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October 15, 2015 VOLUME 120 | ISSUE 37 | 75¢
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ElbertCountyNews.net E L B E R T C O U N T Y, C O L O R A D O
ON A SCORING SPREE
Swan steps down from Elizabeth School Board Staff report Chip Swan, the vice president of the Elizabeth School Board, announced his departure from the board during its Sept. 28 meeting. “I’m moving out of the district, and that’s why I’m leaving the school Swan board,” Swan said. “But I’ve enjoyed my time on the school board, and everyone has been fantastic to work with.” During the meeting, board colleagues acknowledged Swan’s work over the past four years and thanked him for his service. Swan’s term was set Swan continues on Page 9
Elizabeth’s Rachael Rucker slides across home plate to score a run for the Cardinals during the Oct. 8 league softball game against Englewood. Elizabeth closed out the regular season by completing a sweep of all 12 league games and posting a 19-7 win. Find more on the game on Page 13. Photo by Tom Munds
POSTAL ADDRESS
Prairie-dog issues come before commissioners Some want all relocations to require hearings, notices By Geraldine Smith Special to Colorado Community Media
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. 11 a.m. Legals: Thurs. 11 a.m. Classifieds: Mon. 10 a.m.
PL E ASE RECYCLE
Black-tailed prairie dogs — also known as rodents, vermin, adorable or by the Latin name Cynomys ludovicianus — are a rising concern in Elbert County. And if you have never had the pleasure, the animal in question is a diurnal, burrowing rodent, almost 15 inches in length, including a 2½-inch, black-tipped tail. To the nature lover, observing the scurrying and interaction around their burrows, they are adorable, but to people affected by the encroachment upon their land, they are annoying vermin. Farmers and ranchers view them as trespassers endangering their crops and animals. In Elbert County, at issue is whether county commissioners should hold hearings with advance notice to residents anytime prairie dogs are relocated. The question came up on Sept. 23, when John Metli, Elbert County resident and former member of the Board of County Commissioners, spoke at the commissioners’ meeting and asked for support for the Upper South Platte Watershed Association’s proposal for expansion of C.R.S. 35-7-203, a state law that bans the release of prairie dogs in any county except that from which they originated. The intent of the revision is to legislate that county commissioner hearings be held and sufficient notice given to residents
Prairie dogs can be found throughout Colorado. File photo before rodents are released into the county of origin. Although the Upper South Platte Water Association does not represent Elbert County, the BOCC sent a letter in support of the proposed legislation. Commissioner Kelly Dore said: “We have not had an issue up to this point that the BOCC is aware of, and John Metli had concerns about this happening to citizens in Elbert County, as he was seeing this for landowners in other areas because prairie dogs do not heed county lines. The BOCC is working with CCI (Colorado Counties Inc.), Farm Bureau and other entities to figure out if this is a greater issue on the state level or can be
solved by a resolution for just a county issue. We plan on following up with this and making the best decision we can after factfinding and speaking with other citizens as well.” The Regulation of Prairie Dog Relocation Resolution, proposed by the Upper South Platte Watershed Association (USPWA), basically recommends on behalf of the 15 conservation districts it represents that hearings and notification of hearings for the relocation of rodents be the same for intra-county as they are now for inter-county. Bob Hastings, president of the USPWA, said: “We are looking into changing how conservation
districts and local landowners are notified of prairie dog relocations. A lot of things are still up in the air.” Major complaints from ranchers and farmers include the tendency of the black-tailed prairie dog to nibble the top of vegetation, leaving short stubs that livestock struggle to access, and the deep and wide burrow entrances that create a hazard for roving animals. The greatest worry is the slow regeneration of plants during drought or the long winter months, leaving little grass for grazing livestock. Adding to the Prairie continues on Page 9