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October 13, 2016 VOLUME 121 | ISSUE 37 | 75¢
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Elizabeth voters to rule on three issues Tax measures, legal ads will be decided by ballots By Rick Gustafson Special to Colorado Community Media With ballots set to hit the mail on Oct. 17, voters will make choices that will likely have profound effects nationally, statewide, and countywide. In addition to the unusual circumstances of three races for county commissioner seats this fall, Elizabeth area voters will also decide three local issues.
Ballot Issue 2B (Lodging Occupational Tax) The lodging tax proposed by 2B would impose a 3 percent tax on guests renting rooms in hotels, motels and “other similar accommodations” within the town of Elizabeth, passing the increased costs to local resources onto those who are creating the impact. Currently there are no lodgings located in Elizabeth that would be subject to the tax, but with the expected growth in the county, it is unlikely to remain that way. “In this case, we are propos-
ing the idea before we have lodging. We want to get something on the books before we need it,” said Dick Eason, Elizabeth town administrator. Lodging taxes are common throughout the state and the proposed 3 percent tax would be near the lower end of the scale for Colorado, which ranges from around 1.5 to 12.5 percent. “It’s almost universal,” Eason said. “We haven’t had one because we haven’t had commercial lodging.”
VOTING IN ELBERT COUNTY Ballots will be mailed beginning Oct. 17 to Elbert County residents who are registered to vote in the Nov. 8 general election. In order for your vote to count, ballots must be received, whether by mail or at a drop-off location, by 7 p.m. Election Day, Nov. 8. If you do not receive a ballot or lose or deface your ballot, call 303-621-3127 to request a replacement ballot. Drop-off locations include the Elbert County Administration Build-
ing, 215 Comanche St., Kiowa — a 24-hour, drive-up location — and Walmart, 2100 Legacy Circle, Elizabeth, which accepts drop-offs from 6 a.m. through midnight. Voters may choose to cast their ballots in person, and that can be done at the county administration building. For more information, including on additional drop-off locations, go to www.elbertcounty-co.gov/elections. php#.V_bRBYVcOyo
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Q&As with state House District 64 candidates Kathleen Conway Democrat
Val Lovenstein harvests some of the last raspberries of the season at the Hidden Mesa Research and Demonstration Orchard in Franktown on Sept. 20. The orchard donated more than 2,500 pounds of produce to the Parker Task Force this year, benefiting families who use the food bank there. Photos by Tom Skelley
Fruits, vegetables of their labor Research orchard provides produce to Parker Task Force By Tom Skelley tskelley@colorado communitymedia.com A fall breeze cut through the endof-summer sun in Franktown, a cool signal to volunteers at the Hidden Mesa Research and Demonstration Orchard to bring in the last crops of the season. Green thumbs from the Douglas County Master Gardener program gathered the remaining canary melons, lemon cucumbers, strawberries and other fruits and vegetables as
ABOUT THE PARKER TASK FORCE The task force serves residents in Parker, Elizabeth and Franktown. According to its website, it is “dedicated to providing individuals and families in our community with food, limited financial assistance and other support services roosters and chickens continued their patrol for freeloading grasshoppers. “I thought it was a great year overall,” said Andy Hough, environmental resources coordinator for Douglas County’s Division of Open Space and Natural Resources, of the late September harvesting.
to help them become self-sufficient. These services will be delivered with compassion, dignity and respect by our 100 percent volunteer staff.” For more information, go to www.parkertaskforce.org The orchard — which also shares its bounty with the Parker Task Force — is in its fifth year of trying out new cultivation methods and various crops that can thrive in Colorado’s temperamental climate.
About Conway: The Elizabeth resident has worked in finance, including with various mortgage companies and banks, for most of her career. She spent 10 years with Douglas County as chief deputy clerk. More information: saidkathy@aol.com; conwayforhd64.com; 303 908-0831 Conway
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Kimmi Lewis Republican
About Lewis: A cattle rancher who lives near La Junta in southeastern Colorado, Lewis defeated incumbent Tim Dore in the Republican primary in June. She assisted in forming the Colorado Independent Cattle Grower’s Association and served as chair of the Las Animas County Republican Party for four years. More information: 719468-0713; www.kimmilewis. Lewis us
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ELBERT COUNTY NEWS (USPS 171-100) OFFICE: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 | PHONE: 303-566-4100 A legal newspaper of general circulation in Elizabeth, Colorado, the Elbert County News is published weekly on Thursday by Colorado Community Media, 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129. PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT ELIZABETH, COLORADO and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address change to: 9137 S. Ridgeline Blvd., Suite 210, Highlands Ranch, CO 80129 DEADLINES: Display: Thurs. 12 p.m. | Classifieds: Mon. 10 a.m. | Obits: Mon. 10 a.m. | Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m.
Lewis continues on Page 5