Posted by:
Erin Eddy
www.ridgwayland.com
November 19, 2008
We're just more than halfway through November, hurtling headlong into the hectic holiday season, and it's been quite a newsmaking month for the Ridgway School District.
First, the ballot box results came late on the night of Nov. 4, and for the mil levy override question that would provide funding for the new gymnasium and music room. Hurrah, it was good news: Approval by a margin of 968-639.
So after years of planning, looking for a site, getting an original property tax measure passed and having the gym facilities fall casualty to unforeseen cost hikes, we will now get to see the needed school expansion progress through to completion.
To all who have dedicated the countless (and mostly, unpaid) hours toward building facilities that match the district's aspiration for excellence, three words — congratulations, and thank you.
The other school news in recent weeks involves top-level leadership for the district.
First, Superintendent Douglas Bissonette announced (actually on Halloween) he would be stepping down at the end of the school year.
On the heels of that announcement, the School Board unanimously voted to appoint a familiar face, that of Don Batchelder, to the vacant fifth board seat. Bissonette accurately states that he will leave Ridgway Schools in very good shape.
"Students receive an outstanding education from caring and talented teachers, the schools are led by strong principals with a clear, student-oriented vision, the district is in strong financial condition, and Ridgway's reputation locally and around the state is exceptional," Bissonette wrote in his resignation letter.
As any current observer knows, Bissonette's leadership of the district has been not been without its critics or controversy. With the support of his board, he was not timid in making changes in the faculty where he thought they were warranted. And several of those ignited emotional protests and discord in the community.
Bissonette noted that his tenure was of six years, twice the state average for school superintendents. Those short job spans indicate that the top administrative post of any school system is among the most challenging anywhere. Superintendents must answer to a politically-elected board, manage other administrators and teachers, crunch numbers into a working budget, and oh, know a thing or two about education. Just may be the toughest job in town.
Our hat's off to Bisonette for taking on those challenges with a can-do attitude.
His pending departure was a direct factor in the selection of Batchelder back to the School Board.
That Batchelder, the former mayor, town manager and current county commissioner, is a good choice should go without saying. Indeed, the employment of the best qualified superintendent is likely the board's biggest responsibility. Batchelder's long background in working both as an elected official and as a paid administrator will contribute greatly to finding Bissonette's successor, and that he or she be best suited for the job.
The appointment keeps Batchelder, whose eight years on the Board of County Commissioners ends in January, in an official public capacity. Which begs the question: What's next for him next November, when the School Board appointment ends?
— David Mullings
Friday, November 28, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Ouray County Water Call
Posted by Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
November 21, 2008
Written by:
Samantha Tisdel Wright
Thirsty desert cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles could conceivably leave Ouray County high and dry, if proper action is not taken to protect water rights, attorney Andy Mueller warned the Ouray City Council this week.
"All kinds of rights are subject to being cut off," Mueller said, "even municipal rights."
Mueller is Ouray County's representative on the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD) Board, which since 1937 has been protecting Western Colorado water on behalf of the more than 500,000 Coloradoans who live on the western side of the Continental Divide.
The Colorado River, the vena cava of the American West into which much of the snowpack and springwater of the San Juan Mountains eventually drains, meanders its way through seven states before (just barely) making it across the border into Mexico and the Gulf of California.
It's water is divvied up according to two "Colorado River Compacts" dating back to 1922 and 1948.
In 2007, the Colorado State Legislature commissioned a study to determine just how much of our namesake river's water is left to develop.
"The study goes to the heart of a Colorado River District concern that the Colorado River basin not fall under a compact call," wrote board president Peter Kasper in the district's annual report, "whereby Colorado might have to cut back on its water use in order to meet water delivery obligations to other states downstream."
Thus far, the Colorado River Basin, to which the Uncompaghre River is a tributary, has remained free from a dread compact call.
"And we want to keep it that way through good planning that acknowledges that there is a finite water supply," Kasper emphasized.
