Tag Archives: CCEDC

2019, BOCC

BOCC: Commissioner Flower not happy with Trib’s Article, Trib CORAs Docs…

BOCC: Flower not happy with Trib’s Article, Trib CORAs Docs, Board to Talk about Vacation Rentals, More Money Tossed at Implementation of the Strategic plan?

Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—December 5, 2019
WESTCLIFFE, Colo.
by Jackie (Muddy) Bubis

The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Introductions of the public followed.
Commissioner Items:
Commissioner Printz expressed that the CCI (Colorado Counties, Incorporated) conference that the three commissioners just returned from was profitable and suggested that the time to talk about short-term vacation rentals is sooner rather than later.
Commissioner Canda reported that Sally Clark from USDA will be here on Thursday the 12th at 10:30 a.m. to meet with the commissioners regarding fiber and broadband. He also appreciated the CCI conference and came home with more knowledge and information. Continue reading BOCC: Commissioner Flower not happy with Trib’s Article, Trib CORAs Docs… →

2019, BOCC

BOCC: CCEDC and Tower Money…

CCEDC and Tower Money,
New Pot Ordinance Passed, Dispatcher Salaries

Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—April 30, 2019
WESTCLIFFE, Colo.

by Jackie (Muddy) BubisThe meeting started at 9 a.m. with the pledge of allegiance and roll call. Introductions of the public followed.
The Board approved the minutes from the April 17th meeting.
Commissioner items
While Commissioner Printz and Commissioner Canda took some time off for Easter, Chairman Flower stayed in town. Commissioners Printz and Flower reported meeting with Senator Scott Tipton when he was in town. All three reported attending multiple other meetings. Continue reading BOCC: CCEDC and Tower Money… →

2019, BOCC

April 3rd BOCC: Tower Madness

April 3rd BOCC: Tower Madness
CCEDC Would Get a Substantial
“Management” Fee for Towers Project

Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—April 3, 2019
WESTCLIFFE, Colo.
by Jackie (Muddy) Bubis

Afternoon Session 1 p.m.: BOCC and non county entity (non -profit corporation) the Custer County Economic Development Corp. (CCEDC) or (EDC)
The meeting began with Charles Bogle handing out an organizational chart showing the relationship that the EDC proposes with the BOCC as the tower project proceeds. It shows the EDC directly under the BOCC, the same level as Finance, IT, Road & Bridge, and Legal. The general contractor for the project would answer to the CCEDC in this scenario. For operating as what they called the project manager, the CCEDC would get $50K per year, with an expected two-year timeline. This money would be taken from the $2M grant money. Continue reading April 3rd BOCC: Tower Madness →

2018, BOCC, BOCC Meetings

BOCC: July 31: Printz Meltdown, Airport Improvements, Fire Ban Now Stage 1, New CC Proposed Logo Panned

July 31 BOCC: Printz Meltdown,
Airport Improvements, Fire Ban Now Stage 1,
New CC Proposed Logo Panned

Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)

—July 31, 2018
WESTCLIFFE, Colo.
by Jackie Bubis
The meeting started at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Introductions of the public followed. Before the meeting began, three items were taken off the agenda including the proposal for establishment of a county housing authority and advisory board – which was moved to the August 7th agenda.
Commissioner Items:
Commissioner Canda updated the Board on improvements at the airport – funded by the Watts family of Aught Six Ranch. They expect all the work to be done by the end of September.
Chairman Flower reported on the meetings he attended and mentioned that the A/C will be serviced in the Wetmore Community Center. Continue reading BOCC: July 31: Printz Meltdown, Airport Improvements, Fire Ban Now Stage 1, New CC Proposed Logo Panned →

2018, BOCC

BOCC April 30: Clinic Board Chair Defends Clinic Performance

BOCC: Clinic Board Chair
Defends Clinic Performance
Update: Accused of Illegal Electioneering
Tourism Board Members Issue?
Kerfuffle Ensues

Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)

—April 30, 2018
WESTCLIFFE, Colo.

