by Larry Patrick
WALSENBURG- The cost for a chairlift on the front steps of the Huerfano County Courthouse may end up being totally funded by donations and grants. Petroglyph Inc. donated $8,000 toward the $20,000 cost. The County Clerks Office notified County Administrator, John Galusha, that grant monies are available through their state organization because of ADA compliance concerns for elections and making buildings accessible. That could amount to over $10,000. Another $3,000 has also been received toward the project. The Commissioners are moving the entrance to the Courthouse to the front for better security measures but needed the chairlift for ADA regulations for the stairway. Access Elevator and Lift is the company that will provide the chairlift and installation. It is hoped the project will be complete by December of this year.
The Commissioners gave an extension through July of 2010 for Steve Bartholomew to erect his tower for a new radio station for the area. Due to the economy, the FCC granted an 18 month extension for Bartholomew to get his radio station on the air. Another radio station, owned by Ed Magnus of Chicago, is not operating continually in the County after putting up a radio tower east of Walsenburg. The FCC granted construction permits for many new frequencies across the country raising millions of dollars in the process. But the hit on the economy has caused money to dry up for numerous owners to put their radio stations on the air.
