Pubdate: Thu, 05 Dec 2002
Source: Steamboat Pilot & Today, The (CO)
Copyright: 2002 The Steamboat Pilot & Today
Contact:  http://www.stmbt-pilot.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1549
Author: Autumn Phillips

TOWN TO RECONSIDER DECISION

Oak Creek Revisits GRAMNET Funding Matter

OAK CREEK - The Oak Creek Town Board will reconsider its decision not to 
fund the Grand, Routt and Moffat Narcotics Enforcement Team.

The board will take up the matter at a meeting today at Town Hall.

Oak Creek has traditionally given $2,000 per year to GRAMNET, but the Town 
Board voted 3-3 last week on a motion to make the same contribution for 
2003. A tie vote is the equivalent of a "no" vote. Trustee Clyde Moore left 
the meeting early and did not vote on the motion.

The drug enforcement team collects contributions from city, town and county 
governments in all three counties it covers. The agency also counts on 
grant funding.

Oak Creek is the first entity in the history of GRAMNET to refuse funding 
to the organization, said Steamboat Springs Public Safety Director J.D. Hays.

The morning after the GRAMNET vote, Sheriff John Warner canceled his 
contract with the town of Oak Creek for police coverage. Warner said the 
GRAMNET vote contributed to his decision.

"If revisiting our decision will lift some of the pressure on the county, I 
am willing to do it," said Oak Creek Mayor Cargo Rodeman, who voted in 
favor of the contribution.

Hays said he is not aware that anyone has pressured Oak Creek to change its 
mind.

During preliminary budget discussions, several Town Board members . 
including Rodeman . raised concerns about GRAMNET and the way the agency 
had handled Oak Creek cases in the past.

GRAMNET Program Director Dwight Murphy came to a Town Board meeting and 
listened to the complaints from board members and the public.

He also met privately with Rodeman, presented her the documents she asked 
for and returned several non-drug-related items that had been seized from 
local residents by the GRAMNET team.

Rodeman said she was satisfied with Murphy's response to the town's 
concerns and supports funding GRAMNET.

GRAMNET is not counting on the Oak Creek funds. On Tuesday, Hays sought and 
received approval from the Steamboat Springs City Council to contribute 
$500 more to GRAMNET if Oak Creek doesn't change its stance.

GRAMNET's deadline for a final decision is Friday.

Also on tonight's agenda:

The board will consider approving the hiring of a new police officer.

The board will discuss the 2003 budget.

The board will listen to a presentation by the Municipal Energy Agency of 
Nebraska concerning participation in a new coal-fired power plant in 
Council Bluffs.
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MAP posted-by: Beth