Living in the mountains has it’s perks as well as challenges. In Park County, one of those challenges is finding affordable housing.

Average prices for houses have skyrocketed to between $450,000-$500,000, and on the other end of the spectrum are older trailer parks; nothing affordable for working families in-between.

Park County’s housing dilemma, which is somewhat common in many locations statewide, is attributed to a myriad of factors such as supply and demand and an abundance of short-term rentals.

One of three commercial lots in Bear Mountain Ridge Planned Unit Development was rezoned to residential Nov. 2.  Commissioner Ray Douglas was absent from the meeting.

The PUD is just north of the Elk Creek Fire Protection District station in Pine Junction and south of Woodside Park subdivision.

Park County commissioners waived a $1,700 rezoning fee for 40 acres located north of Hartsel in Section 25, Township 10 South, and Range 75 West Oct 26. The actual application to rezone from Conservation Recreation to Agriculture will be heard at a later date.

According to unofficial results released by the Park County Clerk and Recorders Office at 11:31 p.m. Tuesday, local voters flatly rejected two ballot issues that would have provided taxpayor assistance to the Park County Sheriff’s Office (Ballot Issue 1A) and Platte Canyon School District RE-1 (Ballot Issue 4A).

Voters did, however, narrowly approve Ballot Issue 4B to benefit Park County School District RE-2.

Even though all results are still unofficial, it appears that a variety of school board positions changed hands Tuesday in both Platte Canyon School District RE-1 and Park County School District RE-2.

In an effort to prove the Dominion Voting Systems, Inc. software accurately tallies votes, Park County commissioners voted to use Clear Ballot Group Inc. personnel and software “to conduct an independent post-election verification of election results.”

County Clerk and Recorder Debra Green said that recently, several Colorado county clerks decided to verify ballot counts using Clear Ballot in order to make sure the Dominion ballot tabulation was accurate.

The recent resignations of two sheriff’s deputies have exacerbated an already challenging situation for Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw and his  staff, and finding adequate patrol coverage on a day-to-day basis continues to be a major concern.

That’s why McGraw has been making the rounds campaigning for Ballot Initiative 1A which could bring relief in the form of a one percent sales tax that could generate as much as $3.2 million for the Park County Sheriff’s Office if passed by voters Nov. 3.

Park County Sheriff Tom McGraw was invited to a regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Trustees for the Town of Fairplay Monday evening to discuss Ballot Initiative 1A, a proposed measure that could provide as much as $3.2 million for the PCSO if approved by voters.

The Platte Canyon School District has put a bond issue on the November ballot. Recently, Superintendent Mike Schmidt addressed reader’s questions about this bond issue.

What is the difference between a mill levy override and a bond issue?

Schmidt:  A bond issue is only for capital projects and a very narrow list of other purposes. The district issues debt and that debt is purchased as bonds that are bought by investors.  Investors like to buy bonds from school districts. These bonds become a risk-free investment because investors know the school district isn’t going out of business.

A group of local citizens are currently collecting signatures in an attempt to recall Park County Commissioners Richard Elsner and Ray Douglas.

Platte Canyon School District RE-1 hosted the first of two community meetings to seek community input on two facility options proposed for the bond issue on the November ballot. Voters are asked to approve the district bond issue. Community input will drive which facilities option will then …

The Park County RE-2 School Board recently approved final language for  Ballot Initiative 4B and unanimously passed a resolution to support the measure.

The board described the initiative as ‘long-awaited,” and added that, if passed, would “resolve the district’s current financial struggles.”

PCSD RE-2 represents the schools in the town of Fairplay, Lake Geroge and Guffey.

It is no secret that Park County residents enjoy some of the lowest tax rates in the state, and that Park County voters have flatly rejected a myriad of ballot initiatives proposing tax increases in recent election cycles.

Park County commissioners approved a vehicle lease program with Centennial-based Enterprise Fleet Management Sept. 7.

Given the option, we would probably all settle for living life to the fullest while we are here, and being fondly remembered when we are gone.

Longtime Fairplay resident Gabby Lane did just that with a style all his own, and many throughout Park County and beyond are mourning his recent death and remembering the good times and laughter that seemed to follow him where ever he went.

The Platte Canyon School Board held a special meeting Aug. 31 to determine if the district would authorize a ballot issue for a mill levy override.

Voters will decide Nov. 2 whether to increase Park County’s sales tax by one percent to help fund the Park County Sheriff’s Office. The county commissioners approved a resolution placing it on the ballot Aug. 17.

Commissioner Dick Elsner said they had a robust discussion with the sheriff earlier but didn’t say what the discussion entailed.

The question states the money generated from the additional one percent sales tax is “to be used for the Park County Sheriff’s Office for enforcement services in Park County.”