring site development plans in zoning regulations at their regular meeting Monday. The County Planning Commission on November 8th voted to recommend that the Board of Commissioners place a moratorium on the requirement for site development plans in various zoning districts in the county.

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners is asking the public for information in helping track down the person responsible for firing shots at a Fremont County pickup truck earlier this month. The incident happened November 1st along U.S. Highway 50 at Coaldale in western Fremont County. A Sheriff's report states that Fremont County Building Inspector Dan Brixey was conducting an inspection inside a home under construction with the contractor when they heard several gunshots.

The announcement of the 2006 Fremont County Employee of the Year highlighted a brief agenda for the Fremont County Commissioners regular meeting Tuesday.

The Fremont County Board of County Commissioners is accepting letters of interest from citizens of Fremont County wishing to serve on the Fremont County Board of Zoning Adjustment.

The Board of Zoning Adjustment meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 5:30 p.m. to review requests for variance from the Fremont County Zoning Resolution, for the issuance of medical hardship waivers or appeals of decisions made by county officials in interpretation of the Fremont County Zoning Resolution. The Board of Zoning Adjustment makes final decisions.

The Board of County Commissioners is accepting letters of interest from citizens of Fremont County wishing to serve on the Fremont County Planning Commission.

The Commission meets on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. to review land use proposals, such as subdivisions, zone changes and use permits and make recommendations to the County Commissioners who render a final decision on land use proposals. The Planning Commission is also responsible for updating the Master Plan, a county-wide guideline for reviewing land use proposals.

A Canon City banker who died earlier this year has been honored by having his name added to the list of Outstanding Civic Leaders of Fremont County. The name of Darryl Biggerstaff has been added to the Civic Leaders plaque which hangs in the south entryway of the Fremont County Administration Building. Biggerstaff was nominated for the honor by the Advisory Committee of the Fremont Campus of Pueblo Community College of which he was a longtime member.