News Now Blog

The Fremont County Commissioners dealt with a variety of issues at their regular March 22nd meeting. Actions by the commissioners included:

A. Authorization was given to the Canon City Recreation and Park District to erect and operate a single batting cage with pitching machine at Rouse Park.

B. Approved a temporary use permit to allow the Penrose Chamber of Commerce to operate a flea market on every second Saturday from April through September at the Gooseberry Patch parking lot.

The Fremont County Commissioners are again making trash vouchers available for the 2005 spring cleanup campaign. Fremont County is conducting the campaign again this year in cooperation with the City of Canon City, the City of Florence, Twin Enviro Services, R.D. Recycling, and Skyline Steel.

The Fremont County Commissioners have awarded a bid for construction of a ramp project at the Fremont County Airport. Kiewit Western Company of Denver was the successful low bidder on the project with a bid of $328,041. A & S Construction of Canon City was the only other bidder on the project at a price of $434,470. The engineer’s estimate for the work was $327,669. The work will entail laying asphalt across a 200 by 275 foot area south of the taxiway in front of the airport terminal. The total project cost including engineering is $435,372.

Fremont County has gained about fourteen feet in a boundary adjustment at the Fremont-Custer County line at Hillside. The Fremont County Commissioners approved the work of former Custer County Surveyor Kit Shy and Fremont County Surveyor John Effinger III to reach a final determination of the county line that has been in question since 1873.

The Fremont County Commissioners have approved a new set of by-laws for the Fremont County Lodging Tax Council. The action clarifies discrepancies caused when the Council and the Commissioners adopted separate sets of by-laws in 2001.

The by-laws provide for seven Fremont County residents who are in tourism related businesses to be appointed to serve three year terms on the Council. The by-laws also clarify that the Council can include up to nine non-voting ex-officio members. Language was added to bring the Council into compliance with Colorado 's open meetings statutes.

Pathfinder Regional Park is the name chosen for the new park being developed on a 178 acre site along Colorado Highway 115 west of Florence. The park is a cooperative venture of the Canon City Recreation and Park District, the Florence-Penrose RE-2 School District, and Fremont County. The three entities unanimously agreed on the selection of 'Pathfinder' for the park name as development will move forward in 2005.

The Fremont County Commissioners approved the following resolution at the Board's regular meeting March 8th, 2005 . It contains the findings for the Board's denial of an amendment to Twin Landfill's Certificate of Designation for the Phantom Landfill dealing with alum sludge and friable asbestos which was the subject of a public hearing at the Board's February 22nd meeting.

Click here to view the resolution (in pdf format).

The Fremont County Commissioners Tuesday approved a resolution which places a temporary moratorium on the issuance of building permits for two-family dwellings in all but two zone districts in Fremont County. Two-family dwellings, or duplexes, can still be permitted in Medium and High Density Zone Districts while the moratorium is in place. The Commissioners took the action after it came to their attention that permitting two-family dwellings in the Low Density Zone District and others conflicts with state statute and could result in an illegal subdivision of the land.

An estimated 125 Fremont County employees took advantage of information and services provided at the fifth annual 'Fremont County Benefits Fair' held Friday, February 25th in the lower level atrium of the County Administration Building. Eighteen vendors participated, offering information to employees about insurance, retirement plans, health screenings, communications, and fitness programs.

The Fremont County Commissioners have heard first hand about the successes of the Fremont County Combined Drug Task Force. The Task Force is a cooperative effort between the Fremont County Sheriff's Department and the Canon City Police Department. Deputy Mike Joliffe and Police Detective Andrew Lopez make up the core of the Drug Task Force. Sheriff Jim Beicker said it became clear to him in his 2002 campaign for Sheriff that there was a growing problem with methamphetamine and that it was starting to threaten younger age groups.