On March 18, El Paso County Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. co-hosted a town hall meeting at the Ellicott Community Center with Paul Lundeen, Colorado state representative for House District 19. EPC Sheriff Bill Elder, District Attorney Dan May, EPC Clerk and Recorder Chuck Broerman and Jim Reid, EPC executive director of public works, also participated in the town hall.Each participant addressed the more than 100 citizens in attendance and informed them about their respective departments. Then, they opened the floor to listen to citizensí concerns and provide feedback and answer questions.A major concern pertained to the conditions of the roads in Ellicott and the surrounding rural areas. Reid said the problems are the result of a lack of funds budgeted for county road maintenance. Additionally, the maintenance vehicles are getting older and worn, but the budget has only allowed for fleet replacement in the last two years, he said.Marijuana growing operations and the effects on crime rates were also brought up at the meeting. Elder said a bill has been introduced through the House of Representatives, House Bill 1220, that would limit the amount of marijuana plants a person can grow on a residential property to 16, unless the local jurisdiction allows for more plants.ìEl Paso County has already limited the number of marijuana plants a person can have to 12, so they were already trying to limit marijuana growing the best they could back when it was legalized,î Longinos said.In the future, Longinos said he will hold monthly town hall meetings in various locations throughout his district, which encompasses about half of the entire county.Lundeen said he feels the town hall meetings are a great way to make sure everyoneís voice is heard. ìThis is a demonstration of why local (control) is better,î he said.
