Commissioners set October 6 public hearing for countywide fire ban ordinance

The board approved first reading of an emergency fire‑ban ordinance that would ban open fires in the unincorporated areas of Rio Blanco County and declared it an emergency ordinance under CRS 30‑15‑41. The board discussed publication timelines and agreed the earliest practical public hearing/second reading will be the Oct. 6 meeting to allow required publication and notice.

Commissioner Scritchfield read the full ordinance title into the record for first reading: “An emergency ordinance of the board of county commissioners of Rio Blanco County banning open fires in the unincorporated areas of Rio Blanco County pursuant to CRS 30‑15‑41, finding and declaring an emergency requiring this ordinance take effect immediately upon adoption and imposing penalties for violation of this ordinance.” No public comments were offered during the first reading. The board voted to set Oct. 6 as the date for the second reading and public hearing to satisfy publication timing discussed in the meeting.