231 N. Silver St. Ste 2,
Lake City, CO 81235

Tag: Lake City

Dear Grant, seasonal residents and visitors, and the People of the county of Hinsdale,

Considering the recent implementation and passage of statutory laws that are solely infringements against the natural, God-given, and constitutionally secured rights of the people, as well as events nationally and here locally, I would like to remind the American reader of their true significance and power. We are not a nation of tyrants and their endless regulations and usurpations. We are a constitutional Republic founded on natural rights and common-law, though we have strayed very far from the fundamental principles and vision of our Republic’s founders.As was stated by them, a Republic is the best form of government for an intelligent and knowledgeable populace but the worst for an ignorant one. Is it any wonder that our government-ran schools no longer teach the civics and hierarchy of law that was established by the wise and courageous founders? Article VI, Clause 2 of the constitution for the United States of America, known as the supremacy clause, ordains that: “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”If our public servant legislatures, executives, or judges who are sworn in under oath to be “bound thereby” violate the supreme law instead of upholding it, who then will maintain the highest law clearly intended to supersede all others? Ultimately, this is the duty and responsibility of the people, who are the true sovereignty of our once great Republic that has fallen far from the wayside of true progress and freedom. This is succinctly defined in our law as follows: “SOVEREIGN POWER. See SOVEREIGNTY.The sovereign or supreme power in every state resides in the people. Blackstone supposes the jura summi imperii, or the right of sovereignty, to reside in those hands in which the exercise of the power of making laws is placed. Our simple and more reasonable idea is that the government is a mere agency established by the people for the exercise of those powers which reside in them. The powers of government are not, in strictness, granted, but delegated powers.They are then trust powers and may be revoked. It results that no portion of sovereignty resides in government.” Anderson ;1 Sharsw. Bl. Com. 49. (Bouvier’s Law Dictionary, 1928, Page 1121). Consequently, we should never accept being a commercial nation, state, or county comprised of subjects and their public masters, but a Republic of we the People with our public servants bound by oath to sustain our will; the latter who currently necessitate being duly reminded of their subordinance and subservience to the former. ~ JT Stratton, one of the People of Colorado domiciled on the county of Hinsdale

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Dear Grant,

In my opinion, The Silver World has made a mistake by publishing the email from the former Undersheriff Jim Hunsicker without first talking with our current Sheriff or researching any of the allegations brought against him. The email is nothing more than a smear against the current Elected Sheriff, Denim Starnes.This published email and the “Restoring the office of Sheriff” paper, written and circulated by the former Undersheriff are nothing more than the delusional ravings of, to use his own words, a “distressed and distraught” and “personally, emotionally and mentally distressed” employee.After reading the “Restoring the Office of Sheriff” and the email published in the paper I went to Sheriff Starnes to see if he had been approached by the newspaper about the article. He told me that he had not. He also told me he would not make a public reply to these outrageous accusations. The sheriff’s office has more important, real police work to do.In his writings, Mr. Hunsicker makes a flippant mention of the distress and expense of relocating and how his “life is ruined.” Mr. Hunsicker has apparently been to Lake City before, having owned a business called Alpine Loop Technological Consulting. The fact that he laid blame on the current Sheriff for his moving distress is laughable as he was hired by the former interim Sheriff Bruce. Seems that any anguish or discomfort he may have endured is of his own making.Mr. Hunsicker states that Sheriff Starnes has character traits that make him unsuitable to serve as sheriff. This is a typical case of the pot calling the kettle black. Mr. Hunsicker has shown such poor character and lack of devotion to the job during his 107 days of “mental distress,” and in his recent scribblings, the irony is overwhelming.Every leader has their own form of leadership and Mr. Hunsicker, having served at least 20 years in the USMC and USMCR, should know this. He could have found a way to communicate and get the mission accomplished. However, he instead chose not to comply, he chose to leave his post. To quit, when he was needed the most. As if that is not bad enough, he has also decided to disparage his former employer and spread erroneous allegations of wrongdoing, for which he has not provided any proof. He claims to have a “long and detailed list of times and dates’’ that our Sheriff has not upheld his oath of office. Perhaps he should have spent that list making time doing the work of a Deputy. This leads me to believe that he may have come here with the full intention of creating havoc. Listing things he did not agree with, and rather than expressing his concern or trying to solve these supposed issues with his sheriff, he created a spectacle and started his own Coup d’état to remove our elected Sheriff and replace Starnes with himself. This is further implicated by his mention that Sheriff Starnes could be subject of a recall in July, and his recent Facebook page denouncing Sheriff Starnes and projecting his own vanity as well as his desire to be Sheriff.Mr. Hunsicker mentions a “disastrous experience working in another county.” Perhaps this is a common occurrence for Mr. Hunsicker; how many other employers did he have disastrous relationships with? Perhaps some investigation is in order before we take the word of a man who seems to be perfectly comfortable with lamenting his assumed grievances, in public, against his previous employer.This whole tale is nothing more than a case of Aesop’s “sour grapes.” It is not an attempt to improve the system. It is a disgraceful undertaking to bring further disruption into a Sheriff’s department that finally has a Sheriff with grit enough to call out the wrong doers and abide by the rule of law with integrity and courage. Using his discretion as an experienced lawman and not favoritism, as we have seen so many times before.Sheriff Starnes rates as one of the most honest people I have ever known. He is dedicated to his elected position as Sheriff and wants nothing more than to serve this community as his position requires. I fully support Sheriff Starnes as do the majority of Hinsdale County voters that elected him. Sheriff Starnes has done nothing illegal or worthy of dishonor.It seems now that some individuals, who see themselves as relatively important in the community, have turned on Sheriff Starnes. Could it be that he has poked the bear? Has he stirred some water that was meant to be left undisturbed? Time will tell. We can only hope that in the end true justice will prevail. It is never easy to “stand alone and guard against the night.”I stand by these words and support of Sheriff Starnes. Citizen, Patriot, Believer in truth and justice,William S. Bowling

