by Eric Mullens
WALSENBURG — The Huerfano County Commissioners Tuesday morning unanimously approved the new county marijuana regulations and hemp processing regulations as presented in Section 18.00 and 19.00 of the county’s land use code book.
The motion to approve the new Section 18.00 (Resolution 18-27) also directed the moratorium on new conditional use permit applications also be lift effective Tuesday, March 13, 2018. The commissioners also granted a staff recommendation by Huerfano Planning Director Vicki Koepsel, that restricts to two, the number of new marijuana or hemp CUPs to be heard by the planning commission per session. The county planning commission meets twice a month, thus four new applications could be heard per month. Koepsel told the commissioners this week that her office has had about a half dozen inquiries regarding potential new marijuana CUPs. With the wholesale price of marijuana falling throughout Colorado, it isn’t known how many new growers may be interested in establishing operations within unincorporated areas of Huerfano County.
Any new CUP applications in this category will be heard on a first come, first served basis; and it was noted if any application is improper or incomplete, the application will move to the end of the line for a rehearing before the planning commission.
Section 19.00 of the county land use regulations covers “Hemp Regulations” within the new document.
The commissioners approved a pair of bulk water applications for the Gardner system, which remains under a moratorium, due to emergency circumstances facing the applicants. Both the approvals are for 90-days only and allow for bulk water purchases of up to 2,000 gallons of water per month. The applicants were Laura and Jerry Hansen of CR 520, and Amber Moseley of CR 634 whose residence is located north and west of Gardner.
In other business:
• The commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 18-26 which names March 18, 2018 as Wesley Van Matre Day in Huerfano County in recognition of his Class 2A State Championship in Wrestling in the 132 pound weight class for the 2017/18 school year. Van Matre has brought two state wrestling championships to John Mall High School, winning in the 106 pound division in the 2016/17 school year. The resolution reads in part, “the county commissioners understands the time, and dedication required to excel at high school sports, “and “understands the demand it takes to balance extracurricular and academic responsibilities in order to become a State Champion Wrestler.” The resolution notes Van Matre’s lasting impression on students at the high school, as well as the entire community of Huerfano County, calling him “the poster child of student leadership.” The commissioners made a presentation of the resolution to Van Matre at the high school Tuesday afternoon.
• The commissioners voted unanimously to deny a request by a private company to place candy vending machines in the Huerfano County Community Center in Walsenburg.
• The commissioners approved a pair of Right of Way requests; one for Marcus Prom to cross county road 230 with water and sewer lines for a permitted marijuana growing operation. The other allows the Menegatti family to install a gate and combination lock on CR 314 as the roadway goes beyond their driveway to a private cemetery. Those with family members buried at the cemetery will be given the combination of the lock and their access will continue.
• The commissioners approved a county donation request to San Isabel Electric Association for a electro thermal storage heater ( commission chairman Ray Garcia abstained from the vote as he sits on the SIEA board). The commissioners also approved an electric service application with SIEA for service to a building at Cuchara Mountain Park.
