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October 6, 2016 VOLUME 121 | ISSUE 36 | 75¢
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County draft budget out early County manager presents document ahead of schedule By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media
Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap expresses his view that crime in and around Simla would increase if voters approve sale of pot in the town. Photos by Rick Gustafson
Simla pot proposal draws debate Advocates tout revenues; residents air concerns By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media Residents from Simla and the surrounding area gathered at the Big Sandy School on Sept. 28 for a 2½-hour question-and-answer session about a November ballot question that, if approved, would allow the retail sale of marijuana in the town. Around 90 people showed up to ask questions of an 11-member panel consisting of Simla’s Mayor Maarten van Zoeren; law enforcement representatives, including Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap and Senior Deputy District Attorney Doug Bechtel; representatives from the Colorado Department of Revenue; and several executives from USACANN, a marijuana business consulting firm based in Colorado Springs. A resolution, passed 4-2 by the Simla Board of Trustees on Sept. 14, created a ballot question that gives voters the option to approve or disapprove the creation of an ordinance allowing the production and sale of medical and recreational marijuana in the town. Voter approval of the question would also establish a town Cannabis Control Board to regulate any operations. Van Zoeren said the board of trustees had the authority to pass the law, but chose to give the voters the final say by way of a ballot question. “The town board has taken a position that we want to see whether or not the community of Simla is in favor or not before any other regulations are
County Manager Ed Ehmann presented the 2017 Elbert County draft budget to the Board of County Commissioners at the board’s meeting on Sept. 28, more than two weeks ahead of the Oct. 15 statutory deadline. The budget has been the focus of intense public scrutiny over the past few years, and following repeated calls for more transparency from both the public and all six candidates running for the three open commissioner seats, the county posted a copy of the draft budget as well as a draft of the annual budget procedures that were presented at a public budget meeting on Sept. 27. “After our budget meeting, our budget team met and discussed the option, and felt comfortable, and would like to see it (the draft budget) published,” Ehmann told the BOCC on Sept. 28. “We had about three pages of comments yesterday and adjustments that we will need to make. The numbers will be changing as we go through the process.” With the county’s budget season in full swing, members of the public took the opportunity to express their views regarding the budgeting process and transparency. Elbert County resident Marleen Groves requested and received an additional allotment of time during the public comment portion of the Sept. 28 meeting to present her vision of a citizens finance committee. Budget continues on Page 9
Taylor Warenecke of Simla questions the 11-member panel about the police conflict of monitoring an industry that is illegal federally, but legal in the state. written,” said the meeting moderator, Town Trustee Chad Thieman, who along with Mayor Pro Tem Andrew Easler voted no on the resolution creating the ballot question. Elbert County currently has a moratorium on the commercial production and sale of pot, but statutory towns such as Simla may issue licenses to one or more producers to cultivate and sell the drug within the town limits. Under Colorado’s dual licensing provision, once a license is awarded by the town, the applicant can then apply for and must receive a state license before any
production or sales can legally begin. Though the ballot question does not outline a specific plan, one possible scenario that was discussed centers on granting licenses to two independent commercial growers to cultivate and open retail outlets. Sky-high projections Christian Elie, founder and managing partner of USACANN, told the nearly 80-person audience that according to his firm’s research, it would not be out Marijuana continues on Page 9
PUMPKIN TIME
It isn’t autumn without the popular flavoring added to just about everything. PAGE 10
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