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Dear Grant and Lake City Community

We’re excited to invite you to a Joint Grand Opening Celebration for two new businesses bringing fresh energy to the corner of 2nd Street and Gunnison Avenue! Join us on Thursday, May 22, 2025, for a ribbon cutting at Crystal Peak Properties at 5:00 PM, followed by a second ribbon cutting at Alpine Loop Outpost at 5:45 PM. The celebration will continue from 6:00–7:30 PM at Alpine Loop Outpost with appetizers, cake, and friendly community socializing. Formerly Blue Bird Boutique, Alpine Loop Outpost was purchased by Doug and Raquel Franz in October 2024 and reimagined as a one-stop destination for adventurers—offering essentials, equipment, food, and backcountry logistics. Doug shares, “We were excited to come to Lake City, and we are so thankful to have received such a warm welcome. We appreciate everyone’s support and we hope you will stop in and check out our new menu items and facility updates. We look forward to serving you!” Across the street, Crystal Peak Properties is owned by Kelsey Loftis, a Powderhorn resident of 10 years and licensed realtor with five years of experience. Her new office is located in the former Michael Underwood Photography building. Kelsey says, “I absolutely love living in such a fun and adventurous place — my family and I spend our free time hiking, biking, skiing, and fishing. It’s a lifestyle we truly treasure. My goal is to help others improve their quality of life in whatever season they’re in, whether that means buying their dream home or selling to move on to something new.” This event is more than a ribbon cutting—it’s a chance to connect, celebrate, and get to know the faces behind these exciting new ventures. We hope to see you there! Sincerely,Katrina MenziesDirector, Lake City/Hinsdale CountyChamber of Commerce

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Snow Showers, Elevated Spirits at Long-Awaited Groundbreaking…

After decades of discussion and faltered plans, Hinsdale County Commissioners, staff, and Sheriff’s Office personnel have broken ground on the 6,000-square foot Operations Building which is being built directly south of Hinsdale County Courthouse at the corner of 4th and Henson Street.Ground breaking in advance of this week’s start of work by contractor Buildings-by-Design and excavation subcontractor — additional photos, page 5— took place last Tuesday afternoon, May 7, with commemorative hardhats and diminutive gold-painted shovels in the midst of a spring snow shower.Pictured left to right are County Finance Officer Lynn McNitt, Administrative Assistant Davee Menzies, County Administrator Sandy Hines, Building Official Gabe McNeese, Dana Hlavac on behalf of Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Hinsdale Commissioners Robert Hurd, Greg Levine and Kristie Borchers, Hinsdale Sheriff’s Department Administrative Assistant Bobbi Vickers McDonald, and Hinsdale County Sheriff Denim Starnes. Cole Zwesler, a travel tech working with Montrose-based Alpine Archaeology — standing, far left — is monitoring subsurface excavations at the site of the new County Operations Building on Henson Street.Zwesler is keeping an eye out for remnants of the old county jail building which burned in 1946 — pictured below left at the site location from a 1902 Sanborn Insurance Map — together with another now vanished frame building at the site, identified below as an assay office, which was originally occupied as a library started by Rev. George Darley in 1877, and later briefly used as a hospital.

