Category Archives: 2020

2020

An Analysis of Custer County’s Stay-in-Place Edict

This article appears in the Sentinel Paper in the Friday April 10, 2020 edition, with the editor’s title
” The Custer Gulag: Unelected Bureaucrat Orders County “Closed” Jobs Lost, Bills Unpaid, Car Loans Defaulted,
Families Decimated Financially.
Why? Two Sick People in the Whole County.”

To view it as it was printed,  click here. 041020 pg 7

An Analysis of Custer County’s
Stay-in-Place Edict:
“This is what tyranny looks like.”

“By legal standard, a government’s actions are arbitrary and capricious when they are founded upon unreasonable grounds, are made without any proper consideration of circumstances, deny due process, and prejudice substantial rights. Therefore, by that legal definition, these shelter-in-place orders are arbitrary and capricious.” —KrisAnn Hall
(see end of page for a prepared summary of KrisAnn’s argument)

by Jackie Bubis
Commentary and Analysis

April 5, 2020

After reading through Public Health Agency Order 20-04 from the Director of the Custer County Public Health Agency, I have a few observations and questions. I note that many of the ORDERS in this document are word for word from the state document.
There seem to be a number of assumptions stated as fact in the Purpose section of the document:
“fact that numerous travelers from around the world visit our area”
“may result in serious illness”, “will have the effect of interrupting the functioning of the community”, “will overwhelm the capacity of the local health care systems,”
“This order will reduce the likelihood that many individuals will be exposed…”
“This PHO will also enable the services, businesses, and travel necessary to protect the health and safety of our community and preserve the continuity of social and commercial life as we save lives.”
“Failure to comply with any of the provisions of this PHO constitutes an imminent threat to public health.”
This order encompasses all the orders sent down from on high by the state and adds to them, making them even more strict.
In the Stay at Home portion of the ORDER:
1a states that all residents of Custer County are ORDERED to stay at home whenever possible. It goes on to say that “may leave their residences only to perform or utilize Necessary Activities.” Nowhere in the document are “Necessary Activities” defined. So can the residents of Custer County leave their homes to take a walk? Can they leave their homes to ride a bike or a horse? Can they take a nice drive down a country road with their spouse?
NOTE: The corresponding paragraph from the state order reads exactly the same. However, that document does have definitions of “Necessary Activities.”
1b states that all public and private gatherings of ANY number of people occurring outside a residence are prohibited, except for the limited purposes which include “Essential Activities.” Nowhere in the document are “Essential Activities” defined. (It benevolently allows the gathering of people who live in the same house.)
1c states that Residents of Custer County who have traveled out of State for more than 24 hours must be under a 14-day self-quarantine. This includes part time residents returning to Custer County.
1d both “directs” and “strongly discourages” all variations of vacationing in Custer County until April 30th. Will visitors be subject to fine or imprisonment?
1e urges higher risk people to stay in their residence at all times except to seek medical care. Do these high risk people also fall into the category of “all residents” ORDERED in 1a?
1g PROHIBITS all “Unnecessary Travel”
by automobile or public transit. “Unnecessary Travel” is not defined within this document. Are we allowed to drive our car to town to pick up dinner at Willie’s? Are we allowed to drive our car to town to buy deodorant? Can we ride a horse to town or is that covered in 1a? And…what public transit do we have in Custer County?
In the Business Requirement section, there are a few things I need clarification on.
2c states that even liquor stores MUST establish curbside pickup only. Apparently I can only purchase items from the liquor store that I already know the name and size of, since they do not have a menu. Okay.
2d again “strongly recommends” that retail establishments limit the number of customers in the store in order to abide by Social Distancing Requirements so it is assumed (I know that’s dangerous) that this measure cannot be enforced with fines or jail time for the business owners.
2e requires “Grocery, retail, convenience, hardware, farm and ranch supply SHALL follow the CDPHE Guidelines in having hand sanitizer, germicidal wipes, or hand washing stations available where patrons enter and exit. All check out stations will be wiped down after each customer with the proper disinfects recommendation by EPA.” Is there a list of recommended disinfectants that are required? Where can that list be found and are these disinfectants readily available? Are there sufficient hand sanitizers or germicidal wipes available for purchase by these businesses to provide these “stations” at the entry/exit?
2f shuts down all hotels, motels, short-term rentals (30 days or less), bed and breakfast establishments, Airbnb, and lodging except with written permission of the CCPHA Director. They are still required to follow CDPHE guidelines even when shut down, apparently. Will these businesses be reimbursed fair market value of their losses by the CCPHA or Custer County as required by the Colorado Constitution? (COLO. CONST. art. 2, § 15) Also noted is that if the CCPHA Director grants a hotel or motel to house essential personnel, at no time will the hotel/motel room be used for leisure purposes?
The Enforcement section states: “This order will be enforced by all appropriate legal means. Local authorities are encouraged to determine the best course of action to encourage maximum compliance. Failure to comply with this order could result in penalties including a fine of up to one thousand (1,000) dollars and imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, pursuant to 25-1-114, C.R.S.” Does this imply criminal charges? Which
local authorities fall under this order? And what exactly is “maximum compliance?”
Next we are told that there will be no active searching for violations. However, if your neighbor rats you out, the county will “reach out” to you to (re)educate, provide guidance and enforce this
ORDER, if necessary.
This document is a classic example of arbitrary and capricious orders. This is what tyranny looks like. (See below the excerpt of 20-04 for more on Arbitrary and Capricious orders.)

