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Commissioners sign off on party rules

Brandon Johnson

New rules for renting Moffat County facilities mean residents have to apply 45 days in advance for high-risk events.

High-risk events include any event that charges admission or serves alcohol.

Moffat County commissioners approved new facility-use policies at Tuesday’s meeting.



According to county facilities coordinator Stephanie Pearce, the 45-day requirement will allow the Sheriff’s Office ample time to determine what level of security is required.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean there will be security needed,” she said.



Security is usually provided by off-duty police officers. Having applications 45 days in advance will give the Sheriff’s Office and Craig Police Department time to find off-duty officers to work security.

If an officer isn’t found, the county will use a private security contractor.

Pearce said that if people don’t make their requests 45 days in advance, there is a good chance they won’t be allowed to use the county facilities.

Commissioners made the new rules because they were concerned that parties were getting out of control.

The rules affect county facilities such as the fairgrounds pavilion to Loudy-Simpson Park.

The new rules also mean the $500 security deposit must be cash, not a check.

“A lot of people are doing that already,” Pearce said.

Fairgrounds Director Bill Sixkiller said Tuesday that he supports the new rules.

“I think what we have got here is pretty reasonable,” he said.

Sixkiller said that in his 24 years at the fairgrounds, the county has changed facility-use rules numerous times, trying to find a system that works.

Commissioners said they wanted to make sure the 45-day requirement did not apply to small functions.

“It is understood that some events like a birthday party for a child or a Boy Scout (function) doesn’t need the 45 days,” Commissioner Tom Gray said.

Although the new rules are more strict than the old ones, commissioners said the rules don’t make it difficult for county residents to use county facilities.

“I don’t see anything in there that is too onerous to the public,” Gray said.

Commissioner Darryl Steele said he didn’t think the new rules created too much bureaucracy.

The new rules passed, 2-0. Commissioner Saed Tayyara was not at Tuesday’s meeting because he was representing the county at the Colorado River District meeting in Glenwood Springs.

The commissioners also discussed coming up with a new way to determine which non-profits have to pay the use fee for facilities.

Brandon Johansson can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 213, or bjohansson@craigdailypress.com.


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