“The 64,000-pound elephant in the room that I don’t think ever really fully gets addressed is acknowledging what is the safe carrying capacity of Highway 82 and, by extension, I-70,” Garfield County resident Siri Olsen said at Monday’s Garfield Board of County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting. Representatives from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) presented an […]
GarCo report
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: New gravel pit near Parachute, BOCC in Carbondale next week
On Monday, the dais of the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) moved to the Parachute Library for two hours. No public arrived to comment, which is a little out of the ordinary since at least one old-timer usually shows up to commend the commissioners for their stamina and voice a concern or two. Not so Monday. […]
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GarCo Report: John Martin urges BOCC to cover $1.7 million to finish Shoshone water right deal
Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting lasted less than an hour. Former commission chair John Martin made a surprise cameo appearance during the morning public comment period, urging the BOCC to seal the Shoshone water right deal. “Today I’m going to let you know that you’re on the threshold of greatness — all three of […]
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Bonfire Coffee’s new roaster, nonprofit grants, human trafficking protections
Commissioner Perry Will was absent for the regular Monday Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, which left only two commissioners present. First up, the BOCC approved a permit for the grand opening event of a new coffee roasting facility in West Glenwood Springs. Charlie Chacos, owner of Bonfire Coffee in Carbondale, accepted the permit […]
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GarCo Report: Local water conservation districts get bulk of county’s Ruedi water reserves
A warm winter and historically low snowpack in western Colorado has left the West Divide Water Conservation District (WDWCD) and the Silt Water Conservancy District (SWCD) thirsty. District representatives on Monday asked the Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for help since the county owns rights to 400 acre-feet of water in Ruedi Reservoir. Back […]
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YouthZone, River Bridge, Yampah teen parenting updates and a shout out to Larry Day
With no public comments, no elected official reports and a short consent agenda, the Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) got to the heart of Monday’s meeting right out of the gate. They listened to updates from local nonprofits that receive county funding. YouthZone (YZ) provides services to improve everyday life for youth who have […]
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BOCC declines to help residents purchase Cavern Springs Mobile Home Park
Sometimes it doesn’t matter how many heavy hitters are on your side or how many of your ducks are in a row, those in a position of power just won’t budge. That was the case at Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting when a group of said heavy hitters, supporting residents of the 98-lot Cavern […]
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GarCo Report: Property value complaints, South Bridge permit dispute, CPW Commission woes
The Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting opened Monday without public comment. The board jumped right into five property valuation abatement hearings, three of which were resolved in the appellant’s favor due to distinct, clerical errors. County Assessor Jim Yellico and his team denied two requests that did not involve clerical errors. Remember, we’re looking at […]
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GarCo Report: Public to BOCC — No library money for RFTA, rein in sheriff, diversify economy
Public comments at Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting took on some heavy local issues, but had to wait until a presentation by Western States and Tribal Nations (WSTN) finished up. Lobbyist Andrew Browning, WSTN president and founder, gave the BOCC an update on the global energy climate, liquid natural gas export facilities, including Costa […]
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GarCo Report: Focus on animals and at-risk teens
Yampah Mountain High School and Colorado River BOCES staff struck gold at Tuesday’s Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting. They asked for $25,000 from the national opioid settlement funds for an on-site intervention counselor. These funds are a result of 2021/2022 national opioid settlements resolving opioids litigation brought by state and local governments against manufacturers, distributors […]