The Stay in Place Section of 20-04

Excerpted section of Custer County Public Health Order 20-04 ORDER:
1. Stay At Home
a. All residents of Custer County are ordered to Stay At Home whenever possible. Individuals living in shared or outdoor spaces must at all times, to the greatest extent possible, comply with Social Distancing Requirements, and may leave their residences only to perform or utilize Necessary Activities.
b. All public and private gatherings of ANY number of people occurring outside a residence are prohibited, except for the limited purposes expressly permitted in this Public Health Order (PHO) which include Essential Activities. Nothing in this PHO prohibits the gathering of members living in the same Residence.
c. Residents of Custer County that have traveled out of State for more than 24 hours must be under a 14-day self-quarantine. This includes part time residents returning to Custer County.
d. All Custer County Visitors are directed to return home. CCPHA strongly discourages all variations of vacationing in Custer County until April 30th.
e. People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 are urged to stay in their Residence at all times except as necessary to seek medical care. People who are sick must stay in their residence at all time except as necessary to seek medical care, and must not go to work, even for a Critical Business.
f. Individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 must self-isolate until their symptoms cease or until they have a negative test result. Due to limited testing availability and narrow criteria for testing, if an individual has tested positive for COVID-19 and/or has developed symptoms of COVID-19 including early or mild symptoms (such as cough, fever and/or shortness of breath) they should be in isolation (staying away from others) until they have had no fever for at least seventy-two (72) hours (that is three full days of no fever without the use of medicine that reduces fevers), other symptoms have improved (such as cough or shortness of breath) and at least seven (7) days have passed since symptoms first appeared.
g. All Unnecessary Travel is prohibited including, but not limited to, travel by automobile or public transit. People must use public transit ONLY for purpose of performing Necessary Activities or maintain Critical Governmental Functions. People riding on public transit must comply with Social Distancing Requirements to the greatest extent feasible.
2. Business Requirements
a. Critical Businesses as defined by the Governors Order 20-24, are encouraged to remain open, although subject to certain limitations. Critical Businesses must always comply with Social Distancing Requirements at all times, adopt work from home or tele-work polices for any operations that can be done remotely, and implement other strategies . Such strategies may be to stagger schedules or re-design workplaces to create more distance between workers, unless doing so would make it impossible to carry out critical functions. Critical Businesses that serve the public such as grocery stores and other critical Retail shall comply with Social Distancing Requirements at all times, including when any customers are standing in line inside or outside.
b. Child care facilities providing services exempt in this PHO must, to the greatest extent possible operate under the following conditions: (1) child care must be carried out in stable groups of 10 or fewer (“stable” means that the same 10 or fewer children are in the same group each day); (2) children shall not change from one group to another; (3) If more than one group of children is cared for at one facility, each group shall be in a separate group. Groups shall not mix with each other; (4) childcare workers shall remain solely with one group of children. To the greatest extent possible, childcare shall be performed in compliance with Social Distancing Requirements.
c. Restaurants, liquor stores, and coffee shops must establish curbside pickup only, no customers are to be allowed inside the establishment. This allows for proper compliance with Social Distancing Requirements.
d. CCPHA strongly recommends that Custer County retail establishments (such as grocery stores, dollar stores, hardware stores, food pantries etc.) limit the number of customers within the store in order to abide by Social Distancing Requirements. Retail establishments must follow CDPHE’ s Guidance (see the Retail Food Establishment COVID-19 Implementation of Public Health Order and Amended Notice of Public Health Order 20-22 Closing Bars, Restaurants, Theaters Gymnasiums, Casinos Non Essential Personal Services Facilitie s, Racetrack and Off Track Para- Mutual Wagering Facilities Statewide) to minimize the spread of COVID-19 in the community.
e. Grocery, retail, convenience, hardware farm and ranch supply shall follow the CDPHE Guidelines in having hand sanitizer, germicidal wipes or hand washing stations available where patrons enter and exit. All check out stations will be wiped down after each customer with the proper disinfects recommendation by EPA.
f. All short-term lodging must cease operations. Short term lodging includes but is not limited to hotels, motels, short-term rentals (30 days or less) bed and breakfast establishments, Airbnb, and lodging. All short-term lodging establishments shall follow CDPHE guidelines for minimizing the spread of COVID-19. Authorized use for the purposes of emergency, quarantine, or to provide lodging for essential personnel must be in writing by the CCPHA Director. At no time are these to be used for leisure purposes.
3. Houses of Worship and faith-based organizations shall abide by Social Distancing Requirements including 10 or fewer people until April 30, 2020. Pastoral services for individuals (one at a time or practicing appropriate Social Distancing Requirements) who are in crisis or in need of end-of-life services will be allowed. Services can be conducted remotely through Face book, GoTo meeting, Zoom or any technology platform. If a technology platform is unavailable due to beliefs, organizations must still abide by Social Distancing Requirements including 10 or fewer people and a 6-foot distance between each person.
ENFORCEMENT:
This order will be enforced by all appropriate legal means. Local authorities are encouraged to determine the best course of action to encourage maximum compliance. Failure to comply with this order could result in penalties including a fine of up to one thousand (1,000) dollars and imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, pursuant to 25-1-114 C.R.S.
Custer County will not be actively searching for violations. However, if the county receives reports of events contrary to this order the county will reach out to the organizer/leader/owner/management to educate, provide guidance, and enforce the provisions of this order, if necessary.