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Town, County OHV Regs, Hours of Operation in Advance of Busy Season

Hinsdale Commissioners at their Wednesday, May 7, meeting briefly discussed the county’s amended ordinance addressing increased safety fines, mandatory spark arrestors, and hours of operation for Off Highway Vehicles on county roads.As previously reported, the county’s annual Colorado Dept. of Transportation program allowing OHVs on the portion of State Highway 149 from the Lake Turnoff at CR30 south to and through the Town of Lake City once again commences the first Friday before Fathers’ Day – this year Friday, June 13 – and continues through September.In their amended ordinance, commissioners are enacting increased OHV fines for safety violations and, as a fire precaution, are mirroring State of Colorado’s requirement that OHVs are equipped with spark arrestors.In addition to the four-mile section of Highway 149 through town, OHVs are allowed on all county roads in unincorporated portions of the county at all times, although new this year and in effect from May 25, seasonal hours of operation June 1 – September 30 are limited to 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.Town of Lake City is in process of adopting similar mandatory hours of operation for OHVs on all town streets.Elsewhere during last Wednesday’s meeting, Commissioners Borchers, Hurd, and Levine heard an update on spring runoff outflow from Lake San Cristobal and lake outlet gates that are gradually being lowered as runoff peaks.Commissioner Levine reported on a whirl of activity at Lake San Cristobal Peninsula Park which includes work on the summit of the peninsula for the Ben Brownlee Memorial with engraved rails, Terry Klug’s new lockable gate regulating access to the county boat dock ramp per the invasive aquatic species program, and installation of the county’s new disability-accessible fishing pier that is scheduled May 21.Commissioner Borchers, who will address crowds attending the annual Memorial Day Veterans’ Service on May 26, updated her fellow commissioners that engraving is scheduled updating the Veterans’ Park Memorial with the names Paul Olson, Martin Franz, David Flynt, Robert Case, Denis Cox, and R.S. Scott.In announcing First Responder Appreciation Week this week, Borchers expressed gratitude to the local EMS team, reciting the following list: Brad Jones, Paramedic; Amanda Hartman, AEMT; Dan Humphreys, AEMT; Rachel Moore, EMT-IV; Melody Crump, EMT-IV; Leslie Nichols, EMT-IV; Katherine Heidt, EMT; Richard Williams, EMT; Kelly Elkins, EMT; Danny Oge’, EMT; Sarah DeCristino, EMT; Grant Loper, EMT; Lorie Stewart, Driver; Tom Arnold, Driver; Jenn Pierce, Driver; Lydia McNeese, Driver; Jerry Johnson, Driver; Daniel Bernat, Driver; and Sarah Moody, Driver.Borchers also announced that the county has competitively been awarded a no-match $1,100 grant from Sea Tow Foundation as part of a loaner life jacket program.Thirty loaner life jackets in bright yellow hue, together with applicable information on the life-saving importance of wearing a life jacket for lake water recreation, will be available from a metal stand which will be displayed at the county board dock starting this summer. The life jackets — in sizes infant, child, youth, adult, and adult extra large — are described by Borchers as part of a “great proactive project” and were timed for arrival in advance of National Safe Boating Week May 17-23.Intense discussion ultimately leading to an apparent difference of opinion at the Commissioners’ May 7 meeting revolved around disappointing results from this year’s Secure Rural Schools appropriation from the U.S. Forest Service.Last year’s SRS funding appropriation, which the county split with Hinsdale County School District, amounted to a hefty $276,353 of which half, $138,176, went to Hinsdale County School District and the county’s half, $138,176, allotted to Hinsdale County Road & Bridge Dept.A proverbial wrench in the budgeting works for both county and school, however, is the fact SRS legislation expired in 2024 and has not to this point been reauthorized by Congress.In lieu of SRS, the 1908 Act for apportionment of FS funds — for Hinsdale County, primarily receipts from logging on FS land and concessionaire payments from FS Campgrounds — is in effect and results in a dramatically reduced financial payment to the county.Instead of $290,000 which was budgeted in 2025, the county has in fact received just $88,503. Under the old SRS, Hinsdale County had already agreed to split the amount evenly with Hinsdale School District, but the 1908 Act allows distribution at the county’s discretion with a minimum 25 percent to the school.A lively discussion ensued with Commissioner Hurd strenuously advocating that 75 percent FS funds should be retained by the county and apportioned entirely to Hinsdale County Road & Bridge, Hurd describing funding for the county’s Road & Bridge Dept. as “dire” and “extremely hard for them to function without this money.”A formal vote on the 1908 F.S. funds will come in the form of a resolution at the county board’s next meeting, Commissioners Levine and Borchers expressing their preference to continue the 50-50 split with the school despite the lesser amount.