Downstream Colorado River states would like nothing better than to open up the compacts for renegotiation, but Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, with their much smaller populations and political clout, are "afraid we would get run over," if that ever happened, Mueller said.
Even with good planning, climate change and urban sprawl are growing threats to upstream water users in the Colorado River Basin.
The affects of climate change are already beginning to manifest in a shorter run-off season, which impacts the flow of the river and the people who depend upon it downstream. The Colorado River Water Conservation District Board has been actively generating innovative ideas, such as water banking and planned fallowing to help up-stream water users get through dry years without triggering a compact curtailment.
"We can't turn fire hydrants off," Mueller said. "Cities will be looking at alternative ways to augment their water rights. They could, for example, buy up ranch land with pre-1922 rights and then let that water flow to Lake Powell, to make up for the water they take at the headwaters."
It's not just the cities downstream in the Colorado River watershed that have cast a larcenous eye upon the pristine water of the San Juans. Sprawling Front Range Colorado communities are equally thirsty and greedy, often exhibiting what Mueller called a "buy it and dry it" mentality when it come to water rights.
This spectre could loom for Western Slope communities like Ouray and Ridgway if protective action is not taken, Mueller warned. "It's a huge issue that will take years for a solution. And it has the potential to impact the county."
Only once in the recent past has Ouray's water been subject to call. That was during the drought of 2002. If the letter of the law had been explicitely followed at that time, Mueller said, the city should have stopped the diversion of Weehawken Spring, its sole municipal water source.
City Council and staff have been actively addressing the issue of water rights in recent months and have hired Wright Water Engineering to conduct an inventory of the city's water rights and options for augmentation.
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
November 21, 2008
Written by:
Samantha Tisdel Wright
Thirsty desert cities like Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles could conceivably leave Ouray County high and dry, if proper action is not taken to protect water rights, attorney Andy Mueller warned the Ouray City Council this week.
"All kinds of rights are subject to being cut off," Mueller said, "even municipal rights."
Mueller is Ouray County's representative on the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD) Board, which since 1937 has been protecting Western Colorado water on behalf of the more than 500,000 Coloradoans who live on the western side of the Continental Divide.
The Colorado River, the vena cava of the American West into which much of the snowpack and springwater of the San Juan Mountains eventually drains, meanders its way through seven states before (just barely) making it across the border into Mexico and the Gulf of California.
It's water is divvied up according to two "Colorado River Compacts" dating back to 1922 and 1948.
In 2007, the Colorado State Legislature commissioned a study to determine just how much of our namesake river's water is left to develop.
"The study goes to the heart of a Colorado River District concern that the Colorado River basin not fall under a compact call," wrote board president Peter Kasper in the district's annual report, "whereby Colorado might have to cut back on its water use in order to meet water delivery obligations to other states downstream."
Thus far, the Colorado River Basin, to which the Uncompaghre River is a tributary, has remained free from a dread compact call.
"And we want to keep it that way through good planning that acknowledges that there is a finite water supply," Kasper emphasized.
Downstream Colorado River states would like nothing better than to open up the compacts for renegotiation, but Utah, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, with their much smaller populations and political clout, are "afraid we would get run over," if that ever happened, Mueller said.
Even with good planning, climate change and urban sprawl are growing threats to upstream water users in the Colorado River Basin.
The affects of climate change are already beginning to manifest in a shorter run-off season, which impacts the flow of the river and the people who depend upon it downstream. The Colorado River Water Conservation District Board has been actively generating innovative ideas, such as water banking and planned fallowing to help up-stream water users get through dry years without triggering a compact curtailment.
"We can't turn fire hydrants off," Mueller said. "Cities will be looking at alternative ways to augment their water rights. They could, for example, buy up ranch land with pre-1922 rights and then let that water flow to Lake Powell, to make up for the water they take at the headwaters."
