Granby Board establishes Infill Development Incentive Program

At Tuesday night’s Board of Trustees meeting, the Board approved establishment of a downtown Infill Development Incentive Program to further enhance the downtown core. The Town will provide financial incentives to eligible parties interested in developing residential, commercial, or mixed-use projects in Downtown Granby.

The incentives for projects that begin construction prior to August 1, 2019 include:

  • Town of Granby property tax refund for ten years upon occupancy;
  • Waiver of the applicable use tax; and,
  • A rebate of $1 per square foot, payable upon issuance of a C.O., in lieu of waiver permit fees.

The incentives are only available to properties located Downtown with Central Business (CB) zoning (on Agate and/or Jasper Avenue, from Zero to 6th Street). They are available to both new and redevelopment properties, whether to construct a new structure, significantly expand or rehabilitate an existing structure, resulting in new useable rental or living space. Redeveloped/expanded properties must double the existing useable space to be considered for the incentive program.

Interested parties should contact the Town Manager at (970) 887-2501.

Grand County reduces Fire Restrictions to Stage 1

The Grand County Board of County Commissioners met with Sheriff Brett Shroetlin and Fire Chief Todd Holzwarth Tuesday and voted to change the Fire Restrictions to Stage 1 that afternoon. Conditions remain dry, so please be careful with all open flames!

Fire restrictions for BLM lands in Grand County reduced to Stage 1

In conjunction with Grand County, the Bureau of Land Management lands has lowered fire restrictions to Stage 1 for all BLM lands in Grand County.  

The BLM will enforce the following temporary restrictions in Grand County:

  •         Campfires are only allowed within designated fire grates in developed campgrounds (i.e., a metal, in-ground containment structure — fire pans and rock campfire rings are not acceptable).
  •         No fires of any type, including charcoal, outside of developed areas.
  •         No smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site or in a barren area free of vegetation.
  •         No use of explosive materials, including explosive targets.
  •         No welding or operation of an acetylene or other similar torch with open flame.
  •         No operation of any internal combustion engine without a spark arresting device properly installed and in working order.

Fireworks are always prohibited on BLM, National Forest and National Park Service lands.

Fire restrictions will be in place until further notice. Those found responsible for starting wildfires will also face restitution costs of suppressing the fire.

“Fire danger remains high in Grand County, and people need to continue to be extremely cautious,” said Acting Kremmling Field Manager Shane Dittlinger. “Recent rains have helped moderate the danger slightly, but danger is still high enough to warrant stage 1 fire restrictions.”

In areas where campfires are permitted, people should have a shovel and water on hand to extinguish them completely. Additionally, people should take precautions such as avoiding parking in tall dry grass, or driving OHVs in areas where dry grass can be ignited by hot exhaust. It only takes one spark to start a wildfire – equipment should have working spark arresters and trailers should be inspected to ensure chains are not dragging.

All BLM lands in Eagle and Summit counties remain under Stage 2 restrictions. Many other areas in Colorado are also under fire restrictions. For more information about fire restrictions, go to http://www.coemergency.com/p/fire-bans-danger.html.  

Rocky Mountain National Park lifts fire ban
National Parks accross America including Rocky Mountain National Park, have always maintained a “Level One” fire restriction status. The term used by other land management agencies is a baseline norm for our national parks. Campfires are prohibited except within designated campfire rings and campgrounds. Fireworks are always prohibited within the park. In early July, the National Park Service issued a total fire ban for Rocky Mountain National Park as hot dry conditions with minimal snowpack produced hazardous conditions throughout the park.
The use of charcoal grills, wood fuel camp stoves and gas grills is allowed and visitors should use caution, be fire-wise and help protect our forest from wildfire.  For more information, visit http://www.nps.gov/romo or contact the Park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.

Touch a Truck Day Coming to Granby!
Bring the kids out for an exciting morning of big trucks, dump trucks, fire trucks and even a Med. Evac. chopper!  Touch a Truck Day is a hands on experience for the entire family (parents must accompany children). This free event will be held at the Middle Park High School Parking Lot from 10 AM until 12 Noon on Saturday, August 11.  Kids will get the opportunity to see what it’s like to sit behind the wheel of the really big rigs!
Also, if you have a big truck or piece of equipment and are interested in being a sponsor of Touch a Truck Day or would like more information about the event, please call the Granby Recreation Department at 887-3961.

Town Manager Meet & Greet on July 30
The Town of Winter Park is in the process of searching for a permanent Town Manager. Town Council has selected their top candidates, and residents are invited to a “Meet & Greet” on Monday, July 30 to get to know the candidates.

The event will take place between 5:30 and 7:30pm in Town Hall, 50 Vasquez Road. Attendees will be able to have conversations with and ask questions of the candidates to help see who would fit well with our community. The Town will provide comment cards for attendees.

The top candidates are as follows:

Keith Campbell, City Manager, City of Stayton, OR
Michael Cramer, Town Manager, Town of Carolina Beach, NC
Katherine McIntire, Public Affairs Director, Jefferson County, CO
Keith Riesberg, City Manager, City of Rio Rancho, NM

Known to be an authentic, active mountain town, Winter Park is looking for a Town Manager that fits well with the community’s culture and can keep the organization’s current momentum.

Stan Zemler, formerly the Town Manager for Vail, has been serving as Interim Town Manager since March to assist until a new, permanent manager is hired. The Town has been working with recruitment firm Peckham & McKenney to help facilitate the search and hiring process.

After the Meet & Greet event, Town Council will narrow down the candidates through the interview process. The Town hopes that a new manager will be selected and hired by end of August. Updates will continue to be posted on www.wpgov.com.

High Altitude Gardening Class Offered in Granby

Join the Granby Recreation Department and Grand County gardener Peg VandeVoort and learn how to garden in our mountain environment.  The class will cover soil and site preparation, plant materials that grow in high altitudes, perennial and rock gardening, native plants, and principles of Xeri-scape landscaping.  The class will be held on Wednesday, August 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the Granby Community Building. The cost is $25 and pre-registration is required. Call the Recreation Department at (970) 887-3961 to register.


New 4H Club in the Fraser Valley

Ever heard of 4-H? If not 4-H is a fun way to do cool projects in wide varieties. There are projects from raising animals to cake decorating. I for example do shooting sports, practicing .22 rifle. I am learning gun safety and awareness. When you pick a 4H project you get to present your work  at the county fair.

Fraser Valley recently started a 4-H club. Our club name is the Fraser Mountaineers. We meet monthly and take part in community service projects. We had elections and choose officers. We currently have Macy Smith as our President, Calleigh Bobo as our Vice President, Alyssa Scott as our Secretary, Ecko Priebe as our Treasurer, Kadin Starr as our Reporter,  Margo Redding as our Historian, Mazie Giberson as our Recreational Leader, and Ashely Bobo and Melissa Giberson as our Co-Leaders. We also have Emelia Hadden, Abby Bertling, Annalyn Harris and Eli Redding as members of our club.

4-H has its very own pledge. I PLEDGE, My head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, My health to better living, For my club, my community, my country, and my world.

The Fraser Mountaineers has lots of space to grow, if you are interested in joining our 4-H club, visit http://grandcountyext.colostate.edu/4h/4h.shtml to see more information on 4-H. And keep an eye out for upcoming activities we are taking part in.

Submitted by Fraser Mountaineers, 4-H Reporter, Kadin Starr