Editor’s Note/llv:
(To read the entire 20-04 document (now edited/amended) go to  https://www.custercountycolorado.com/covid-19
or https://909dc6b6-7c64-47ad-9738-c2133857719c.filesusr.com/ugd/92b9d1_1b9f83929630495b8c8c78bde02f4e72.pdf

Note the updated version changed it’s wording (probably a good idea) on Restaurants, liquor stores and coffee shops (allowing one person at the counter). It still contains the line in the lodging edict “purposes of emergency, quarantine, and essential personnel can be given verbally or in writing by the Custer County Public Health Agency Director.” And “People must use public transit ONLY for the purpose of performing Necessary Activities or maintain Critical Governmental Functions.” (We don’t have buses, taxis, trains or anything remotely resembling Public Transit – except those who taxi the Amish to and fro and a Rotary Van that transports seniors and those who need to get to medical appointments – and it is not in operation right now).  Thankfully, the horribly written  Houses of Worship  dig on our Amish and Mennonite populations  that read “Services can be conducted remotely through Face book, GoTo meeting, Zoom or any technology platform. If a technology platform is unavailable due to beliefs, organizations must still abide by Social Distancing ”  has been removed.  The line “10 or fewer people until April 30, 2020.” however, was changed to ” avoiding gatherings of any number of people.”

Arbitrary and Capricious Orders

KrisAnne Hall has been focusing on her Radio Show. Below is a summary from  Episode 1067 Krisanne Hall Show prepared by Jackie Bubis.

American was built on private property private rights and individual Liberty; all trashed, all gone. These stay-at home orders are completely arbitrary. They deny due process. They are rife with the legal principle of unbridled discretion.
Arbitrariness is the quality of being determined by chance, whim, or impulse, not by necessity, reason, or principle. A shelter-in-place order that requires a worship service to close where a finite number of people sit far apart for a few hours but allows a Walmart, Costco, Home Depot (where limitless people come and go every single day, touching everything) to be open is the very definition of arbitrary.
By legal standard, a government’s actions are arbitrary and capricious when they are founded upon unreasonable grounds, are made without any proper consideration of circumstances, deny due process, and prejudice substantial rights. Therefore, by that legal definition, these shelter-in-place orders are arbitrary and capricious.
When we shut down these businesses this is a taking of your business. It is a regulatory taking “in which a government regulation limits the uses of private property to such a degree that the regulation effectively deprives the property owners of economically reasonable use or value of their property to such an extent that it deprives them of utility or value of that property, even though the regulation does not formally divest them of title to it.”
Whether temporary or permanent, it makes no difference. It’s a taking. Every state constitution and the U.S. Constitution state that if the government is going to take your property, there must be due process and you must be given fair market value. Has your county talked to you about the fair market value loss of your business? Have they told you how they’re going to reimburse you for the
eminent domain taking of your property? No.

