Boulder County Fire Ban: see details
Sep 2nd
Sheriff Pelle orders outdoor fire ban
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Contact: Jay Stalnacker, Fire Management Officer (303) 441-3642
Sheriff Joe Pelle has enacted a fire ban, which restricts open burning and prohibits the discharge of any and all fireworks and model rockets in the unincorporated mountain areas of Boulder County.
This includes all unincorporated areas west of U.S. 36 (North Foothills Highway), and west of Highway 93 (South Foothills Highway) as well as Rabbit Mountain Open Space (see map).
During the fire ban, open burning is permitted only under the following circumstances:
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Fire contained within liquid or gas fuel stoves
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Camp fires in U.S. Forest Service improved/maintained campgrounds that are currently open to the public*(see separate news release from the U.S. Forest Service)
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Charcoal grill fires on private property
Charcoal grills at county open space shelters on mountain properties are also closed during this ban. This includes, but is not limited to, Rabbit Mountain, Heil Valley Ranch, Hall Ranch, Betasso Preserve, and Walker Ranch.
The ban will remain in effect until the hazardous fire conditions subside. Anyone found in violation of the ban may be convicted of a Class 2 petty offense and may be subject to a $500 fine. Higher fines may be imposed for subsequent offenses.
Fire ban rationale
The Boulder County foothills have continued to dry out after months of moderate moisture. Currently, Boulder County has a high fire danger rating, as determined by the National Weather Service National Fire Danger rating System. This is due to a combination of dry fuels, hot and dry weather and an increase in regional wildland fire activity.
It is anticipated that with the continued late summer and early fall drying season and the expected beginning of the Chinook winds, Boulder County will continue to have a high fire danger rating.
State statutes authorize counties to impose fire restrictions when the threat of wildfire has been determined by credible and quantifiable data, to be “high.” The Sheriff’s Office relies upon data from the U.S. Forest Service, the National Weather Service, and local experience with fire conditions to make this determination.
*Note: as of Sep. 2, fire restrictions are also in place on portions of National Forest System lands in Boulder and Larimer Counties in support of the fire ban by Boulder County. (Read the news release from the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland)
Detective Commander Rick Brough
Boulder County Sheriff’s Office
303-441-3631
Chalk4Peace event at Boulder Public Library on Sunday, Sept. 11
Sep 1st
Boulder Public Library hosts Chalk4Peace, a global art project using sidewalk chalk, on Sunday, Sept. 11, from 1 to 5 p.m. In recognition of the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, the theme is “Stories of Peace and Compassion.”
Chalk4Peace takes place on the concrete plazas outside both the north and south entrances of the Main Boulder Public Library. Chalk and pastels are provided for all who wish to express themselves, along with artists who will be working all afternoon
At 3 p.m., Linda Jacobson will perform a program of stories about compassion, and at 4 p.m., storyteller/musician Julie Davis will perform stories and songs. Both performances are in the Canyon Theater. Everyone is welcome, and the event is free.
The Main Boulder Public Library is located at 1001 Arapahoe Ave. Library information: 303-441-3100 or www.boulderlibrary.org.
Boulder County Commissioners refer four issues to the November ballot
Sep 1st
Issues would modify term limits for the Sheriff, create a Mountains Forest Improvement District and create a special assessment for two local improvement districts
Boulder County, Colo. – The Boulder County Commissioners have referred one countywide ballot issue and three local improvement district issues to the November 1, 2011, Odd-Year Coordinated Election ballot. They include:
The modification of term limits for the Office of the Boulder County Sheriff (countywide);
The creation of the Boulder County Mountains Forest Improvement District;
A Special Assessment Bond Issue in the Pine Brook Hills Local Improvement District;
A Special Assessment Bond Issue in the Crestview Estates Local Improvement District.
