As we all know, one of the greatest challenges facing Carbondale and the region is the lack of affordable housing. Our housing issues are a constant topic in news articles, municipal council meetings, task forces and election campaigns. Various efforts have been made to reduce the shortage — such as rent controls and deed restrictions, […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government
Fletchall: ‘We can agree to disagree’
With the onset of library trustee appointments being vetted through the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) rather than the Garfield County Public Library District board of trustees — as has been customary prior to this year — things are shaking up on the panel.The libraries, as of late, have been scrutinized by members of the […]
Posted inLocal Government
Carbondale Mobility Access Plan: More questions than answers
Correction: the Bicycle Pedestrian and Trails Commission is an advisory body and will not make final decisions on infrastructure changes and funding as previously stated by this article. Those decisions lie with the Board of Trustees. On Nov. 4, the Carbondale Bicycle Pedestrian and Trails Commission (BPTC) held an open house to review the third […]
Posted inLocal Government
Preliminary election results reveal Republican stronghold
A steady snowfall blanketed the mountains as day-of voters hit the polling places, or dropped their mail-in ballots in designated boxes to be rushed off to county clerks for counting. The snow continued to accumulate into the night while watch parties streamed live news or refreshed webpages to watch the results. By Wednesday morning, it […]
Posted inLocal Government
Grant requests, dueling library petitions, Xcel gets laydown yard permit south of Silt
A different kind of library request opened Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting. Ellen Dole of the local group Protect Our GarCo Libraries approached the board with a polite letter and petition — with a stated 1,400 signatures — asking the BOCC to rescind a resolution about appointing Garfield County Public Library District trustees. The […]
Posted inYouth News
Speaking with first-time voters
In this presidential election of 2024, as with every other election, there are first-time voters who are now eligible to vote. As our government and society continue to shift and change, it’s important to this future generation to have input and a say in the direction the country is taking. The Sopris Sun recently spoke […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo commissioners opt in on Prop 123
Garfield County Assessor Jim Yellico introduced the first topic of note at Monday’s board meeting. In May, oil and gas operator Caerus Piceance, LLC filed a “Petition for Refund of Omitted Taxes Assessed for Tax Year 2018 (Production Year 2017).” This followed a 2023 county audit that identified an omitted production value, on which Caerus […]
Posted inLocal Government
RFTA Report: 2025 budget talks continue
The Oct. 10 Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA) board of directors meeting focused on the 2025 proposed budget and strategic planning. Before heading into the agenda, Vice Chair Greg Poschman and others commented on the significant upvalley traffic they noticed while traveling downvalley for the meeting in Carbondale. Others noted that daily traffic extends onto […]
Posted inLocal Government
Basalt Report: Roaring Fork Safe Passages highlights mitigation opportunities
During the period for public comment at Tuesday’s Basalt Town Council meeting, citizens voiced their concerns about the high frequency of bear confrontations this season and, as a result, bear fatalities.Daniela Kohl, founder of the Roaring Fork Valley Bear Coalition, advised council to spread the word on bear safety measures especially coming up on Halloween. […]
Posted inLocal Government
Carbondale Report: Trustees consider police/rec budgets
All trustees were present for a relatively short regular meeting on Oct. 22. It began with liquor license renewals and accounts payable unanimously approved in the consent agenda.Two residents spoke up during the time allotted for general comments. The first insisted that non-compliance of state and municipal laws for “years and years” is affecting safety […]