 

 

2020

Custer County Health Director- new edict 20-04 updated April 7

With two confirmed cases of the COVID-19 virus, as of April 2, 2020, the Custer County Health Director, Elisa Livengood, has begun creating edicts that go beyond those from Governor Polis. We at the Sentinel recommend that you follow developments on the County website in order to get the most up to date information.

Here’s the latest press release concerning the April 2, 2020 edict 20-04 from the Custer County Health Director.

You can read the whole thing here. (this link takes you to the Custer County Webpage)  

20-04 Stay in Place order was revised on April 7, 2020.  (This link takes you to the NEW Custer County Pages)

2020, BOCC 2020, BoH

BOCC: What? Treat us as citizens, not sheep…

BOCC: What?
Flower Says Public Comments at the Meetings a “privilege, not a right”!!!
County Nurse: “I wish I had more power to shut down more.”
Note to Nurse: One Confirmed Case in the Whole County.
We Can Take Care of Ourselves Just Fine.

Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—March 31, 2020
WESTCLIFFE, Colo.
by Jackie (Muddy) Bubis
The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Present in the room were Chairman Flower, Commissioner Canda, Commissioner Printz, Attorney Smith and Clerk Camper. Those were the people allowed in the room.
Mr. Flower began the meeting by stating that he’d measured and that only those five people could be allowed in the room to keep
social distancing guidelines. Elisa Livengood and Meredith Nichols, as well as Admin Assistant Cara Evans were present via phone.
The Board removed the KZ request and the letter to Widefield/Fountain from the agenda. Continue reading BOCC: What? Treat us as citizens, not sheep… →

2020, BOCC

BOCC: March 23 Emergency Meeting – A report

Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—March 23, 2020
Westcliffe, Colo.
by Jackie (Muddy) Bubis
An emergency meeting, this meeting was held at the Courthouse Annex with Commissioner Canda and Deputy Clerk Peggy Miller present. Chairman Flower, Commissioner Printz, and Attorney Smith attended via phone. Also present in the room were Dave Aiken, Dawna Hobby, Vernon Roth and Elisa Livengood.
Per Attorney Smith – because this was a posted public meeting, the commissioners can vote. They will also ratify any decisions they make when they are all present in a future meeting. Continue reading BOCC: March 23 Emergency Meeting – A report →

2020

First Presumptive COVID-19 Case Reported, Other restrictions and closures

by George Gramlich
The Custer County Department of Public Health has reported in a press release dated Tuesday, March 17th that the first “probable positive” case of the Chinese coronavirus (COVID-19) has been reported in Custer County. The person, a male in his 50’s, was
reportedly a contractor at the courthouse. From the press release:
“Custer County Department of Public Health is reporting the first probable positive case of COVID-19, or coronavirus, in Custer County.  Presumed, folks, until the test comes back.

Continue reading First Presumptive COVID-19 Case Reported, Other restrictions and closures →

2020

As Pandemic Spreads, Democrats Prioritize Green Giveaways for Special Interests Over Citizens

As Pandemic Spreads, Democrats Prioritize Green Giveaways for Special Interests Over Citizens

House and Senate Democrats maneuver to slide unrelated renewable energy tax credits, green new deal policies into economic stimulus package meant to protect our health and the economy.

Press release

WASHINGTON DC (March 18, 2020) – Today, the American Energy Alliance (AEA) raised concerns about the ballooning $1.2 trillion stimulus package Congress is currently considering and what misguided proposals it may carry.

AEA pointed to reports that some House and Senate Democrats, environmental advocacy groups, and renewable energy industry lobbyists have revealed their intent to never let a serious crisis go to waste.  Efforts are underway by members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition and Democratic Senators Ed Markey and Sheldon Whitehouse to slip extensions for expired tax giveaways and green new deal policies into the current funding package meant to stabilize the economy and aid Americans suffering from coronavirus. In addition to the extension of the consumer tax credit for electric vehicles, additional measures sought include the extension of tax credits for wind, investment tax credits for solar and other clean technologies, and tax incentives for energy storage. Additionally, Sens. Markey and Whitehouse want to tie aid for airlines to green new deal emissions policies.

