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RESIDENT / OCCUPANT PRSRT STD ECRWSS US POSTAGE PAID LYONS, CO PERMIT No 2053
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LOOK FOR REDSTONE REVIEW AT ISSUU.COM
VOLUME 15, NUMBER 5
LYONS, COLORADO
$.50
JUNE 18 / JULY 16, 2014
B •R •I •E •F •S Good Old Days returns LYONS – The 38th Annual Good Old Days will be held June 27 and 28. Good Old Days is a longstanding, highly anticipated outdoor event that will focus on bringing people from Lyons and the surrounding region together in a celebration of community in beautiful Bohn Park. Good Old Days features a full schedule of live music and entertainment, beer garden and food vendors, and activities for all ages. Those attending Good Old Days will enjoy kidSpace, BMX Demos pony rides and a petting zoo, the flood recovery fun run, Sandstone Park farmers market and artisan fair, and a weekend full of new events and surprises. Those interested in volunteering time, should direct their questions to Lyons Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Events at 303-823-8250, or visit www. town of lyons. com. Summertime at Lyons Depot Library
Doug Powell feeds a flock of black-chinned hummingbirds at his home in Pinewood Springs.
Marijuana regs, a permanent Montessori school and the 404 buyout moves forward LYONS – The temporary location of the Lyons Depot Library is 405 Main St. The library serves as an oasis to cool off and relax, and is a great rainy day place with lots of DVD movies to choose from for all ages. Tourists, visitors, and festivarians can use the library; with a valid driver’s license, a temporary library card can be issued. Planning a long drive? The library stocks many recorded books-on-CD, perfect to help pass the time for kids and adults. Bored kids? Summer Reading Program is for young readers, who receive raffle tickets at checkout; and the Book Swaps are held Fridays June 27 and July 18 from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Lyons Elementary. Story Time is on Fridays at 10:30 a.m. and Lego Club is on Wednesdays Continue Briefs on Page 4
I •N •D •E •X LOCAL MAYOR’S CORNER OPTIONS BUSINESS CONTACT INSIGHT HEALING A&E FOUNDATIONS CONTRAST FINDINGS NATURE
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By Susan de Castro McCann Redstone Review Editor LYONS – Around a month ago Town Attorney Tim Cox reminded the board that it might want to do something about creating an ordinance to regulate the use of recreational marijuana, or bring it to a vote of the local residents, or limit the options because the moratorium currently in place would soon come to an end. The Board of Trustees (BOT) seemed enthusiastic about the opportunity to create a venue for recreational marijuana and instructed Attorney Cox to draw up and ordinance regulating the sale, grow operations, manufacturing and other aspects of recreational marijuana. Cox presented that ordinance 952 to the board for a first reading in June and after over an hour of discussion, it became clear that the issue is more complex that the board previously anticipated. Trustee Connie Sullivan wanted a separate sales tax on recreational marijuana sales. This was not in the ordinance but Cox recommended tying it into the package. This sales tax would require a vote of the people and would be placed on the November ballot. The ordinance also recommended banning the sale and manufacturing of hash oil, which is volatile and can blow up. Social clubs were also banned, but then the definition of social clubs became confusing. Cox said the language in the ordinance should say that all recreational marijuana sales, uses and manufacturing are limited to what is stated in the ordinance. The licenses to grow marijuana are limited to the eastern corridor. Testing facilities sounded like a good idea to the board, which then brought up the discus-
sion that the testing facilities were not limited to marijuana testing; these facilities test all kinds of things, rape kits, DNA, etc. A dispensary can sell both medical and recreational marijuana but the sale of both would be limited to those age 21 and older, whereas stand-alone medical marijuana shops can now sell to those age18 and older. Lyons has limited the number of medical marijuana dispensaries to three and if one leaves, the town is limited to two shops. The board still has to decide if it wants more shops to accommodate recreational marijuana or wants to stay the same; and where do testing facilities fit into the equation? As the discussion dragged on, the board finally decided to continue the ordinance until July 7 with a possible workshop to work out some of the details before the vote. The workshop would either be on June 14 or on July 7, but the schedule has not been finalized yet. Sgt. Nick Goldberger told the board that the state is still working out some of the details for regulation of recreational marijuana. He said things are still changing, so if the town wants to follow the state it will be some time before the state has finalized its regulations. Town Administrator Victoria Simonsen gave an update on the 404 buyout program. This is the program where government funding is available to buy out seriously damaged homes in a disaster area at pre-flood value. Simonsen said that 43 properties were appraised plus two commercial properties, which are the two mobile home parks; of those, 35 homeowners are definite about wanting the buy out. The homes were all appraised by two separate appraisal companies, which is a requirement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
PHOTO BY DOUG POWELL
Simonsen said that seven homes did not qualify and the town is looking for money / grants to help buy out those homeowners. These homes must be scrapped off the lots and the properties cannot be built upon again. What is not clear is who pays for the teardown. A few months ago the board was told that there would be separate FEMA money available for the demolition of homes but now that has become murky and Simonsen was told that FEMA may not pay for the demolition, shifting the burden to the homeowner. She said that the town will look for funding to solve that problem. “We don’t know how much CDBG money is available,” she said. Continue Town on Page 14
CDOT ending daytime weekend work on US 36 construction from Lyons to Estes Park; Major blasting activities also complete LARIMER COUNTY – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced the conclusion of daytime weekend construction work as part of the US Highway 36 flood emergency repairs project. “We are in the process of completing Phase 1 of the project which included a significant amount of closures and weekend work to facilitate blasting activities. We have completed the major blasting and greatly appreciate the local communities’ patience during this period” said Chris Boespflug, CDOT engineer for the project. Continue CDOT on Page 13