Kristi Gill of New Castle started off Monday’s Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting with comments about certain books on Garfield County Library shelves. In a similar vein as previous complaints about library materials, Gill talked about a series of graphic novels titled “The Boys” by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, which she said may be illegal. She said she researched Colorado obscenity laws and gave a vague presentation about how the library may be violating those laws by providing certain graphic novels to patrons. She did not identify the specific state statutes that she quoted.
Gill added that she thinks the First Amendment needs to be updated, referring to the Musket Second Amendment movement that claims the original Second Amendment only protects ownership of muzzle-loading, flintlock muskets. ”Also with the First Amendment of free speech, we now have [artificial intelligence], computer cell phones and an immoral society,” said Gill. “[The library] can’t go under just the First Amendment the way it was written.”
Gill also referred to the film “Rocky Mountain Heist,” from conservative advocacy group Citizens United, about how wealthy Democrats in Colorado are conspiring to take over the state. Gill quoted a verse from the Bible. “Beware there are wolves in sheep’s clothing among us,” she said. “I thought that was appropriate for Colorado.” Gill said she had also made her presentation to the Library Board of Trustees at a recent meeting.
The BOCC approved an intergovernmental agreement between the county and the City of Glenwood Springs to allow the City access to Eagle View Pictometry aerial imaging for a fee.
They then approved the consent agenda, which included a resolution to appoint Cindy Bjerstedt, Ed Green and Brit McClin to the library board of trustees.
Commissioners moved on to fairground fee waivers for the Northwest High School Rodeo Club’s February and March events. The club has 40 members, representing Carbondale, Rifle and Grand Junction schools.
A fairground stall fee change was also approved. Stall renters will now pay $75/month for an additional stall for tack or feed with a $100 deposit, instead of $100/month and a $200 deposit.
A fee waiver request was granted to the AgriWest Business Incubator Center (AWBIC) for a January event at the fairgrounds, featuring Dr. Nathan Perry. Janie VanWinkle, federal fellow for AWBIC, said the organization commissioned Perry to study agriculture’s economic impact in Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Delta and Montrose counties. He will discuss the study on Jan. 29 at the free, public event.
The county vegetation management team, Sarah LaRose and Matthew Rothrock, presented the annual county pesticide application report. “Basically, this includes all the herbicide spraying done by the county employees,” explained Rothrock. He said that the county also sent mosquito information to Vector Disease Control International, which sends it on to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Control Division.
Rothrock added that the report is for the state to see what chemicals are being released into the Colorado River. LaRose clarified that the county is not releasing chemicals directly into the river. According to the report, nine herbicides are applied, mostly by truck-mounted sprayers, to just over 176 acres from Glenwood Springs to Parachute. Herbicides include Telar XP, Escort XP, Esplanade, Milestone, Opensight, Perspective, Hardball, Roundup Custom and Trumpcard.
She added that she’s seen a decrease in the amount of pesticides used on county land.
She pointed to whitetop (Lepidium draba) as a tough one to eradicate. According to the USDA National Invasive Species Information Center, whitetop — also known as hoary cress — was introduced to the U.S. in the 1800s, probably as an ornamental plant. LaRose said whitetop and Russian knapweed (Rhaponticum repens) come up at the same time. Whitetop, she explained, has a short flowering season during which time the herbicides are most effective.
“It flowers and then it’s gone.” she said. “If we don’t hit it in time, then we’re kind of out of luck and planning ahead for next year already.”
The Colorado Department of Agriculture has had some success in the past few years controlling Russian knapweed with host-specific wasps and midges. Both plants are on the state’s B List for noxious weed species.
The BOCC reappointed three people to the county noxious weed board, approved three Department of Human Services positions and formalized the appointments to the Planning Commission discussed last week.
After an executive session and a lunch break, the BOCC approved a waiver request for an Annexation Impact Report regarding the annexation of Heron’s Nest into the Town of Silt.