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Sedalia residents not yet ready to abandon hope for township
Sedalia residents exploring the possibility of becoming a functional town again no longer have to worry about being considered abandoned.
By Chris Michlewicz
Sedalia residents exploring the possibility of becoming a functional town again no longer have to worry about being considered abandoned.
Douglas County sent a letter to Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman in June asking him to determine whether 12 former towns in Douglas County, including Sedalia, have been abandoned by their municipal government.
The county requested the evaluation after 20 Franktown residents filed a petition in May to reorganize the town government.
County officials worried that Franktown residents would wield land use and taxing powers, which could compromise a comprehensive master plan that maps out development and other county guidelines for the next 20 years.
Abandonment would not wipe the town off the books, but would prevent a small group of people from forming a town based on antiquated state statutes.
Douglas County mailed a letter one week after the request was sent, asking the secretary of state's office to table its consideration of Sedalia for abandonment.
Several Sedalia residents opposed the action until further information was presented. Many wanted to explore the potential benefits of becoming an official town. In October, Coffman declared 10 towns abandoned, including Acequia, Louviers and Franktown, but a decision on Sedalia remained up in the air.
John Evans, an attorney representing the Franktown petitioners, filed a similar request for a stay on the decision over Franktown, but was denied because a pending appeal of a ruling by a Douglas County District Court judge could take years to process.
The judge said Franktown did not meet the legal criteria for reorganizing. Coffman cited a state statute that mandates the scheduling of a public hearing to consider the abandonment application.
Douglas County failed to notify the secretary about its intent to proceed with the Sedalia abandonment within 90 days. The secretary of state's office sent requests in September and November for a status update, but did not receive a response from county attorneys, Coffman's decision said.
"Because the secretary has not received any correspondence from Douglas County notifying the secretary as to the county's intent with regard to Sedalia, the secretary hereby finds that Douglas County has abandoned its application for determination," the ruling says.
But the county said it purposely did not go forward with abandonment proceedings for Sedalia.
"We wanted to give the citizen advisory committee the opportunity to do their job," said Wendy Holmes, community affairs director for Douglas County. "They actually wanted the chance to explore the future of their community, which may or may not include incorporation."
Eva Murphy, a Sedalia resident for 19 years and a member of the citizen advisory committee, said the town is still researching its options and no decision has been made. She was supportive of the county's decision not to pursue abandonment and said the board of county commissioners has been "instrumental" in helping establish a coordinated effort among residents.
"We are thrilled with how the county has handled this," said Murphy, who owns Sisters home-accent store. "They even helped us set up an ad-hoc committee."
Sedalia is at a crossroads. Future development, if any, would have to generate enough sales tax revenue to sustain a town government. No matter what happens, all decisions will rest with members of the community, Murphy said, adding Sedalia is still a "part of the old west.
"This is a unique town and we want to be able to preserve it," she said.
303-663-7170 |cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.com
Douglas County sent a letter to Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman in June asking him to determine whether 12 former towns in Douglas County, including Sedalia, have been abandoned by their municipal government.
The county requested the evaluation after 20 Franktown residents filed a petition in May to reorganize the town government.
County officials worried that Franktown residents would wield land use and taxing powers, which could compromise a comprehensive master plan that maps out development and other county guidelines for the next 20 years.
Abandonment would not wipe the town off the books, but would prevent a small group of people from forming a town based on antiquated state statutes.
Douglas County mailed a letter one week after the request was sent, asking the secretary of state's office to table its consideration of Sedalia for abandonment.
Several Sedalia residents opposed the action until further information was presented. Many wanted to explore the potential benefits of becoming an official town. In October, Coffman declared 10 towns abandoned, including Acequia, Louviers and Franktown, but a decision on Sedalia remained up in the air.
John Evans, an attorney representing the Franktown petitioners, filed a similar request for a stay on the decision over Franktown, but was denied because a pending appeal of a ruling by a Douglas County District Court judge could take years to process.
The judge said Franktown did not meet the legal criteria for reorganizing. Coffman cited a state statute that mandates the scheduling of a public hearing to consider the abandonment application.
Douglas County failed to notify the secretary about its intent to proceed with the Sedalia abandonment within 90 days. The secretary of state's office sent requests in September and November for a status update, but did not receive a response from county attorneys, Coffman's decision said.
"Because the secretary has not received any correspondence from Douglas County notifying the secretary as to the county's intent with regard to Sedalia, the secretary hereby finds that Douglas County has abandoned its application for determination," the ruling says.
But the county said it purposely did not go forward with abandonment proceedings for Sedalia.
"We wanted to give the citizen advisory committee the opportunity to do their job," said Wendy Holmes, community affairs director for Douglas County. "They actually wanted the chance to explore the future of their community, which may or may not include incorporation."
Eva Murphy, a Sedalia resident for 19 years and a member of the citizen advisory committee, said the town is still researching its options and no decision has been made. She was supportive of the county's decision not to pursue abandonment and said the board of county commissioners has been "instrumental" in helping establish a coordinated effort among residents.
"We are thrilled with how the county has handled this," said Murphy, who owns Sisters home-accent store. "They even helped us set up an ad-hoc committee."
Sedalia is at a crossroads. Future development, if any, would have to generate enough sales tax revenue to sustain a town government. No matter what happens, all decisions will rest with members of the community, Murphy said, adding Sedalia is still a "part of the old west.
"This is a unique town and we want to be able to preserve it," she said.
303-663-7170 |cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.com
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