It's not just the cities downstream in the Colorado River watershed that have cast a larcenous eye upon the pristine water of the San Juans. Sprawling Front Range Colorado communities are equally thirsty and greedy, often exhibiting what Mueller called a "buy it and dry it" mentality when it come to water rights.
This spectre could loom for Western Slope communities like Ouray and Ridgway if protective action is not taken, Mueller warned. "It's a huge issue that will take years for a solution. And it has the potential to impact the county."
Only once in the recent past has Ouray's water been subject to call. That was during the drought of 2002. If the letter of the law had been explicitely followed at that time, Mueller said, the city should have stopped the diversion of Weehawken Spring, its sole municipal water source.
City Council and staff have been actively addressing the issue of water rights in recent months and have hired Wright Water Engineering to conduct an inventory of the city's water rights and options for augmentation.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Land use fee increase in Ridgway Colorado
Posted by:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
Written by: Patrick Davarn
November 14, 2008
RIDGWAY — Agreeing with the county staff that it is "long overdue," county commissioners will raise some of the fees charged by the Land Use Department in time for the new year.
Mark Castrodale, interim county planner, said after consensus by the Board of County Commissioners that he will have a comprehensive fee schedule prepared by early December for consideration of adoption by resolution.
Castrodale presented an analysis of fees charged by the Land Use Department for various processes; not including building permit fees. "My records show … fees have not been reviewed or modified since 2004 … we appear to be grossly undercharging for some of our services," Castrodale wrote.
Castrodale explained to the BOCC on Monday that he used his salary's hourly rate and calculated the amount of time necessary for him to process various services – ranging from sketch plans to final plats – then reduced the total by one-third to propose a fee's rate. "The issue, in general, is that it's been long overdue," he said."I tried to be hugely conservative."
For example, Castrodale said current fees for a limited planned unit development (PUD) of three lots or less are $750 for a sketch plan, $750 for a preliminary development plan, and $250 for a final development plan. He proposes raising the preliminary development plan fee to $1,500 and the final development plan to $500 in addition to establishing a $250 fee for the final plat. During the process of estimating new fees for Ouray County, Castrodale said he called Montrose County for a comparison. For these same four services, Montrose County will charge a total of $6,445. "We are subsidizing development," said Castrodale.
BOCC Chairman Keith Meinert said an increase is needed, especially in comparison to Montrose County, but asked if higher fees could be charged at the end of a project when a developer is more certain of a successful outcome. "I agree that it's time consuming," Meinert said, "but I wonder if front-end costs would be so high it might discourage people from trying."
Castrodale said the bulk of work by Land Use staff is "front-end loaded" and requires the same amount of time whether the project is successful or not. He would prefer to deal with those "isolated situations" of projects that are unsuccessful, or withdrawn, on a case-by-case basis.
Commissioner Heidi Albritton backed Castrodale's reasoning. "If they (developers) are working with staff, there is no reason it shouldn't go through," she said. "The hand-holding and direction takes place at the beginning. No outcome is guaranteed. If they choose to go through with a plan despite advice of staff, it's not Mark's problem. We need to get on a proactive track and keep up with the times."
Commissioner Don Batchelder likewise agreed the fee review is long overdue, saying he first asked about it six years ago. "Let's say Mark's ideas are good and take them at face value," said Batchelder. "I think your (proposed) fees are low. You took off one-third, you should have added 50% more and it probably still would not have covered the costs."
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
Written by: Patrick Davarn
November 14, 2008
RIDGWAY — Agreeing with the county staff that it is "long overdue," county commissioners will raise some of the fees charged by the Land Use Department in time for the new year.
Mark Castrodale, interim county planner, said after consensus by the Board of County Commissioners that he will have a comprehensive fee schedule prepared by early December for consideration of adoption by resolution.
Castrodale presented an analysis of fees charged by the Land Use Department for various processes; not including building permit fees. "My records show … fees have not been reviewed or modified since 2004 … we appear to be grossly undercharging for some of our services," Castrodale wrote.
