County, Meeker

County accepts old Meeker school; future use uncertain

MEEKER I The Rio Blanco County commissioners voted unanimously Monday to accept possession of the downtown Meeker property known as the old Meeker elementary school, but they made it clear that the building is not automatically going to be demolished in favor of the new county justice center.
Prior to the vote to accept the old school, a number of residents spoke out against the commissioners tearing down the school in favor of the justice center.
“I understand that the commissioners are going to obtain the old elementary school today to turn into the new county justice center,” said Sandra Bradfield. “It is unfortunate that this topic has surfaced again. I would like to continue with other alternatives to demolishing the old school for use as a justice center.”
“For cost effectiveness, I believe the right idea is to go back behind the current courthouse,” she said. “According to a 2010 report, the building is not in that bad a shape … and the Meeker Arts and Cultural Committee (MACC) and other groups have various uses for the old school.”
“Our whole group is feeling blindsided,” Joe Conrado said. “I feel we were not represented before by the Town of Meeker. We are united and we believe in our intent to not have the old school torn down and used as the new justice center.
“You have the plans and I believe you could build the new justice center at Meeker Terrace,” he said.
Commissioner Joe Hill said, “Rangely would love to have the justice center at the old school building … and, even if that doesn’t happen, there are a lot of buildings in Rangely that are available.
“I understand there may be a state statue that says the courthouse has to be in the county seat,” he said. “I don’t know what it says about the jail being there also.”
Several other audience members named towns and cities all across Colorado where the jail and the courts are not in the same building.
Two other women at the meeting stated that placing the justice center or jail in Rangely would be the correct thing to do – sharing the county buildings.
“We want to bring economic stability to Meeker,” Bob Amick of the MACC stated. “Demolition of the school is not our plan and there is no way a justice center and jail will help bring economic stability to downtown Meeker.
“Carbondale and Salida have repurposed older buildings, and keeping the school intact could enhance our economy,” he said. “Lots of (non-profit) foundations such as HistoryColorado and the Boettcher Foundation could help with the funding.”
“If this continues, the issue could result in a citizen initiative,” Connie Theos said.
Commission Chairman Shawn Bolton expressed his frustration with the group, stating, “As it is right now, we don’t even own the building. If we accept the building, automatic demolition is not a part of our plan.
“We will most likely accept the building and take over possession,” he said. “We will do our due diligence and then decide what to do with the building.
“We are absolutely not dedicated to tearing down the old school building,” Bolton said. “It is not a done deal that it will become the new justice center.”
In other action at the board meeting, the commissioners:
n Approved an agreement for services with Intrawest, LLC to perform waste tire loading and hauling service for a waste tire collection event — not to exceed $27,000.
The mid-July event will accept up to 6,000 old passenger auto and semi tractor-trailer tires at a cost of $174 per ton.
n Voted unanimously to participate in a multi-jurisdictional application for Community Development Block Grant funds for local business loans, and they authorized the execution of the application and an inter-governmental agreement (IGA) with other counties participating in the application.
With Eagle County in the lead position, these funds will be used for businesses already turned down by a bank and the loans will range from $5,000 to $100,000.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
  • The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
  • It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
The 2024 Meeker High School boys basketball team held their awards banquet last week. Jace Mobley was named Player of the Western Slope League and all-conference, Ryan Sullivan all-conference, Jonathon Fitzgibbons all-conference, Ethan Quinn honorable mention all-conference, Jacob Simonsen honorable mention all conference. Mobley will play in All State games. Coach Klark Kindler was named Western Slope Coach of the Year. Left to right: Bryan Rosas, Simonsen, Quinn, Fitzgibbons, Mobley and Sullivan.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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