Thomas Pyle, President of AEA, issued this statement:

“Some Democrats in Congress are showing their true colors today. Determined to never let a good crisis go to waste, they are seizing the coronavirus pandemic as an opportunity to slip failed green policies into legislation designed to protect the American economy and stop the spread of this deadly virus.”

“The proposed inclusion of seven expired renewable energy tax credits will do nothing to stimulate the economy or help anyone’s general health, and will only line the pockets of renewable energy companies, the wind and solar lobby, General Motors, and Tesla. For industries that claim they no longer need the support of the government, we continue to see them try and capitalize on the suffering of everyday Americans in their pursuit of a seemingly never ending stream of government handouts.”

“From the presidential primary, to the response to this unprecedented global pandemic, it appears that the green lobby is a growing and disturbing force within the Democratic party, driving them to an extreme, radical, out-of-touch agenda that is now literally bargaining with people’s lives. The Democratic leadership should immediately admonish those in their party who are attempting to use this crisis to reward their green cronies. It is the height if irresponsibility and an insult to each and every American.”

REPEAT OF HISTORY

The renewable energy industry has a long history of taking advantage of a crisis. In the wake of the financial crises in 2009, the renewable energy industry lobbied hard for the introduction of new tax credits, most of which were eventually included in the 2009 stimulus bill.

2020, Custer County Kids

Trap Shoot Team Fundraiser

by Jerry Tracewell
Volunteer Asst. Coach


In case you haven’t heard, thanks to Todd Byerly (pictured on the right) and with the help of our CC School Superintendent, Mike McFalls (pictured on the left), and the unanimous approval of the School Board, Custer County Schools is adding a trap shooting team as a new student activity. Todd is the organizer and volunteer head coach of the team that will compete against other schools in the Colorado State High School Clay Target League; there are approximately 12 other schools in the state with either established teams or teams in formation. The CO State League is a subordinate organization of the USA High School Clay Target League that was incorporated in 2012 and now has more than 33,000 student participants in 1,100 teams spread across 25 states. Student teams practice for three weeks during March and April before beginning competition shooting within their respective states during April and May. Then, in early June, there is a State Championship Tournament for all students who wish to attend.

Membership on the team is open to any student from age 12 through 19. At this time, we have seven students who have completed registration for the team and another seven students in process. We estimate that the team will have 15 or 16 student members. The CC Board of Commissioners has given its permission to construct a trap range on county-owned property near the landfill. One of the most expensive items for this project is the target thrower itself, which has already been donated to the team by a local Westcliffe businessman.
However, there are several other team “start-up costs” such as the cost of ammunition, clay targets, shooting vests/hats and shell pouches, which brings us to the underlying purpose for this article. The Sangre Cristo Sentinel has graciously committed to hosting a fundraiser to help the team get started. The way this will work is that we are appealing to the citizens of Custer County (or anyone else who might want to help) to donate money to the team for purchasing items like those listed above. All donations of cash or checks will be collected at the Sentinel office. Checks must be made payable to “Custer County Schools” with a notation of “Trap Team.” Because your donation is to the Custer County Schools, it is tax deductible. You can also mail your donation to the Sangre de Cristo Sentinel at PO Box 179, Westcliffe, CO 81252. All monies collected by the Sentinel will be delivered to the school for depositing in the trap team’s school-managed bank account. Thank you for your support. For more information about the Colorado State High School Clay Target League, go to coclaytarget.com.

2020

Republicans Unite at 1776 Armory Candidate Forum

by Mark Bunch
Gun owners, hunters and pro 2nd Amendment members of our citizenry have largely been ignored over the past few years by both sides of the aisle, and have been hungry for their own voices to be heard in our political arena, especially locally. Continue reading Republicans Unite at 1776 Armory Candidate Forum →

2020

She’s a Pistol and She Carries One Too

Lauren Boebert: Colorado’s House of Representatives 3rd Congressional
District Candidate
She’s a Pistol and She Carries One Too

by Laura Vass
and  Lisa Kidwell

Audience at the Lauren Boebert Rally, Saddle Club. Photo by Lisa Kidwell

Lauren Boebert, 2nd Amendment Advocate from Rifle, CO, and candidate for Colorado’s U.S. House of Representatives 3rd Congressional District, came to Westcliffe for a rally held in her honor on Monday, February 17th, with her campaign manager, Sherronna Bishop “Americas Mom”. Before the rally, the two hit the Main Streets of Silver Cliff and Westcliffe, introducing themselves to the business owners and sharing Lauren’s platform.
The rally, hosted by Jack Canterbury and sponsored by Custer County Republican Women, was held at 5:30 p.m. at the Wet Mountain Valley Saddle Club. Continue reading She’s a Pistol and She Carries One Too →

