Anti-manga activist John Lepkowski brought copies of the Japanese illustrated books to Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting that he and others in the county want moved or removed from the Silt Library. He said that as of Saturday, Dec. 2, “The trash books are still at low level,” referring to the low shelves at the Silt Library where the books have been housed.
He exclaimed that the library board is “following the Communist game plan” according to a book he brought with him, “How the Spectre of Communism is Ruling the World.” He added that a change is needed in the library board but that they’re not going to appoint someone who is in favor of removing the books. Commission Chair John Martin advised Lepkowski to address the library board.
National
Robert Weidner, the county’s Washington, D.C. lobbyist, updated the BOCC about goings-on at the nation’s capitol, citing foreign policy and immigration as current congressional priorities. He added that the Department of the Interior is working toward implementing the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed conservation rule. He also mentioned the proposed Securities and Exchange Commission regulations for Natural Asset Companies (NAC), stating that there has been no congressional movement on this. He mentioned a website (pipeline.org) as a source of his NAC information and voiced concern about the issue.
Commissioner Tom Jankovsky said that he thinks the proposed conservation rule and the proposed NAC regs are “in sync” with one another. “This is my conspiracy theory for the morning,” he said. Weidner said he is working with Nevada lawmakers on the right-of-way bill and following up on the BOCC’s meeting with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV).
Local
Jankovsky also commented on the increase of undocumented immigrants in Garfield County. Later, he stated that he was invited by Pitkin County Commissioner Francie Jacober to attend a meeting about Venezuelan migrants this week in Carbondale. None of the commissioners could attend the meeting due to prior commitments.
Garfield County Sheriff Lou Valario requested $186,000 for a new vehicle to replace one that was “totaled” as result of an at-fault accident as well as an additional vehicle for the fleet. The BOCC approved $93,000 to replace the wrecked vehicle but denied the request for the additional vehicle.
County finance director Jamaica Watts and county manager Fred Jarman provided a 2024 budget update. Watts said that next year’s budget revenue is projected to be slightly more than $131,282,000 but expenditures are projected to be $131,439,000. She said funds from the county’s reserves will replace the $156,196 shortfall. She added that the $1.5 million loss of property tax revenue will also pull down reserves.
Watts and Jarman requested direction from the BOCC about property taxes in the wake of Colorado lawmakers’ Nov. 17 special session. County assessor Jim Yellico, who joined the discussion at the meeting, explained the situation in an email to The Sopris Sun. He said that the commissioners gave direction to reduce the 2023 county mill levy from 13.655 to 13.155 via a temporary mill levy credit of .5 mills.
“This year, the legislature made some changes — offering a reduction to the Actual Value of $55,000 for residential properties and $30,000 for non-residential real property,” he added. “They also lowered the residential assessment rate from 6.765% to 6.7% and non-residential properties from 29% to 27.9%.”
So, for a $500,000 property in Glenwood Springs that means the assessed value would be $29,815. Then, by multiplying the assessed value by the total mill levy for residential property in Glenwood Springs tax area 31, property tax would be $2,368.95. “A commercial property of the same value in the same tax area would have taxes due of $10,418.93,” he said. The mill levy certification is expected to be signed at next week’s regular meeting.
The BOCC approved action items and after an executive session, adjourned for lunch.
Gravel pit
In the afternoon, commissioners heard presentations from county staff and representatives of North Hangs Ranch LLC about a proposed gravel pit on 72 acres north of Interstate 70, south of the Colorado River, and west of Silt. Project operator Western Slope Materials (WSM), a local company, is a subsidiary of Pennsylvania-based Stewart Companies, which is the address on the application.
Travis Stewart, who gave Monday’s presentation, is listed as the property owner and WSM president of operations. County staff approved the project with conditions, as did the BOCC. The project is expected to dewater wetlands on the property, warranting wetlands mitigation, and will force the relocation of the Bernudy Ditch.