Castrodale explained to the BOCC on Monday that he used his salary's hourly rate and calculated the amount of time necessary for him to process various services – ranging from sketch plans to final plats – then reduced the total by one-third to propose a fee's rate. "The issue, in general, is that it's been long overdue," he said."I tried to be hugely conservative."
For example, Castrodale said current fees for a limited planned unit development (PUD) of three lots or less are $750 for a sketch plan, $750 for a preliminary development plan, and $250 for a final development plan. He proposes raising the preliminary development plan fee to $1,500 and the final development plan to $500 in addition to establishing a $250 fee for the final plat. During the process of estimating new fees for Ouray County, Castrodale said he called Montrose County for a comparison. For these same four services, Montrose County will charge a total of $6,445. "We are subsidizing development," said Castrodale.
BOCC Chairman Keith Meinert said an increase is needed, especially in comparison to Montrose County, but asked if higher fees could be charged at the end of a project when a developer is more certain of a successful outcome. "I agree that it's time consuming," Meinert said, "but I wonder if front-end costs would be so high it might discourage people from trying."
Castrodale said the bulk of work by Land Use staff is "front-end loaded" and requires the same amount of time whether the project is successful or not. He would prefer to deal with those "isolated situations" of projects that are unsuccessful, or withdrawn, on a case-by-case basis.
Commissioner Heidi Albritton backed Castrodale's reasoning. "If they (developers) are working with staff, there is no reason it shouldn't go through," she said. "The hand-holding and direction takes place at the beginning. No outcome is guaranteed. If they choose to go through with a plan despite advice of staff, it's not Mark's problem. We need to get on a proactive track and keep up with the times."
Commissioner Don Batchelder likewise agreed the fee review is long overdue, saying he first asked about it six years ago. "Let's say Mark's ideas are good and take them at face value," said Batchelder. "I think your (proposed) fees are low. You took off one-third, you should have added 50% more and it probably still would not have covered the costs."
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Ridgway and Ouray development fees
Posted by Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
November 12, 2008
Agreeing with the county staff that it is "long overdue," county commissioners will raise some of the fees charged by the Land Use Department in time for the new year.
Mark Castrodale, interim county planner, said after consensus by the Board of County Commissioners that he will have a comprehensive fee schedule prepared by early December for consideration of adoption by resolution.
Castrodale presented to the BOCC an analysis of current fees charged by the Land Use Department for various processes; not including building permit fees. "My records show … fees have not been reviewed or modified since 2004 … we appear to be grossly undercharging for some of our services," Castrodale wrote in a memo.
Castrodale explained to the BOCC on Monday that he used his salary's hourly rate and calculated the amount of time necessary for him to process various services – ranging from sketch plans to final plats – then reduced the total by one-third to propose a fee's rate.
"The issue, in general, is that it's been long overdue," he said."I tried to be hugely conservative."
For example, Castrodale said current fees for a limited planned unit development (PUD) of three lots or less are $750 for a sketch plan, $750 for a preliminary development plan, and $250 for a final development plan. He proposes raising the preliminary development plan fee to $1,500 and the final development plan to $500 in addition to establishing a $250 fee for the final plat. During the process of estimating new fees for Ouray County, Castrodale said he called Montrose County for a comparison. For these same four services, Montrose County will charge a total of $6,445.
"We are subsidizing development," said Castrodale. "Our current rates do not even cover my time."
BOCC Chairman Keith Meinert agreed that an increase in fees are needed, especially in comparison to Montrose County. but asked if higher fees could be charged at the end of a project when a developer is more certain of a successful outcome. "I agree that it's time consuming," Meinert said, "but I wonder if front-end costs would be so high it might discourage people from trying."
Castrodale said the bulk of work by Land Use staff is "front-end loaded" and requires the same amount of time whether the project is successful or not. He would prefer to deal with those "isolated situations" of projects that are unsuccessful, or withdrawn, on a case-by-case basis.
