Past Issues

The Commissioners agreed Dec. 27 to a joint Boulder County/City of Boulder purchase of 2,640 acres of the Caribou Ranch northwest of Nederland. Under the agreement, the County will own the land and manage it as open space but will grant an easement to the City of Boulder to replace the aging Silver Lake and Lakewood water pipelines, subject to the county's usual review process.

Purchase of the property as open space preserves significant wetlands and important wildlife habitat. The property is part of the critical elk range northwest of Nederland, and it is an elk calving area and an elk concentration area in winter. North Boulder Creek portions of the land also have potential archaeological significance, as they are believed to be a travel route for prehistoric peoples. In addition, several species of global consequence exist on the ranch, including the greenback cutthroat trout and the boreal toad.

The Commissioners voted Dec. 19 to purchase the 129-acre Montgomery Farm Property near Longmont to be preserved as open space. The property is located on the southwest corner of the intersection of State Highway 66 and East County Line Road, and it adjoins the Hamm's Nature Area located in the City of Longmont.

The Commissioners have approved the movement of 4,900 cubic yards of earth to expand an existing wetlands area in the Rock Creek Open Space near Broomfield. The purpose of the expansion is to recreate an indigenous plant and animal habitat by increasing the site's potential for duck brooding and other wildlife uses.

The Commissioners voted Dec. 17 to distribute more than $60,000 in Boulder County gaming funds to 10 entities. For more information, contact Arlen Stokes, Boulder County Administrative Services Director and member of the gaming commission, at 441-4548. The distributions are:

$2,500 to the Coal Creek Canyon Fire Protection District to help pay for paving around the fire station.

$5,400 to the Four Mile Fire Protection District to provide new radios with adequate channels.

$8,000 to the Nederland Fire Protection District to add fire suppression equipment to a rescue truck.

$2,500 to the Peak to Peak Healthy Community Project to help pay for mediation training, a leadership program and a civic skills workshop.

$1,000 to Voices for Children to help pay for a computer.

$4,500 to the Boulder Regional Communication Center to help pay for additional transmitters to cover on-scene communications in southwest Boulder County.

$12,500 to the Boulder County Sheriff's Department for extra duty DUI/traffic enforcement efforts for the Peak to Peak highway and Boulder Canyon.

$7,500 to the Columbine Health Center in Nederland to help increase medical staff support, computers and software.

$11,035 to the Town of Nederland for parking and traffic concerns.

$6,000 to the Sugarloaf Fire Protection District to help purchase powered extrication equipment, tools and hardware for use in emergency responses in Boulder Canyon.

The Commissioners have designated the Tommy Jones Stagestop, 3131 Indian Road, Valmont, as a Boulder County Historic Landmark. The designation is based on indications that the stagestop is the oldest standing structure in the Boulder Valley. The original portion of the structure was built in 1860 by Thomas J. Jones. For more information, contact the Land Use Department at 441-3930.

Prevention Connection Final Report on the five-year substance abuse demonstration program, at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call Community Services Director Barbara Gigone, 441-3560.

Consortium of Cities Meeting 7 p.m.,Wednesday, Jan. 8, at the Lafayette City Council Chambers, 1290 S. Public Road, Lafayette. For more information, call Intergovernmental Relations Director Dickey Lee Hullinghorst at 441-3500.

Agricultural Advisory Committee Meeting 6:30 p.m., Monday, Jan 13, in the Commissioners' Conference Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call the Land Use Department at 441-3930 or the Parks and Open Space Department at 441-3950.

Reorganization for newly elected officials, at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 14, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. A reception will follow. For more information, call Commissioners' Deputy Susan Ashcraft at 441-3501.

Human Services Coordinating Council Meeting noon, Wednesday, Jan. 15, with the location to be announced. For more information, call Policy Analyst Carolyn Dulchinos at 441-4567.

Planning Commission Meeting 11:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 15 in the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. The meeting reconvenes at 7:30 p.m. after a dinner break. For more information, call the Land Use Department at 441-3930.

Regional Transportation Task Force Meeting 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 16, in the Commissioners' Hearing Room on the third floor of the Boulder County Courthouse. For more information, call Intergovernmental Relations Director Dickey Lee Hullinghorst at 441-3500.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, Jan. 20. County offices closed.

Parks and Open Space Department Contracts:

With Ermold Park and Recreation Products for Lefthand Valley Grange Park playground equipment ($14,038).

With North Boulder Sprinkler and Landscape for Homestead Outlot B landscaping and irrigation ($9,599.75).

Architects Division Contracts:

With Bleachers International for wheelchair seating at the Fairgrounds Outdoor Arena ($14,388.80).

With Acoustical Services for jail ceilings ($11,673).

Facilities Management Division Contract:

With Redstone Engineering for consulting services ($18,600).

Aging Services Division Contracts:

With Kaiser Permanente and the Service Exchange for in-home services ($6,000).

With Professional Home Health Care for homemaker and personal care services ($45,000).

With Care Link for adult day care ($6,500).

With Hospice of Boulder County for in-home services ($6,000).

With Special Transit for transportation services ($95,000).

Parks and Open Space Bid Award:

For concrete diversion boxes with headgates to Aden and Keever ($19,800) and CG&S Company ($14,041).

Solid Waste Bid Award:

For waste and recycling collection to Western Disposal Services ($26,966.93).

Sheriff's Department Bid Awards:

For vehicle accessories to Police Precinct ($7,551.25).

For two vehicles to Fogle Olds-GMC ($28,237) and Heritage Ford ($23,892).

Boulder County News is published monthly by the Board of County Commissioners. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide information concerning Boulder County government to Boulder County municipalities. Whenever possible, contact names and phone numbers are included. Please direct comments and suggestions to the editor, Jana Petersen, Public Information Officer, at 441-3399/3500, or e-mail: jlpco@co.boulder.co.us.

Board of County Commissioners

P.O. Box 471

Boulder, CO 80306