Silt resident John Lepkowski and his Garfield County Libraries complaints are becoming fixtures during the open public comment period at Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meetings. This week, he disseminated information that he said he got from Daniel Kail. Kail, the director of Trailhead Christian Counseling in Glenwood Springs, is registered in Colorado as a licensed […]
Local Government
Posted inLocal Government
Real estate transfer bill would assist local affordable housing efforts
A bill that’s expected to be introduced by state Rep. Elizabeth Velasco when the Colorado Legislature convenes for the 2024 session next week aims to provide another tool in the effort to create more affordable housing locally. Velasco, D-Glenwood Springs, who represents House District 57, will be joined by state Sen. Dylan Roberts, D-Eagle (Senate […]
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GarCo Report: New year, new subdivision, old library woes
John Martin was absent from 2024’s first Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) meeting. Commissioner Tom Jankovsky chaired the meeting, which was short. First thing, Silt resident and library malcontent John Lepkowski was back, carrying a satchel with at least two manga books in it and complaining that the manga series in the Silt Library […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Library malcontents keep at it, fence at St. Finnbar blocks angler access
Trisha O’Grady, John Lepkowski and Robin Pruett were out in force at Monday’s meeting to register their ongoing complaints about the Garfield County Public Library District board and a series of Manga books at the Silt Library. O’Grady said that her local petition has garnered 1,315 signatures, acknowledging that the library board has already responded […]
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RFSD Report: Board responds to drug concerns
At the Dec. 13 Roaring Fork School District board meeting, Interim Superintendent Dr. Anna Cole said, “We do have an increasing concern regarding the presence, use, abuse and transmission of illegal narcotics, like cocaine, opioids, fentanyl, at our high schools.” In her superintendent update, she shared what was discussed at a meeting with the District […]
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Michael Francisco lawsuit against the Town of Carbondale and three police officers has stalled
It’s been three years almost to the day that Michael Francisco was arrested at the Carbondale City Market and charged with obstruction of government operations, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. All because he pointed at someone who worked in the gas station kiosk. Even though the resisting arrest case was dismissed in May 2021, a […]
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Carbondale Report: Venezuelans, Town Center and pool top the agenda as budget is approved
The Board of Town Trustees met with a packed agenda on Tuesday, ranging across many topics.Luis Yllanes was absent, and no students were present to receive Student of the Month awards. The consent agenda consisted of accounts payable, a snow removal contract, marijuana and liquor license renewals, approving revisions to the employee handbook and a […]
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GarCo Report: Cleaning costs at half a million, 2024 budget and reduced mill levy approved
Agenda items for Monday’s Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting began with a liquor license approval for a Jan. 27 fundraiser in Battlement Mesa. The BOCC also approved the consent agenda, but not before Commissioner Tom Jankovsky commented on Item F — a $495,444 contract with Four Branches, Inc dba Cardiff Cleaning for county custodial services.“I […]
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Libraries head into 2024 down a board member
Garfield County Public Library District (GCPLD) will go into 2024 short a board member. That was the decision of the trustees at their monthly meeting in New Castle on Dec. 7. The board took the recommendation of GCPLD executive director Jamie LaRue to wait until next year to nominate another trustee after he, board president […]
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Supporting new arrivals from Venezuela
Since early November, when Carbondale realized the presence of over 100 refugees, mostly from Venezuela, living in cars and tents by the river at the intersection of highways 82 and 133, the Roaring Fork Valley has rallied to support these newcomers through the harsh winter. There’s no easy solution for this unprecedented scenario; it’s a […]