Commissioner Heidi Albritton backed Castrodale's reasoning. "If they (developers) are working with staff, there is no reason it shouldn't go through," Albritton said. "The hand-holding and direction takes place at the beginning of the process. No outcome is guaranteed. If they choose to go through with a plan despite the advice of staff, it's not Mark's problem. We need to get on a proactive track and keep up with the times."
Commissioner Don Batchelder likewise agreed the fee review is long overdue, saying he first asked about it six years ago. "Let's say Mark's ideas are good and take them at face value," said Batchelder. "I think your (proposed) fees are low. You took off one-third, you should have added 50% more and it probably still would not have covered the costs."
Meinert said the revised fees are a "step in the right direction." Fellow commissioners, and Castrodale, agreed with his suggestion that Castrodale define his simple review and complex review fees for a development site inspection in line with zones established in 2002 for assigning or verifying addresses and inspecting driveways. Zone 1 is six miles from the Land Use Office in Ridgway while zone 2 is 12 miles and zone 3 is more than 12 miles travel.
Recommended changes in fees are in the categories of limited PUD (three lots or less); regular PUD (more than three lots); a recreation/resort PUD; boundary line adjustment; appeals to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (variance); minor amendments to the Land Use Code; a site development permit; a plat correction; and site inspections for a weed management plan, PUD, special use permit, address verification or driveway inspection. Castrodale did not recommend any increases for a final plat amendment , a special use permit, or exemptions and exceptions allowed within the code.
— By Patrick Davarn, news editor
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
November 12, 2008
Agreeing with the county staff that it is "long overdue," county commissioners will raise some of the fees charged by the Land Use Department in time for the new year.
Mark Castrodale, interim county planner, said after consensus by the Board of County Commissioners that he will have a comprehensive fee schedule prepared by early December for consideration of adoption by resolution.
Castrodale presented to the BOCC an analysis of current fees charged by the Land Use Department for various processes; not including building permit fees. "My records show … fees have not been reviewed or modified since 2004 … we appear to be grossly undercharging for some of our services," Castrodale wrote in a memo.
Castrodale explained to the BOCC on Monday that he used his salary's hourly rate and calculated the amount of time necessary for him to process various services – ranging from sketch plans to final plats – then reduced the total by one-third to propose a fee's rate.
"The issue, in general, is that it's been long overdue," he said."I tried to be hugely conservative."
For example, Castrodale said current fees for a limited planned unit development (PUD) of three lots or less are $750 for a sketch plan, $750 for a preliminary development plan, and $250 for a final development plan. He proposes raising the preliminary development plan fee to $1,500 and the final development plan to $500 in addition to establishing a $250 fee for the final plat. During the process of estimating new fees for Ouray County, Castrodale said he called Montrose County for a comparison. For these same four services, Montrose County will charge a total of $6,445.
"We are subsidizing development," said Castrodale. "Our current rates do not even cover my time."
BOCC Chairman Keith Meinert agreed that an increase in fees are needed, especially in comparison to Montrose County. but asked if higher fees could be charged at the end of a project when a developer is more certain of a successful outcome. "I agree that it's time consuming," Meinert said, "but I wonder if front-end costs would be so high it might discourage people from trying."
Castrodale said the bulk of work by Land Use staff is "front-end loaded" and requires the same amount of time whether the project is successful or not. He would prefer to deal with those "isolated situations" of projects that are unsuccessful, or withdrawn, on a case-by-case basis.
Commissioner Heidi Albritton backed Castrodale's reasoning. "If they (developers) are working with staff, there is no reason it shouldn't go through," Albritton said. "The hand-holding and direction takes place at the beginning of the process. No outcome is guaranteed. If they choose to go through with a plan despite the advice of staff, it's not Mark's problem. We need to get on a proactive track and keep up with the times."
Commissioner Don Batchelder likewise agreed the fee review is long overdue, saying he first asked about it six years ago. "Let's say Mark's ideas are good and take them at face value," said Batchelder. "I think your (proposed) fees are low. You took off one-third, you should have added 50% more and it probably still would not have covered the costs."
