County Commission adjusts term limit question

by Bill Knowles
WALSENBURG- A ballot resolution passed by the county commission on July 6 had a wording problem, and had to be redone. It will ask voters to extend the term limit of Huerfano County Commissioners from two to three terms.
Resolution 11-15 was to extend the number term limits beginning with 2012. The “no” block was listed ahead of the “yes” block. That needed to be changed, so the commissioners voted 2-1 to repeal 11-15 and then change the wording to reflect the “yes” block before the “no” block. The move will not invalidate the question which will appear on the November 2011 ballot as Resolution 11-16 .
In related news the commission on a 3-0 vote approved an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) that would allow both the county and the City of Walsenburg to use the same ballot This will eliminate duplicity at the voting booth and in mail out ballots that will be used this year.
Dale Lyons of Gardner was on the agenda to speak with the commissioners. She addressed the 20 day suspension by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) of the Shell drill permit effective on July 11, while the COGCC awaits comment from the county on the project.
The county in this case is the county commissioners who voted 3-0 to not file any comment with the COGCC over the three day period. Lyons then asked how she might get a public hearing from the COGCC. She was told to contact Dave Neslin, the director of the COGCC.