County, Features

County Beat: NEPA changes bode well for RBC

RBC | Commissioners Jeff Rector and Gary Moyer heard a report from LaDonna Eubanks, building department, in a work session prior to the regular commissioners’ meeting in Rangely Tuesday, Jan. 21.

Eubanks said the state plumbing board is going the same direction the electrical board has gone, requiring a license for plumbing inspection. The commissioners agreed that the county’s best approach is to let the state inspector do those inspections.

County Attorney Todd Starr nixed adding a bid award for Columbine Park panels to the agenda, as the change was not publicly noticed 24 hours in advance. The bid award will be pushed to the next meeting, which will be held in February. The Jan. 28 meeting has been canceled.

The commissioners approved a permission letter for the Meeker Summer Rodeo Series to use the RBC Fairgrounds on Thursdays beginning June 4 through Aug. 20, excluding July 2.

Approved CCITF agreements for the purchase of a $41,000 school bus for the Meeker School District, for the Western Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District to purchase and install a gazebo at the Rangely Camper Park for $42,500 and for the Rangely Rural Fire Protection District to purchase a brush truck for $85,397.

Approved an annual block grant business loan funds application with the Colorado Office of Economic Development.

Contracted professional services with the Town of Rangely for sharing a building inspector. “We’re simply helping out with manpower,” Starr said. Any appeals or complaints will go to the Town of Rangely.

Former commissioner Jon Hill shared his insight on the proposed National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations at Moyer’s request. Hill said the proposed changes “look pretty good,” and added that this is the first time the regulations have been revised since 1978 despite multiple requests from multiple presidential administrations.

Moyer and Rector said they appreciated Hill reviewing the documentation.

“This is going to be a huge win for us,” Rector said. “I think in the next year we’ll see some huge strides in the west.”

“Streamlining this NEPA process is huge,” Moyer agreed.

In commissioner updates, Moyer said he attended the annual water expo and annual meeting of the water conservation districts last week.

“I’m hearing a lot of concern from the Craig paper’s article about the state opposing the Wolf Creek reservoir,” he said. He’s asked Rep. Scott Tipton and Sen. Cory Gardner to weigh in.

Commissioner Rector added, “We need to be very bold in how we’re positioning ourselves with the Wolf Creek project and in support of the Water Conservancy District. They’ve been talking about this since before they built Kenney Reservoir.”

Rector also said he’s pleased with the new direction the Rangely Development Authority and Rangely Development Corporation are taking and expects to see some positive things come out of that.

Editor’s Note: The Craig Press article regarding Wolf Creek Dam  is from nonprofit group Aspen Journalism. Read it at https://www.aspenjournalism.org/2020/01/20/state-looking-to-oppose-white-river-storage-project-in-water-court/)

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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.
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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! 
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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.
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🐰 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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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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