Wetland and water body setbacks remain in county code

And ear-piercing fire alarm interrupted Tuesday's Garfield County commissioner hearing about the proposed revisions to the county's land use code. In the thick of an extended conversation about water protections, a scheduled fire drill forced participants to evacuate the building. But as KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh reports, that didn't stop commissioners and conservationists from compromising on water body and wetland protections. 

Related: Army Corps of Engineers biologist weighs in on Federal protection of wetlands and water bodies in GarCo, GarCo land use code revisions could mean big changes for county, GarCo revising county land use codes

Army Corps of Engineers biologist weighs in on Federal protection of wetlands and water bodies in GarCo

Garfield county Commissioners are in the process of revising the county land use code. Public hearings about Phase II of the revisions began in May. One section of the code pertains to county standards for wetlands and water body protections, which may be deleted if the current recommendations are approved, including the existing 35-foot construction setback. Commissioners say that state and Federal regulations are enough.

KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh spoke with Army Corps of Engineers biologist Leslie McWhirter about Federal regulations and found out that no setbacks are required.

Related: GarCo land use code revisions could mean big changes for county, GarCo revising county land use codes

CDale trustees to lease library building to Surls museum

Last night, Carbondale trustees voted in favor of a new art museum for main street... but not before acknowledging the community's need for the other proposal vying for the space. KDNK's Eric Skalac has more.

Carbondale looking to offset energy usage with new solar arrays

Carbondale trustees and staff are working on a plan to increase the town's solar energy, with the help of power purchasing program from Xcel Energy. They're looking at three locations around town to offset energy usage and have chosen Carbondale solar energy company SunSense to help them make it a reality.

KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke to Katharine Rushton of SunSense to find out about why the town is building more solar, and how they selected the potential locations.

GarCo revising county land use codes

Less than a dozen people other than county employees attended the second public hearing last Monday about proposed changes to the Garfield County Land Use Code. Commissioners want a shorter, more user-friendly version that streamlines county development procedures and eliminates unnecessary regulatory barriers to economic development. But, critics say some of the changes endanger public health and safety, and fail to protect the environment. KDNK's Amy Hadden Marsh has this report.

Public comments on library building split between Surls museum and family enrichment center

Carbondale trustees held a lengthy public hearing Tuesday night on the proposed uses of the soon to be vacant Gordon Cooper Library building on Main Street. KDNK's Eric Skalac has more.

District court judge voids CMC lease for SourceGas compressor

Colorado Mountain College announced Monday that a district court judge has ruled that a controversial lease between the college and natural gas company SourceGas is void and unenforceable. KDNK's Eric Skalac has more

County health officials confirm Whooping Cough cases in Carbondale

Last December, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment declared a pertussis, or whooping cough, epidemic in Colorado.

And this week, officials confirmed several cases of whooping cough, all in the Carbondale area.

KDNK's Eric Skalac spoke to Sara Brainard, Immunization Director for Garfield County Public Health to find out what symptoms to be on the lookout for, and what precautions Carbondale residents can take.

BLM temporarily suspends Thompson Divide leases pending environmental review

The Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday that several gas leases in the Thompson Divide will be suspended. KDNK's Eric Skalac has more.

Parachute Creek, groundwater contaminated by hydrocarbon spill (Updated 5/1)

Investigation continues into the source of a spill of liquid hydrocarbons near Parachute Creek, but Williams officials now believe the source to be a failed pressure guage on a pipeline owned by Williams Partners. 

Several monitoring wells around the creek have shown benzene levels greatly exceeding the EPA standards for drinking water. 

KDNK News has provided ongoing coverage of the spill, which you can listen to in our news archives.

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