by Jackie Bubis
The Board agreed to cancel the Executive session scheduled for 2 p.m. They approved the minutes of the April 18th meeting.
Commissioner Items
Commissioner Canda reported on attending the Justice Center committee meeting. At the E-911 meeting there was a discussion on the IGA for sharing costs on the towers used by emergency services. He stated that the Road & Bridge department may be able to do more than anticipated this year because of lack of snow plowing. Mr. Canda had a conversation with Armstrong Engineering regarding some of the upgrades at the airport that the new owners of the south part of Wolf Springs Ranch are wanting – and are willing to pay for. There will need to be a study – funded by these new owners – of the load capacity of the existing runway. He also confirmed that he is registered for the Mountain Connect conference in Vail later this year. Continue reading BOCC April 30: Clinic Board Chair Defends Clinic Performance →

2018

The CCEDC’s Broadband Towers Proposal The $2 Million “Road to Nowhere”

by George Gramlich,
Managing Editor
Analysis and Commentary
Introduction

Custer County should not commit to supporting this venture that the Custer County Economic Development Committee (CCEDC) is proposing. Government should be limited, especially when it comes to entering a private sector marketplace (Just look at what happened to healthcare.)
Just from a business perspective, the proposal lacks a detailed business plan, market analysis, income/revenue projections, firm cost and liability projections competitive analysis (satellites, etc.), technology evolution projections, and county infrastructure requirements to support the towers. The proposal is fatally incomplete and would be laughed out of any CEO’s office.
For Custer County to make a 20-year financial and
liability commitment to this incomplete, flawed and certainly doomed project would be fiscally irresponsible and a complete disservice to its tax paying citizens. Continue reading The CCEDC’s Broadband Towers Proposal The $2 Million “Road to Nowhere” →

2018

CCEDC’s Broadband Tower Proposal Instant Obsolescence?

by Dan Bubis

Colorado law requires that municipalities hold a referendum before providing cable, telecommunications, or broadband service, unless the community is unserved. Our community is not unserved, we have several providers and yet we have not seen a ballot issue addressing whether taxpayer funding should go to providing either broadband or telecommunications. For the County to engage in the provisioning of these services they stand a reasonably good chance of being sued.

One of the major problems with the CCEDC’s proposal is that they don’t really have a plan beyond building towers. They have no commitments from any providers of Internet or Cellular service. While “if you build it, they will come” may work in a movie, businesses need more concrete commitments to ensure success. AT&T has demonstrated an unwillingness to increase their current equipment and they already have a tower. If the existing Internet providers could make the use case for additional towers, they would erect those towers. Perhaps the CCEDC is planning on providing access to the towers at no charge. Then how will maintenance and support be funded. See the map of DD Wireless (now Secom) towers for an idea of existing coverage. Continue reading CCEDC’s Broadband Tower Proposal Instant Obsolescence? →

Uncategorized

Comments on the CCEDC Broadband Tower Proposal

by Dan Bubis

Colorado law requires that municipalities hold a referendum before providing cable, telecommunications, or broadband service, unless the community is unserved. Our community is not unserved, we have several providers and yet we have not seen a ballot issue addressing whether taxpayer funding should go to providing either broadband or telecommunications. For the County to engage in the provisioning of these services they stand a reasonably good chance of being sued.

One of the major problems with the CCEDC’s proposal is that they don’t really have a plan beyond building towers. They have no commitments from any providers of Internet or Cellular service. While “if you build it, they will come” may work in a movie, businesses need more concrete commitments to ensure success. AT&T has demonstrated an unwillingness to increase their current equipment and they already have a tower. If the existing Internet providers could make the use case for additional towers, they would erect those towers. Perhaps the CCEDC is planning on providing access to the towers at no charge. Then how will maintenance and support be funded. See the map of DD Wireless (now Secom) towers for an idea of existing coverage. Continue reading Comments on the CCEDC Broadband Tower Proposal →

2018, Letters

Federal Broadband Definitions: The Impact on CCEDC’s Proposal

Editor;
I would like to address the issue of government run Internet provisioning as the Custer County Economic Development Corporation advocates. Because the issue is complex and I don’t want to chase rabbits, I will limit my concerns in this letter.
First, we need to define broadband. In 2015, the FCC changed the requirement for Internet speeds to be considered broadband from 4 Megabits per second download speed and 1 Mbps upload to 25 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up. That meant millions who had fast enough Internet speeds suddenly did not have “broadband”. The decision was completely arbitrary and capricious and was not based on any science. Continue reading Federal Broadband Definitions: The Impact on CCEDC’s Proposal →