Supplemental budget passed, elevator working, announce commissioners

by Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG — The Huerfano County Board of Commissioners and administration announced Wednesday the elevator at the courthouse is now operational after repairs and testing were accomplished earlier this week.
While this will now allow for full access to the third floor of the courthouse for those with special physical needs, the issue of entrance to the building itself is still being worked out. County Administrator John Galusha said there are a few options concerning building accessibility through the courthouse’s south side door.
Due to the historic designation of the courthouse, any modifications of the building to accommodate a new elevator, such as one built outside, would need state historical society approval.
In other business the commissioners approved supplement budget appropriations with unanimous passage of Resolution 12-37. They were: $71,244 in unanticipated revenue to the Lodging Tax Tourism Fund; $89,349 in unanticipated revenue to the PILT Fund; $11,244 unanticipated revenue to Huerfano County Ambulance Enterprise fund; $6,000 unanticipated revenue to Correctional Facility Enterprise Fund and $10,197 in unanticipated revenue to Gardner Public Improvement District Fund.
Shell Exploration & Production sent a letter to the commissioners saying they would like to make a one-time donation to the Upper Huerfano Fire Protection District (UHFPD). Enclosed in the letter was a check for $21,500 to be used for emergency response equipment such as bunker gear and SCBA equipment for firefighters.
If the UHFPD would like to be considered for funding for future years, they will need to submit a new request each year.
Newly elected county commissioners Max Vezzani and Ray Garcia will be sworn into office on Jan. 8th and will then attend new commissioner orientation with CCI (Colorado Counties Inc.) in Denver on the 9, 10, and 11th of January.
The county commissioners will meet on January 2 but there will be no regular meeting on January 9, 2013.