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Assessment Sees Dramatic Increase in Property Values

Property owners throughout the state, including Hinsdale County, received a jolt last week after reading the state-mandated 2025 reappraisal communique from their local assessor.Hinsdale County Assessor Sherri Boyce and her deputy, ad valorem appraiser Sarah Tubbs, were matter of fact in their presentation to Hinsdale County Commissioners last week, the knowledgable duo alerting the county board that in their role as Board of Equalization they should be prepared for a larger than usual number of protests arguing against the new valuations.The protest period for this year’s property value appraisal began last Friday, May 2, and extends to Monday June 9.Referencing the significant increase in property values at all levels — residential, commercial, vacant land, and mining claims — Commissioner Hurd was understated, acknowledging, “it’s hard to make that a positive spin.”Property owners who have now recovered from the initial shock will readily realize that property values at all levels in the county have significantly increased, in part because the state mandated odd year reappraisal was laser focused, “aiming to be bullseye accurate,” as described by Deputy Assessor Sarah Tubbs, in valuing property based on comparable neighborhood sales which occurred from July 1, 2022, all of 2023, and up to June 30, 2024.Tubbs told commissioners that based on sales, there was a “big market jump” between 2019 and 2022.Hinsdale’s last reappraisal in 2023 based property values “conservatively,” according to Tubbs, which was remedied in this year’s appraisal.Sales of comparable properties in 2022, 2023 and the first half of 2024 provided sufficient data for the county reappraisal as a whole, according to the assessor office staff, although in specific neighborhoods with insufficient data, comparable sales were reviewed in six-month increments as far back as 2019.State-wide, including Hinsdale, this year’s re-appraisal reflects a tremendous sales market — and corresponding increase in values — for vacant land and mining claims.Added to the mix, and a jaw-dropper for homeowners, was an automatic $55,000 increase in residential values this year as the result of expiration of the state legislature’s Taxpayer Relief Bill which has now ended but was in effect in 2023 and 2024 aiding homeowners with an automatic reduction of $55,000 in home value.Distantly and unfortunately not in 2025, there is a glimmer of good news property tax-wise on the horizon. For armed service veterans and seniors over age 65, the Homestead Senior Exemption remains in effect now and in 2026, allowing a 50 percent reduction in the first $200,000 valuation of the taxpayer’s principal residence.And while the Taxpayer Relief Bill has now expired, Assessor Boyce says that starting in 2026 — not 2025 — homeowners will receive an automatic $70,000 reduction in property valuation.Asked for specifics, the Hinsdale Assessor Office duo stated that for taxing districts other than schools, the residential assessment rates drop from 6.7 percent in 2024 to between 6.15 and 6.25 percent in 2025 depending on a complex state-wide growth ratio; for school districts — again based on state growth — the residential assessment percent will range from 6.95 percent if state growth is over five percent, to 7.05 percent if state growth is less than five percent.For commercial, vacant and all other properties, the rate goes from 27.9 percent in 2024 to 27 percent in 2025.On a positive note, audience member Arlene Gonzales, newly-appointed member of Hinsdale County Planning Commission, extended congratulations to County Commissioners and Hinsdale Assessor Office staff for the new GIS site which, according to Gonzales, “is now live and, in addition to transparency, is a clear benefit to taxpayers.”As an example, Gonzales said the county’s GIS website aids the planning board and serves as a boost “removing potential friction” in interactions between financial institutions and landowners wishing to obtain a loan.The new GIS site, according to Gonzales, “is cause for celebration.”The site’s address is https:///.hinsdalecounty.colorado.gov/.assessors-officeThe site enables property owners to get an estimate of the location of property lines and is of use to emergency responders wishing to access homeowner information in the event of an emergency.Other plusses are to hunters and hikers desiring a better idea of the location of public and private lands; real estate professionals such as realtors, appraisers, and insurance agents can get a better idea of location and topography before site visits; and construction and utility contractors for a better understanding of property lines.A caveat with the GIS site is that it is not intended to replace the need for a professional plat or survey. Boundary lines are not pin-point accurate but are useful in furnishing a visual estimate.

