Commissioner Mike Sampson was not present during the Monday, Oct. 9 regular Garfield County commissioners board meeting. Budget Officer Fred Jarman and Finance Director Jamaica Watts presented the staff’s proposed budget for 2024. Jarman mentioned that the county’s 2023 revenue included the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, “and that resulted in a smaller reduction […]
GarCo report
GarCo Report: Disagreement builds over potential development
At this week’s Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, a series of funding actions in the morning was followed by a contentious public hearing regarding a potential development at Flying M Ranch. The meeting opened with a reading of Governor Polis’ proclamation that 4-H week has begun nationwide. First on a tall list of […]
GarCo Report: Public Health gears up for vaccine season
On Monday, Sept. 18, the Garfield County Commissioners met for a series of presentations, notably from the local Board of Human Services and the Board of Health, as well as from the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) which provided a thorough update on all the changes coming to Cottonwood Pass over the next few years. […]
GarCo Report: Easy solution to Garco library issue, says Tom Jankovsky
Commissioners began the meeting by approving a resolution commemorating Constitution Week and Patriot’s Day, presented by Linda Morcom of the Captain Richard Sopris Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The rest of the meeting was short with approvals of the consent agenda, a liquor license for the upcoming Journey […]
GarCo Report: Virtual deputy training, public health takes over mosquito control, new natural gas wells approved
Carbondale resident Richard Votero and Town Trustee Chris Hassig must have gotten up early Monday to speak to the commissioners (BOCC) about the imminent demolition of the U.S. Forest Service Aspen/Sopris Ranger District (USFS) building and surrounding trees in Carbondale. They were not on the agenda so had to be at the meeting and ready […]
GarCo Report: Lost Sheepherder Gulch, Silt water treatment plant, nonprofits get dough
Not to belabor the point but Commission Chair John Martin’s name change suggestion last week for Dead Mexican Gulch has now been officially submitted to the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board (CGNAB). According to Commissioner Tom Jankovsky, CGNAB got back in touch with him, requesting a suggestion, so the Board made it official: Lost Sheepherder […]
GarCo Report: Property tax appeals, polo in Carbondale, no tipis near Rifle
Let’s get to the easy stuff first. The public hearing for a limited impact use permit application for the Tipi Hideaway on Highway 325 near Rifle was canceled. The applicant, Carrie Buhlman, withdrew her application. When asked why, she simply said that she wished to do so. That took all of five minutes in the […]
GarCo Report: Wholesale greenhouses to cover 95% of light at night, American Stewards of Liberty, Mountain Valley changes
A full agenda greeted the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Monday for the final meeting of the month. The Board heard from citizens in the morning and the afternoon about issues not on the agenda. Richard Bach took time out from work to ask the BOCC to do something about increased taxes that are vexing […]
GarCo Report: Of property taxes and a new services provider for the county jail
“Affordable housing starts with affordable property taxes,” said Glenwood Springs resident Craig Amichaux at Monday’s regular meeting. Amichaux spoke to the commissioners (BOCC) ahead of the agenda, starting with price increases over the last few years. “Twenty-four percent increase in electricity, 24% increase in lunch meat, 33% in flour, 48% increase on gasoline, and first […]
GarCo Report: Mental health agency cites social media, isolation as #1 threats for youth
Connecting with others on social media is not the same as connecting in-person, according to Sarah Fedishen, program director for the Aspen Hope Center (AHC). AHC was one of three mental health agencies presenting updates at Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting. “Oxytocin doesn’t happen on social media,” she said. Oxytocin is a hormone linked […]