The ballot titles for the four issues were certified today by the Board of County Commissioners and sent to the County Clerk for inclusion on the ballot. The certifying resolution reads:
WHEREAS, based upon the proposals for each of these ballot questions/issues, this Board considered and adopted appropriate ballot titles for each proposal in Resolutions Nos. 2011-97, 2011-94, 2011-95, and 2011-96; and
WHEREAS, this Board is required to certify these ballot questions/issues and titles to the County Clerk and Recorder for publication of the ballot titles on the ballots for the voters for the November 1, 2011, odd-year coordinated election, on or before September 2, 2011, and to meet all other requirements of state election law; and
WHEREAS, subject to any amendments or modifications or additions that the Board desires to make and of which the County Clerk is notified prior to such deadline, the Board desires to proceed to certify these ballot questions/issues according to their respective approved ballot titles to the County Clerk for placement on the ballot for the November 1, 2011, odd-year coordinated election.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the aforementioned ballot questions/issues, each of which is a referred measure, as represented by these ballot titles complete with submission clauses, shall be placed upon the November 1, 2011, odd-year coordinated election ballot, and all other constitutionally and statutorily required matters shall be performed in order to effectuate the election on each of these questions/issues.
COUNTY QUESTION 1A: [MODIFICATION OF TERM LIMITS FOR THE OFFICE OF THE BOULDER COUNTY SHERIFF]
SHALL THE TERM LIMITS IMPOSED BY STATE LAW AND IN ARTICLE XVIII, SECTION 11, OF THE COLORADO CONSTITUTION ON THE OFFICE OF SHERIFF OF BOULDER COUNTY, BE MODIFIED SO AS TO PERMIT AN ELECTED OFFICEHOLDER IN THAT OFFICE TO SEEK AND, IF THE VOTERS OF BOULDER COUNTY CHOOSE TO RE-ELECT THAT PERSON TO A FOURTH TERM IN OFFICE, TO SERVE A FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TERM?
YES ___ NO ___
PINE BROOK HILLS BOULDER COUNTY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ISSUE 5A: [SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BOND ISSUE IN THE PINE BROOK HILLS LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT]
SHALL BOULDER COUNTY DEBT (FOR PINE BROOK HILLS BOULDER COUNTY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) BE INCREASED $ 2,654,593 , WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF $ 4,644,700 , FOR THE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATING EXISTING PAVED ROADS, INCLUDING COSTS INCIDENTAL THERETO, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESERVES THEREFOR, BY THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BONDS PAYABLE FROM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IMPOSED AGAINST BENEFITED PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS, WHICH BONDS SHALL BE ISSUED, DATED AND SOLD AT SUCH TIME OR TIMES AND IN SUCH MANNER AND CONTAIN SUCH TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY DETERMINE; AND SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND ANY EARNINGS THEREON AND FROM THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH BONDS CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE?
YES ___ NO ___
CRESTVIEW ESTATES BOULDER COUNTY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ISSUE 5B: [SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BOND ISSUE IN THE CRESTVIEW ESTATES LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT]
SHALL BOULDER COUNTY DEBT (FOR CRESTVIEW ESTATES BOULDER COUNTY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT) BE INCREASED $ 871,560.80, WITH A REPAYMENT COST OF $ 1,357,600, FOR THE PURPOSE OF REHABILITATING EXISTING PAVED ROADS, INCLUDING COSTS INCIDENTAL THERETO, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RESERVES THEREFOR, BY THE ISSUANCE OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT BONDS PAYABLE FROM SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS IMPOSED AGAINST BENEFITED PROPERTIES LOCATED WITHIN THE DISTRICT AND OTHER LEGALLY AVAILABLE FUNDS, WHICH BONDS SHALL BE ISSUED, DATED AND SOLD AT SUCH TIME OR TIMES AND IN SUCH MANNER AND CONTAIN SUCH TERMS, NOT INCONSISTENT HEREWITH, AS THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MAY DETERMINE; AND SHALL THE REVENUES FROM SUCH SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS AND ANY EARNINGS THEREON AND FROM THE INVESTMENT OF THE PROCEEDS OF SUCH BONDS CONSTITUTE A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE?
YES ___ NO ___
BOULDER COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT QUESTION 5C: [CREATION OF THE BOULDER COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT]
SHALL THE BOULDER COUNTY MOUNTAINS FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BE CREATED FOR THE PURPOSES OF IMPROVING FOREST HEALTH AND REDUCTION OF WILDFIRE HAZARDS, AS WELL AS OTHER PURPOSES AUTHORIZED BY LAW, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE COLORADO FOREST IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT ACT, AS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS’ RESOLUTION NO. 2011-94?
YES ___ NO ___
Copies of the ballot language resolutions are available online at www.bouldercounty.org.
