Tag: Memorial Day

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.