County seeks statewide special district

Commissioners' plan would help finance solar and other projects

by Katie Burford
Herald Staff Writer

Article Last Updated; Wednesday, July 01, 2009 8:32AM

In other action

La Plata County commissioners at their meeting Tuesday appointed a new task force to look at options for a new fairgrounds and event center. A previous task force was formed in 2005 with a similar charge and completed its report in 2007. Earlier this year, commissioners passed a resolution to form a second group that would provide more detailed recommendations and planning.

Members named to the new task force are Marlene Gebhardt, Glenn Dorrell, Sherri Libby, Denise Leslie, Peter Marshall, Denise King-Stovall, Gary Penington and Vaughn Morris. James “Con” Kemple was named as an alternate. A regular position is being held open for a youth representative. Another alternate position could be filled by a youth.

La Plata County is pushing for legislation that would create a statewide special district for the purpose of financing solar-power systems and other projects for residences and businesses.

That legislation and various other issues were part of a platform passed Tuesday by county commissioners. The wish list goes to Colorado Counties Inc., a group that lobbies on behalf of member counties in the state Legislature, as it compiles its issues list for the 2010 session.

A bill introduced in 2009 would have created a statewide district empowered to issue bonds for energy-efficiency and alternative-energy improvement loans that homeowners would repay through special property tax assessments. The bill failed to make it to the floor for a vote.

Legislation passed the previous year allows local governments to create such districts - and La Plata County is considering a proposal to do so - but the statewide option is seen as a way to take the administrative burden off the county.

Other items on the county's list, which are carryovers from last year's list, included:•Reversing the so-called "35-acre exemption" that allows subdivisions of parcels 35 acres or greater to proceed without scrutiny by the county. The county has argued that this provision is contrary to smart growth principles.

•Changing the law that allows cities to annex land for development without annexing adjacent roads, leaving counties on the hook for maintenance and possible improvements.

•Putting a question to voters on amending the Colorado Constitution to allow for mail-in elections for all elections, not just in odd years.

•Revising state statute to allow county commissions to hold executive sessions on matters related to homeland security and local emergency management.

kburford@durangoherald.com