This summer, the Colorado River District Board adopted a new five-year strategic plan. Formally named the Colorado River Water Conservation District, the Glenwood Springs-based agency manages and protects water resources on the Western Slope, encompassing tributaries and water use in 15 counties. The district was formed nearly 90 years ago, in 1937, in response to […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government
Carbondale Report: Rates increasing and public infrastructure improving
All Carbondale trustees were present for their final meeting of September, addressing several items indicative of an evolving town. First, a consent agenda was approved that included approval of minutes, special event permits for the Carbondale Historical Society (Membership Drive, Oct. 3 at True Nature) and English In Action (Fiesta de Tamales, Oct. 25 at […]
Posted inLocal Government
Glenwood Report: Council to revisit vote to put a toll on future South Bridge
Glenwood Springs City Council will reconsider an earlier 4-3 decision to include a toll with the South Bridge project, after a slew of public comments at its Sept. 18 meeting warning that the move could jeopardize a nearly $50 million federal grant that would cover about 60% of the project’s cost. Eleven people lined up […]
Posted inEnvironment
West Slope utility-scale solar: surge or stall?
Over McClure Pass, between Hotchkiss and Delta, one of the nation’s most innovative photovoltaic power projects is complete and will have a grand opening Sept. 30. It will be the largest solar farm on Colorado’s Western Slope. The Garnet Mesa Solar project has tracking photovoltaic panels over 400 acres of former cattle pasture, but now […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Constitution Week, local group urges energy diversity
Steve Kuschner, organizer for 350 Roaring Fork, spoke up during the morning public comment period at Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting, drawing attention to a letter, which would otherwise not have been discussed publicly due to its placement on the consent agenda. The letter is an invitation from the BOCC to U.S. Interior Secretary […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: Goats at work, budget drafting and local collaborations
In mid-August, herds of goats once again appeared along the Rio Grande Trail between Catherine Store and Carbondale. The popular weed-mitigation program is now in its ninth year. Using the goats for corridor flora management helps the Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) minimize pesticide use and build soil health. This year, RFTA started a contract […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Hooray for firefighters and the county airport
Praise and gratitude opened Monday’s Garfield County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, but not before Fred Standefer of Aspen Glen asked the BOCC to curb development in the area. “At present, there are three active development applications on your website that will have a huge impact on our property,” he said. “First, there’s the […]
Posted inLocal Government
Glenwood Report: Split council votes to proceed with toll plan for South Bridge project
Glenwood Springs City Council convened for its first of two regular September meetings on Thursday, Sept. 4, with all council members present in person. The big item on the night’s agenda came toward the end of the more-than-three-hour-long meeting, when council, following a long, sometimes testy discussion, voted 4-3 to proceed on the long-debated South […]
Posted inLocal Government
Carbondale Report: Pool completion delayed, opening date unaffected
With schools back in session, the first regular Carbondale Board of Trustees meeting of September saw the return of Student of the Month awards. Congratulations to Scarlett Cohen and Nico Dominguez! All trustees were in attendance, minus Jess Robison. The swiftly-approved consent agenda consisted of meeting minutes, liquor license renewals for White House Pizza and […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: BPAC looks to the future after another successful summer
During this week’s regular Town Council meeting, over a dozen residents living on Homestead Drive came to the podium to voice safety and quality-of-life concerns in regard to the recently completed Midland Avenue Streetscape Project. Last week marked the final installment of the Basalt Summer Concert Series, but the concern was that increased traffic to […]