Commissioner discusses bills before state legislature

Photo by Teresa L. Benns Saguache County code enforce-ment officer Sergao Valdez was formally introduced at the Saguache County commissioners meeting Tuesday.

SAGUACHE — On Tuesday during the regular Saguache commission meeting Commissioner Jason Anderson discussed new legislation introduced into the Colorado State Legislature and the impact of the legislation on the Valley.
He explained that changes in solar projects in Colorado would make it easier for the solar gardens in small communities to gain subscribers from larger communities that would help purchase electricity generated by the gardens. New legislation would expand the needed subscribers from five to 10 and widen the subscriber area.
Saguache County is also asking legislators for an amendment to the bill to enable taxes to be paid by the solar gardens and not the county, since costs for the development and maintenance of the project have decreased.
SB 19001 would increase pilot program funding for opioid education from $500,000 to $5 million and would include the Valley as a recipient of the funding. Currently only Routt And Pueblo Counties are receiving the funds.
SB 19050 would provide medical insurance and retirement plan coverage for assistant district attorney s serving Colorado counties. It would also increase the salaries assistant district attorneys receive.
HB 19091 would require agriculture officials to work with local government to create a database for conservation easements. “There are a lot of conservation easements in Saguache County,” Anderson commented.
SB 19037 would allow commissioners to permit individuals to enter state lands and remove fuel materials that could cause wildfires. The legislation would “give us more room to combat immense wildfires. We can contract our own people and it would open us up for more funding,” Anderson noted.
Anderson observed that legislators seem to have little stomach for pushing the bills, with most legislation being assigned to study committees.

Other highlights from Tuesday’s BoCC meeting included:
• The introduction of new code enforcement officer Sergao Valdez. Valdez will work with Land Use administrator Wendi Maez to monitor primarily marijuana establishments and grows in the county.
• The hiring of a new auditor, Hillman and Company. The county has been audited by Wall, Smith and Bateman for the past several years.
• Public Health’s vetting of a new ambulance company planning to offer services in the county.
• The announcement by Social Services Director Linda Warsh that the only program affected by the government shutdown in Saguache County was the TANF program. Measures were taken to ensure that those receiving food stamps were able to get them ahead of time to avoid any interruptions, she told commissioners.
• Approval of a preliminary agreement to hire a part-time nurse for the Saguache County Jail.