Posts tagged county news boulder
New Mountain Transit Study available for public feedback
Nov 19th
Boulder County, Colo. – Boulder County’s Transportation Department has just released a draft report of its Mountain Town Transit Feasibility Study. Residents, commuters, and recreational users of Boulder County’s mountain towns are invited to share their thoughts on potential mountain transit service and other recommendations outlined in the report.
The report, a culmination of work completed this summer by a resident stakeholder group and Boulder County, examines the demand for transit service to and from the mountain communities of Boulder County. It includes: the amount, type, and configuration of viable service, and the cost/benefit implications of such service.
The goal of the study group is to assess the viability of new and expanded transit service to Boulder County’s mountain communities with connections to Boulder, Longmont, Gilpin County (Blackhawk/Central City) and Larimer County (Estes Park). The study area includes the communities of Eldora, Ward, Jamestown, Allenspark, Lyons, Gold Hill, Nederland and the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.
To read the report or to submit comments online, visit: www.bouldercounty.org/transportation/MtnTransitStudy.htm.
For a printed copy of the report, contact Jared Hall at 303-441-4958 or jhall@bouldercounty.org.
Public comments are due by Sunday, Dec. 5.
County creates Fourmile Canyon Fire recovery center Sanfaçon assigned to head up team for fire-related recovery needs and requests
Nov 15th
The recovery center will focus on serving residents with questions and issues around rebuilding, debris removal, erosion control, revegetation, transportation (roads and potential flooding), wildfire mitigation, and others as they arise. It will be staffed by a single point of contact to help coordinate rebuilding efforts, but can also refer clients to other services as needed.
“In all of our meetings and discussions with county residents in the Fourmile Canyon Fire area, we heard a strong request for one point of contact to help coordinate post-fire rebuilding efforts,” said Commissioner Ben Pearlman, speaking on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners. “Our goal in establishing this new service is to be able to personally and effectively continue serving the needs of everyone who lost a home or personal property in the fire.”
The county commissioners have designated Land Use Department staff member and Fourmile Canyon Fire community liaison Garry Sanfaçon to lead the effort. Sanfaçon is putting together an outreach and assessment team who will be responsible for the overall coordination of post-fire rebuilding efforts and serve as the county’s principal point of contact for property owners and renters, contractors, fire districts, members of the public, county staff and other agencies.
Sanfaçon and his team are already working on a plan to contact every household that suffered a property loss to discuss their individual needs for rebuilding. “I’m eager to continue working with residents to better understand what’s needed, what’s working and what’s not working in the areas impacted by the fire,” said Sanfaçon, in his new position as the Fourmile Fire Recovery Manager. “My role is to listen, to get out and meet with people on their own terms, and to ensure the county’s recovery response is coordinated and effective.”
Sanfaçon can be reached at 720-564-2642 or gsanfaçon@bouldercounty.org. The recovery center is located in the Land Use Department, Courthouse Annex, 2045 13th Street (corner of Spruce Street) in Boulder.
Requests for individual and family support services, such as financial, housing, health, and mental health counseling, can still be made directly to the Fourmile Fire Assistance Center at 3482 N. Broadway (at Iris) in Boulder, or by calling 303-441-3560. Hours of operation for the assistance center are 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
SOURCE: BOULDER COUNTY NEWS RELEASE
County programs seeking sponsors for families in need this holiday season
Nov 15th
The Department of Housing and Human Services provides services to residents of low- income housing. Three programs in particular are in dire need of financial contributions to help people with basic needs such as groceries and household items.
Family Self Sufficiency helps participants gain education and skills to help them achieve higher-wage jobs and better living situations for their families. “The families in this program have very low incomes and are working hard to improve their conditions, but in the meantime they are worried about meeting just their basic needs and providing for their children, said Katie Frye, Case Manager at the Family Self Sufficiency program. “The holidays can be a financially difficult and stressful time for our participants.”
The highest-need participants submit a holiday “wish list” for their families. Sponsors purchase items on the list – but the program also gratefully accepts donations to help address basic needs, such as gift cards for grocery stores, Target, Wal-Mart, etc.
Casa de la Esperanza provides academic support, recreational activities and enrichment opportunities for families on site plus another dozen families in the local neighborhood. These families are agricultural workers, working in local dairies, farms and greenhouses. As the growing season comes to a close in the cold months, the joy of the holidays is overshadowed by the Casa de la Esperanza’s families’ struggles to endure winter on a very tight budget.
Carlota Loya-Hernandez, Program Coordinator for the Casa de la Esperanza families, says that donations of school supplies, winter clothing, grocery gift cards, and presents for children are desperately needed.
Resident/Senior Services assists low-income seniors, and is seeking donations to help area seniors with basic needs. Gift cards for local grocery stores and department stores go a long way in helping seniors make ends meet during the holidays.
“Some of these seniors have expensive medications and other high medical costs. Buying groceries and clothing has to take a back seat for some of them,” Resident/Senior Services Coordinator Kris Durso said.
“We encourage people to be creative in finding a way to participate in these wonderful programs – if you can’t sponsor a family’s full wish list, set aside $5-10 a week to buy a gift card. Or, as many sponsors have done, pool funds with co-workers or friends to jointly sponsor a family,” Frye said.
To sponsor a family or individual this holiday season, please contact the program of your choice at these numbers:
• Family Self Sufficiency, Jennifer Franklin, 303-682-6717
• Casa de la Esperanza, Carlota Loya-Hernandez, 303-678-6220
• Resident/Senior Services, Kris Durso, 303-519-7152
SOURCE: COUNTY NEWS RELEASE