75 CENTS
May 11, 2017
TEA TIME: Packed with probiotics, kombucha is gaining popularity locally as a healthy alternative to soda P10
ELBERT COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
County manager’s contract renewed through end of next year BY JODI HORNER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
munities establish long-term plans based on needs and resources. “I want you all to be comfortable that we are here to listen to you,” he said to 124 attendees seated in the Agricultural Building at the county fairgrounds. “We don’t bring any preconceived notions here tonight.” The star of the evening was the clicker, a hand-held device given to everyone at the meeting that allowed them to place a vote in
The Elbert County commissioners unanimously approved a motion to extend Ed Ehmann’s contract as county manager on April 26. Ehmann was hired for the position in 2014 after serving for more than seven years as the county’s public works director. Each of the three commissioners had positive statements to make about Ehmann before voting in favor of extending the contract, which pays him $109,000 a year. “The people of the county owe a debt to Ed Ehmann that they likely don’t realize,” Commissioner Chris Richardson said. “When Ed was brought in as county manager, he established rational and professional budgeting practices for the whole county. We actually began making statutory deadlines for major activities like production of annual audits and a general fund reserve so inter-fund borrowing could stop.” “I worked with him for the last eight months,” Commissioner Danny Willcox said. “He was the stabilizing factor in this county, and he is responsible for creating the team environment we have now. He was able to function in such a toxic environment and keep moving the county forward in time with no direction.” Commissioner Grant Thayer shared his evolving view of Ehmann prior to the motion. “When I was running for commissioner I was told by a number of people that Ed was not good. Over the 100 days
SEE PLAN, P9
SEE CONTRACT, P6
Attendees of the April 26 Elbert County Comprehensive Planning Session gather around a table to determine how they would like to see future homes distributed within the county. JODI HORNER
Citizens gather for input on comp plan Officials hope document will be done by end of year BY JODI HORNER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA
The mission to create a unified vision for future development in Elbert County cleared an important hurdle April 26, as residents from
across the county gathered for the first Elbert County Comprehensive Planning public meeting. The Elbert County Planning Commission and Citizen Task Force held the first of three meetings to help inform citizens and receive vital input to assist them in the process of creating the final comprehensive plan to be completed later this year. The meeting was facilitated by Kristofer Johnson of Design Workshop, a Denver-based consulting group whose goal is to help com-
THE BOTTOM LINE PERIODICAL
‘I have the perfect blend of public and private sector experience. That sets me apart from all my opponents.’ Victor Mitchell, candidate for governor | Page 2 INSIDE
VOICES: PAGE 8 | LIFE: PAGE 10 | CALENDAR: PAGE 7 | SPORTS: PAGE 15
ElbertCountyNews.net
VOLUME 122 | ISSUE 15