Meinert said the revised fees are a "step in the right direction." Fellow commissioners, and Castrodale, agreed with his suggestion that Castrodale define his simple review and complex review fees for a development site inspection in line with zones established in 2002 for assigning or verifying addresses and inspecting driveways. Zone 1 is six miles from the Land Use Office in Ridgway while zone 2 is 12 miles and zone 3 is more than 12 miles travel.
Recommended changes in fees are in the categories of limited PUD (three lots or less); regular PUD (more than three lots); a recreation/resort PUD; boundary line adjustment; appeals to the Board of Zoning Adjustment (variance); minor amendments to the Land Use Code; a site development permit; a plat correction; and site inspections for a weed management plan, PUD, special use permit, address verification or driveway inspection. Castrodale did not recommend any increases for a final plat amendment , a special use permit, or exemptions and exceptions allowed within the code.
— By Patrick Davarn, news editor
Friday, November 7, 2008
Assisted Living in Ridgway Colorado
Assisted Living Facility Proposed for Valley Zone
Written by Christopher Pike
Posted By:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
Burn Rehab Center
RIDGWAY – The addition of an assisted living residence to the allowed uses in the county’s Valley Zone was considered at a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 27, with discussion centered on the exact definition of what that would be.
The request for the amendment to the Ouray County Land Use Code came from David Tabor, president of the Montrose-based Solid Rock Foundation Ministries. The ministry is considering the purchase of 102/104 Cutler Creek Drive in Ridgway, located directly adjacent to the Ponderosa Village Subdivision, for use as the Hope's Journey assisted living residence for severely burned and physically traumatized youth.
Tabor called the Valley Zone the “most logical” location for the proposed facility. “Higher elevations could be more difficult,” he said. Tabor also pointed out that there would be size limits on the facility due to existing state regulations. “This type of residence would not overtake the county,” Tabor said.
The board of county commissioners’ public hearing was prompted by the Ouray County Planning Commission’s recommendation to add the definition for “Assisted Living Residence” to section 22 and 3.4 H of the land use code. The planners also recommended that a state licensing requirement for a residential facility be added to the code.
Public input last Monday concerning the amendment was generally favorable, though a letter from the Lane family, residents of the Ponderosa Village Subdivision, stated that vehicle traffic and the general bustle of activity emanating from the proposed facility would be disruptive and would negatively impact property values.
The discussion also turned to the possibility of expanding the amendment definition to include senior citizen facilities. Citing the approval of an assisted living and nursing facility in Ouray County by a previous board of commissioners several decades ago, Ouray resident Roger Henn asked the commissioners to address the future needs of seniors, including him and his wife Angie. “We need assisted living (in Ouray County). Who would want to live in Montrose? You need that and we need it badly!” Henn’s impassioned plea received a round of applause from the 35 members of the audience.
The parameters of the definition were also on the minds of county staff and officials. County Attorney Mark Deganhart said the proposed language could potentially include a halfway house or group home, which “could open up a whole panoply of uses that might exist as ‘assisted living.’”
“What I hear is a definition and unintended consequences and not necessarily this specific application,” said Commissioner Chair Keith Meinert. “With the right definitions I don't think there is anybody that is going to object to it.”
The hearing was continued to the commissioners’ meeting held Nov. 3 to allow Commissioner Heidi Albritton, who was away on vacation last week, to participate and vote on the proposed amendment. The results of that meeting were not available at press time.
Written by Christopher Pike
Posted By:
Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
Burn Rehab Center
RIDGWAY – The addition of an assisted living residence to the allowed uses in the county’s Valley Zone was considered at a public hearing on Monday, Oct. 27, with discussion centered on the exact definition of what that would be.
The request for the amendment to the Ouray County Land Use Code came from David Tabor, president of the Montrose-based Solid Rock Foundation Ministries. The ministry is considering the purchase of 102/104 Cutler Creek Drive in Ridgway, located directly adjacent to the Ponderosa Village Subdivision, for use as the Hope's Journey assisted living residence for severely burned and physically traumatized youth.