2020

Westcliffe Town Meeting February 2020

Westcliffe Town Meeting: New Logo,
More Beer at Lowes, Pro Rodeo Plans Ahead

 

 

Above: #3 Logo is chosen for Town of Westcliffe

Westcliffe Town Board Meeting
—February 4, 2020
by Lisa Frank
The meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. on a snowy night, and began with the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call, recognition of visitors and then moved on to the Consent Agenda. Absent from the Board was Arthur Nordyke and Brian Clince. The Consent Agenda, consisting of the Approval of last month’s Meeting Minutes, the Treasurer’s Report and Approval of Bills, passed unanimously without discussion.
Old Business was next on the agenda and consisted of one item, the Consideration to approve the amended
Lease/Maintenance Agreement between the Town of Westcliffe and San Isabel Land Protection Trust. At the last meeting of the Town Board this same document was discussed and voted on to approve and was signed by the Board but it had the wrong legal description on it. The legal description is now correct and the document was available to sign by the Board. This was a formality and needed no discussion or vote. As side note, Mayor Wenke informed the public that a previous request by the Rotary Club for benches in the Bluff Park that had at one time been denied was now approved. It was not clear if this was voted on at a Rotary Meeting or some other meeting, but Mayor Wenke thought the public should know.
New Business
a. Consideration of request to approve a Modification of Premises at Pay and Save, Inc. dba Lowe’s
Supermarket #109 – Mr. Rob Phelps, Manager of Westcliffe’s Lowe’s and Ms. Janet Pivamick, Corporate’s Division Head of Alcohol Sales, came before the Board with a plan to expand the cold beer sales space in the store located at 50 Main Street in Westcliffe. If you have followed the Town Report in the Sentinel. you know that Lowe’s was ticketed and fined by the state for having too much beer on location according to the license that was then in place. The store has since paid all costs and complied with the State Liquor Enforcement Office and is applying for an expansion to the floor space allowed.
The first step is to come before the town of Westcliffe Board with the plan for approval, then submit to the state. Ms. Pivamick stated that many customers have requested the store carry more “designer label” beers and in order to do that, more linear feet of storage would be needed. The new plan calls for 32 linear feet of space instead of the current 12 feet and this would be accomplished without short-changing the cold drinks space. According to them it is a matter of reorganizing the space they have, not eliminating items to add beer space. The Board approved the request after multiple questions were answered and manager Phelps thanked the Board. Phelps also announced that the store has joined Rotary and will do more for the town publicly as Mayor Wenke had suggested.
b. Consideration to approve a noise variance for July 17th and 18th from 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. by the Wet Mountain Valley Saddle Club by Ron Beckner – Our local WMV Saddle Club Rodeo going Pro. The WMVSC came before the Board to request a one-hour variance on Friday and Saturday night because they are considering holding the dance in the outdoor arena. A stage would be built for the band facing the mountains and ticket holders would enjoy the music from the west-side-covered grandstand and dancing would be in the arena. The Board discussed the last event that went over the 11 p.m. noise ordinance for the Bean Festival, but this was in order to keep stoned or high people from traveling from the grounds to a local saloon that is legally open until 2 a.m.
Mayor Wenke suggested the WMVSC Board speak to the people living in Shadow Ridge and Adams Addition on the Bluff to address any concerns but the vote was unanimous to allow another hour of operation to the club. Beckner was careful to remind the Town that it wasn’t official yet that the band/dance would be held in the arena, but just an idea the Club is considering.
c. By unanimous yes vote the Posting Place for Public Notices will be the Westcliffe Town Hall Bulletin.
Town Clerk Kathy Reis invited this reporter to help draw by lot to determine the order of Trustee Candidates on the April Ballot. The order drawn was 1. Bess Cole 2. Brian Clince 3. Kathy Snow 4. John Johnston.
d. Consideration of approval of Resolution 2-2020 amending the Town Handbook – Not voted on because there is a pending workshop regarding the handbook.
e. Consideration to approve the Town’s new logo – A vote was
taken and it was unanimous on #3.
There were no additions to the Agenda. The Staff Reports were given.
There was no Public Comment.
Meeting Adjourned at 6:27 p.m.