Briefly In Douglas County

• Design Review Board (one vacancy, and must be a downtown property owner)

• Election Commission (one vacancy)

• Historic Preservation Board (four vacancies)

• Parks and Recreation Commission (three vacancies)

• Planning Commission (four vacancies)

• Public Art Commission (five vacancies)

• Public Safety Commission (three vacancies)

• Public Works Commission (four vacancies)

Candidates will be interviewed on or about May 9 by a team that includes the councilmember who is the liaison to the board or commission, town staff and a current member of the board or commission. Recommendations for appointments are made to town council for formal approval, and terms begin June 1.

Preference is first given to persons who reside in the town, and second to persons who reside outside of town but within Douglas County. Applicants can apply for more than one board or commission; however, they can only be appointed to serve on one.

More information on current vacancies and the overview, purpose and responsibilities of each board and commission is available at CRgov.com/Boards

Are you looking to become involved in your local government? Do you want to have a voice in the public policy and decisions that affect Castle Rock? If so, apply now for open positions on our Town Boards and Commissions during our annual volunteer recruitment.

Visit CRgov.com/Boards to view positions and submit an application.

Douglas County is Colorado’s healthiest, again

According to the annual County Health Rankings & Roadmaps ranking released in March, Douglas County has again received recognition for being one of the healthiest in the nation.

Each year, the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute produces the CHR&R analysis with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The annual Rankings measure health outcomes — the current health of a county and health factors — those changes that could be made to improve lifespan and quality of life for residents. The rankings are a snapshot of how health is influenced by where we live, learn, work, and play.

“It is a professional privilege to serve on the board of health for a county whose residents so consistently demonstrate the state’s top rankings in overall health outcomes and behaviors,” said Doug Benevento, who is chair of the Douglas County Board of Health.

The findings specific to Douglas County, are based on data collected between 2018 and 2021. Douglas County residents rank highest in length of life and have the highest quality of life. The county has been ranked as one of the top two healthiest Colorado counties since 2011 and has held the No. 1 ranking consistently since 2019.

The health factors ranking looks at a variety of factors including education and wealth, availability of health care, and health behaviors such as smoking and excessive drinking. As a top-ranking county, Douglas County is invested in additional health and wellness priorities that were identified by residents in Douglas County Health Department’s 2022 – 2026 Public Health Improvement Plan (PHIP). Through an extensive community and data assessment, the PHIP supports a focus on three priority areas:

Injury Prevention — to include motor vehicle safety, fall prevention, poisoning due to drugs, and suicide related injury and death Disease Management and Prevention — with priorities on heart disease, diabetes, and skin cancer

Behavioral Health — screening, detection, and early intervention of depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders for residents

“The notoriety of Healthiest Community in Colorado is first a tribute to the residents of all the cities, towns and unincorporated areas of the county who choose a lifestyle that so consistently contributes to this outcome,” said Michael Hill, executive director of the Douglas County Health Department. “Through our Community Health Promotion efforts, the Health Department will continue to focus on the county’s top public health priorities — Injury Prevention, Behavioral Health, and Disease Management and Prevention — that can help contribute to heathier communities.”