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Med Center, EMS, VA,Public Health Hosting Health Fair May 12-16

It’s all hands on deck at Lake City Area Medical Center, with assistance from Hinsdale County Emergency Medical Services, as in-house staff hosts this year’s annual Health Fair.In previous years, an outside agency coordinated the annual event and appointments were scheduled on just a single day. This year’s Health Fair, like last year’s, is being scheduled as a service to the community by the medical center staff and is by appointment at reduced rates from Monday, May 12, through Friday, May 16.Dental appointments with Dr. Quigley may also be scheduled at this time. He will be available Monday through Wednesday, May 12, 13 and 14 to provide free oral cancer screenings on those days. Interested parties are encouraged to call the medical center (970-944-2331) to schedule an appointment for screening.Other screenings include assessments for cardio-vascular disease, diabetes, memory, hearing, and vision, which will be offered by clinic staff from 1 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14.Throughout the length of the Health Fair, Monday through Friday, residents may sign up by prior appointment for blood draws, which will be taken from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. each day.Individual blood draws, priced at the discounted rate of $25 per draw, are in turn used for a plethora of tests, based on one blood draw for each test: PSA (prostate), CBC (complete blood count), CMP (complete metabolic panel), Liver Panel, Lipid Panel, TSH (thyroid), Ferritin (blood protein testing for iron), TICB (total iron binding capacity), A1C (hemoglobin), Vitamin D, and Vitamin B12.According to Lake City Area Medical Center board member Greg Olson, tables will be set up in the mornings all week with representatives from Emergency Medical Services, Public Health, Medical Center, and Veterans’ Affairs.EMS Director Katherine Heidt will be demonstrating hands-only CPR on mannequins and Veterans’ Affairs Service Officer Mike Harrington will be there to answer questions about VA services available to residents and visitors.Something new this year from Silver Thread Public Health – representatives will be available to answer questions about the dangers of vaping and will also be unveiling a new system for disposing of vape cartridges.Vaping devices have batteries that are problematic when discarded into landfills, so Public Health is devising a system of disposal boxes for expired vape pens. There will be secure boxes throughout town at a number of locations where vaping equipment can be discarded for free to be properly recycled.Olson also wanted WORLD to know that Medical Center staff have been hard at work trying to secure funding for the Health Fair, and were able to secure a grant from the Colorado Health Foundation (CHF). “We are very fortunate,” Olson said, “to have the gracious sponsorship of CHF for this year’s Health Fair.”Olson also said that he hopes the Lake City community will take advantage of this opportunity, as “managing one’s health is so important, at all ages and stages of life.”“As a board member of the Lake City Area Medical Center, I’m proud of the incredible healthcare resources we have in our community. The upcoming Health Fair is a great opportunity to take control of your health with free screenings, low-cost blood work, and direct access to our EMS, VA, and Public Health teams. From hands-only CPR demos to safe disposal of vape cartridges, there’s something valuable for everyone.”“I look forward to seeing our community come together for this important event, “Olson said.

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Homecoming April 26 for Local Man Critically Injured in Hit-and-Run Accident

Saturday, April 26 will be a joyous day in Lake City, as Shad Barlow returns to town after a lengthy stint in a Craig, Colorado, rehabilitation center.52-year-old Barlow was struck by a vehicle January 24 on Gunnison Avenue and suffered fractures to his ribs, vertebrae and left arm, and was left unconscious in sub-zero temperatures, leaving him with severe frostbite.Barlow was thus rendered paralyzed and will need to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life, and it was uncertain whether he would be able to return to Lake City to live with his mother, Phyllis Bairrington. But Lake City being the amazing community that it is, local contractors volunteered their time, skills and materials to make renovations to Bairrington’s home so that it is now wheelchair-accessible.The community will be celebrating Barlow’s return to town on Saturday – time still to be determined, but expected to be late afternoon – with a welcome home celebration. Sheriff Starnes will be waiting outside of town for the approach of the vehicle and will lead the cavalcade into Lake City. Those wishing to attend the event are encouraged to follow updates regarding the time on Facebook’s Lake City Locals and Friends page.There will a multitude of ballons and yellow ribbons tied around trees, WORLD has been informed by Barlow’s former landlord, Tammy Nekoba. Residents are also encouraged to make welcome home posters, and a poster-making party will be held today – Friday, April 25 at the Arts Center from noon until 5:00 p.m. Folks are encouraged to bring their own materials, but the Arts Center does have some supplies as well.

