Updated
The Delta City Council met on Tuesday, August 6, with all members in attendance. Since Mayor Kevin Carlson arrived late, Mayor Pro Tem William Tedrow chaired the public portion of the meeting. City Manager Elyse Ackerman Casselberry and other staff joined Council members.
Attorney Aaron Clay described the progress of the Delta City Charter Commission, a group of nine elected in April to modify and revise the old charter, written in 1950. Clay said the commission had met eight times in the past four months. He ticked through some of the changes that Delta has undergone in the past 74 years: “We no longer have a city jail, what used to be called a sewer is now wastewater, the $100 per month council members were paid in 1950 would be more like $1000 now…” Clay also joked that the panel considered suggesting that the name “Delta” be changed to “Uncompahgre — a cool name that sets us apart from all the other Deltas in the world.”
Clay said the commission has slashed the 59-page document to 39 pages — largely because state law now supersedes much of what used to be governed by the city. The charter still asserts Delta as a “home rule” municipality, although the parameters of local control are delineated by the State. He noted that the council districts should be revised because of population fluctuations and recommended that the city adjust the districts every ten years, as does the school district. These and other changes will be presented at a public hearing on Wednesday, August 14, at 6 pm. At that point, the charter can still be amended. It will come before the council for acceptance in September.
Clay also updated the council on the Western Colorado Community Foundation, created in Grand Junction in 1996, now with assets of about $170 million and the ability to give out more than $6 million this year. The WCCF operates in a seven-county region, including Delta, Eagle, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and Rio Blanco Counties, overseeing more than 330 charitable funds. Through the Mesa County Hunger Alliance, the WCCF supports the Abraham Connection at 5th and Silver in Delta, which provides emergency food and shelter to locals in need. Clay reported that he and others have created the Delta fund with $40,000 to start. The WCCF will donate money to the Delta fund in its first year since it has yet to accumulate enough funding to provide income.
Community Development Manager Joe Gillman reported on modifications to an agreement with Java Hut regarding a new facility at the junction of Grand and 14th Streets and Highway 50 in South Delta. He also updated the council on the anticipated implementation of a Department of Local Affairs grant to streamline the process of creating new housing options in the City of Delta.
Delta Police Chief Luke Fedler asked the council to adopt stage 1 fire restrictions for the City of Delta, following the county, which enacted the restrictions on July 30 due to dry, dangerous conditions and the proliferation of fires in the area. The council readily agreed and added that they would follow the county’s lead in applying and lifting these restrictions, which include prohibition of:
• open fires
• agricultural burning
• use of fireworks or explosives
• smoking outdoors in an area that is not cleared of combustible materials
• target shooting with tracer rounds or explosive targets
• operating an internal combustion engine such as a chainsaw or ATV without a spark arresting device properly installed; and
• welding or operating acetylene or other torches with an open flame outside in an area near brush or flammable material without a pressurized fire extinguisher.
Council comments included kudos to the Delta Police for the large drug seizure that took place in Delta during a traffic stop on August 1, appreciation for Pickin’ at the Fort, which takes place every Saturday through August, and praise for the flowers in full bloom on Main Street.
The council went into an executive session to discuss pending litigation in Hammon vs. City of Delta and the lease of city-owned water rights for the Lower White Ranch.