Tabor called the Valley Zone the “most logical” location for the proposed facility. “Higher elevations could be more difficult,” he said. Tabor also pointed out that there would be size limits on the facility due to existing state regulations. “This type of residence would not overtake the county,” Tabor said.
The board of county commissioners’ public hearing was prompted by the Ouray County Planning Commission’s recommendation to add the definition for “Assisted Living Residence” to section 22 and 3.4 H of the land use code. The planners also recommended that a state licensing requirement for a residential facility be added to the code.
Public input last Monday concerning the amendment was generally favorable, though a letter from the Lane family, residents of the Ponderosa Village Subdivision, stated that vehicle traffic and the general bustle of activity emanating from the proposed facility would be disruptive and would negatively impact property values.
The discussion also turned to the possibility of expanding the amendment definition to include senior citizen facilities. Citing the approval of an assisted living and nursing facility in Ouray County by a previous board of commissioners several decades ago, Ouray resident Roger Henn asked the commissioners to address the future needs of seniors, including him and his wife Angie. “We need assisted living (in Ouray County). Who would want to live in Montrose? You need that and we need it badly!” Henn’s impassioned plea received a round of applause from the 35 members of the audience.
The parameters of the definition were also on the minds of county staff and officials. County Attorney Mark Deganhart said the proposed language could potentially include a halfway house or group home, which “could open up a whole panoply of uses that might exist as ‘assisted living.’”
“What I hear is a definition and unintended consequences and not necessarily this specific application,” said Commissioner Chair Keith Meinert. “With the right definitions I don't think there is anybody that is going to object to it.”
The hearing was continued to the commissioners’ meeting held Nov. 3 to allow Commissioner Heidi Albritton, who was away on vacation last week, to participate and vote on the proposed amendment. The results of that meeting were not available at press time.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Locals get er done
Locals just get projects done
Written by David Mullings - Ouray Plaindealer
Posted by Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
October 31, 2008
Can do.
That's probably what I like best about living in Ouray County.
Sixteen years ago, a bunch of good people got together and formed the Mount Sneffels Education Foundation. The organization, which provides innovative programs that give students here fantastic learning opportunities, thrives today. MSEF is on its way to building a self-sustaining trust.
Seven years ago, a group of folks here saw an amazing piece of publicly owned land that was going unused. They jumped through a bunch of hoops, today, we have the Top of the Pines, an outdoor camp on Miller Mesa that serves as a dynamite outdoor education facility.
Five years ago, an emergency services shuffle squeezed the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team into a single garage bay. How did the all-volunteer group respond? With the help of a legion of supporters and some county-donated land, OMRT went out and built a wonderful two-story rescue center at the Ice Park. The team gained a certificate of occupancy last week, and plans an open house to show off the facility in mid November.
Can do.
Written by David Mullings - Ouray Plaindealer
Posted by Erin Eddy
www.ourayland.com
www.ridgwayland.com
October 31, 2008
Can do.
That's probably what I like best about living in Ouray County.
Sixteen years ago, a bunch of good people got together and formed the Mount Sneffels Education Foundation. The organization, which provides innovative programs that give students here fantastic learning opportunities, thrives today. MSEF is on its way to building a self-sustaining trust.
Seven years ago, a group of folks here saw an amazing piece of publicly owned land that was going unused. They jumped through a bunch of hoops, today, we have the Top of the Pines, an outdoor camp on Miller Mesa that serves as a dynamite outdoor education facility.
Five years ago, an emergency services shuffle squeezed the Ouray Mountain Rescue Team into a single garage bay. How did the all-volunteer group respond? With the help of a legion of supporters and some county-donated land, OMRT went out and built a wonderful two-story rescue center at the Ice Park. The team gained a certificate of occupancy last week, and plans an open house to show off the facility in mid November.
Can do.
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