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Fire District Seeking Sales Tax Support

Board agrees to ask voters for 1.25 % bump — By Chris Dickey Leaders of the Lake City Area Fire Protection District are preparing to do something they haven’t done since 1982: Ask voters to raise taxes in order to fund ongoing operations of the organization.The proposal is different this time around, however. The district was initiated more than 40 years ago with a nod from Lake City residents to assess themselves a property tax dedicated to fire services. This fall, local voters will be asked to approve a 1.25% increase in the sales tax rate.The decision to seek more money was reached by a consensus of the district’s board of directors in January. Last Wednesday, April 16, during a special meeting, the board voted unanimously in favor of seeking the 1.25% sales tax initiative.If approved, the sales tax would generate approximately $375,000 annually, based on the current level of local retail sales activity, according to Fire District Secretary Michelle Warren Pierce. This year, the district’s property tax mill levy is expected to bring in $121,285, which is divided amongst its general fund, capital reserve and contingency budgets.“We haven’t asked for money here in 40-something years,” said outgoing General Manager and Fire Chief Bill Hagendorf. “The worst thing we can do is come back in three or four years asking for more. At 1.25 percent, you’d be very solvent for the next 15 years.”Fire district leaders point to a multitude of factors driving the need to seek more funding. Retail transactions in the Town of Lake City currently are assessed a 7.9 percent sales tax (comprised of 2.9 percent to the state, 4 percent split between the town and Hinsdale County, and 1 percent for the Lake Fork Health Service District. If the fire district proposal were approved by voters, this overall rate would jump to 9.15 percent.For example, a $100 purchase at a local restaurant, bar or retail outlet would increase from $107.90 in total cost, including tax, to $109.15.The sales tax rate in the City of Gunnison, by way of comparison, is 8.9 percent.District leaders opted to pursue a sales tax initiative, rather than property tax, because they believe it is a fairer way of spreading costs out amongst visitors as well as locals. Firefighters respond to a lot of vehicle and ATV accidents, in addition to the rare structure fire.“We see this as a way of sharing the burden with people who come to visit us in the summer too,” Pierce explained.District leaders noted the sensitivity citizens have to tax increases, but hope to state their case to local voters before the November election. They’ve budgeted $10,000 for a campaign that could include a mailer, presentations to local groups and other means of demonstrating the need to individuals.“No, people are not fond of tax increases, but they are fond of the thought that somebody is going to put a fire out at their house, or that volunteers are going to be well trained and equipment is going to roll out of the station and operate like it’s supposed to,” Pierce told the Silver World.“It’s about the level of service,” board member Crystal Brown said at last week’s meeting.“This has to pass,” added board member and volunteer firefighter Evan Milski. “We have to make this pass.”Some concern was expressed at last week’s meeting that this may not be the only tax-related question local voters face this fall. Hinsdale County Commissioner Greg Levine addressed the possibility that a proposal to increase the local lodging tax may be in the offing.“I would say the status of the County Lodging Tax increase is close to entering the deliberation stage,” he told the Silver World. “In my opinion, the county is facing other, more pressing issues.”Representatives of the Lake Fork Health District told the Silver World that they were not moving forward with a tax-related ballot issue this year.

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Flawed Flow Estimates by 1921 Federal Govt. Caused River Water Over-Allotment

Whiskey is for drinkin’ & water is for fightin’~Mark Twain by Bruce Heath The dryness of the land west of the 100th Meridian has been known for a considerable number of years. As early as 1540, Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, on his 4,000 mile odyssey through land that would become six western states, in search of the seven cities of Gold reported water was difficult to find. The most frequent physical malady reported in the journals of Lewis & Clark was the men’s sore feet caused by cactus tines puncturing their moccasins. In 1820, Stephen Long’s expedition traveling through what would become the states of Nebraska, Colorado, Oklahoma and Arkansas noted, “ I do not hesitate in giving the opinion that the land is almost wholly unfit for cultivation, and of course uninhabitable by people depending upon agriculture for their subsistence.” In reference to these conditions, he then labeled the region The Great American Desert.In 1878, John Wesley Powell sent Congress a Report on the Lands of the Arid Regions of the USA. By careful observation, Powell determined the vast amount of the territory west of the 100th meridian received less the 20” of precipitation annually. He stated that only 2% of the land was suitable for agriculture and that that land needed to be near a water source. He suggested an approach for the government to distribute land to settlers and how to organize water usage because its existence was not in sufficient amounts needed to irrigate large swaths of land. The federal government, railroad companies and land speculators all needed western settlers to achieve the economic growth they desired. Negative publicity about their “ promised land” was not acceptable. This group rejected Powell’s approach in favor of the theory put forth by Professor Cyrus Thomas. His idea was agricultural development would change the climate and cause higher rates of precipitation. He coined the phrase, “ rain will follow the plow.” The famed author Wallace Stegner has described the American West as the geography of hope. Hopeful settlers filled with belief in Thomas’s theory showed up in increasing numbers. For the following 60 years, cities, farmers and ranchers dealt with the inconvenient fact that the territory west of the 100th Meridian received less that 20” of precipitation a year. It wasn’t until the dust bowl years of the 1930s, after brutal hardship and suffering, that Powell’s recommendations were reconsidered.For those in Hinsdale County of a certain age, who knew the settling generations, there was an oft repeated joke told by them. Two cowboys on horseback are riding along the Lake Fork of the Gunnison river. One said to the other, “ This land is starting to grow on me. I am really taking a liking to it. All this place needs is good people and water.” His riding partner thought about it for awhile and then said, “ Just remember people say the same thing about Hell.”By 1900, it became known that portions of Arizona and southern California were capable of significant agricultural production if sufficient irrigation water could be brought to the crops. This would be a major catalyst for forming the Colorado River Compact in 1922. The river’s water source was recharged annually by snow melt from the Rocky Mountains. The purpose of the compact was to provide for an equitable division and apportionment of the river water for municipalities and agriculture use among seven western states located in two basins. The Chair of the Commission who would decide this was the Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover.The challenge was to determine how much water was available to be distributed. The middle section of the Colorado River Basin was one of the most remote and inaccessible regions in the nation at the time. In particular, the canyon region from the mouth of Green River in Utah to the Grand Wash in Arizona, covering a water course of approximately 520 miles, was accessible to wheeled vehicles at only three points. Because of the inaccessibility, no stream gauges were established at Lees Ferry until 1921.An article providing the detail of how the river flow estimates were determined can be found on EOS.org Fixing the Flawed Colorado River Compact. Portions of what follows come from this article. The federal government used a methodology that in retrospect can be labeled as non scientific and politically driven. Their estimate was an assumption that the river’s average discharge at Lees Ferry was 16.4 million acre-feet per year. Based on this estimated flow, the commission then allocated a combined total of 15 million acre-feet per year which would leave the remaining water to meet the needs of future development. It’s clear today that the commission’s 16.4-million-acre-feet-per-year estimate was based on errors about past flow amounts, inaccurate water evaporation assumptions and grossly optimistic future precipitation considerations. They also ignored the more conservative science and more reliable hydrology data available at the time.Actually, the best data available came from a US Geological Survey employee named Eugene LaRue. LaRue calculated the average discharge at Lees Ferry between 1895 and 1920 to be 15.0 million acre-feet per year using records from actual stream gauges and tributary contributions up and downstream from Lees Ferry. LaRue submitted his findings to Hoover who replied with a polite thank you note and then ignored them. LaRue’s findings did not support the political needs associated with proposed water distributions. The different approaches of LaRue and the one used by the federal government led to a disparity in their discharge estimates of approximately 1.4 million acre-feet per year. Future measurements and tree ring analysis would prove LaRue’s calculated flows of 15m acre feet to be valid. So from the compact’s inception, the government distributions were based on an exceedingly wet previous 20 years, non scientific calculations of historic flows and overfly optimistic future flow estimates caused the river to become over allocated.With the Compact in place, the era of dam building began in 1931 with the Hoover Dam and neared completion in 1963 with

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