DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) – Douglas County commissioners wrapped up a public town hall meeting Wednesday night to further address the community about “home rule.”
It will make the county more independent, giving leaders more local control.
It was nearly a full house at the town hall meeting. The meeting was one of 17 held on home rule in Douglas County. At the end of the meeting, some people in the crowd started shouting, asking county commissioners to extend the meeting to take more questions. That request was denied.
Opinions varied on the topic. Some people like Amity Wicks were for home rule. So much in fact, she had a hat supporting the type of government.
“Right now, so many of the dictates are coming from the state and legislators who have never been to our county and don’t understand the special nature of our county and its residents,” said Wicks.
Others were against it.
“You said tonight this is the safest, healthiest county and now you want to change that and go to home rule. I don’t understand, it’s the old ‘if its not broke don’t fix it’,” said someone in opposition.
County leaders took to the podium informing the community of the pros and cons of walking away from the state telling them what to do.
Jefferey Garcia, Douglas County Attorney said, “You get to opt out of some state legislation. You get to retain all the authority that exists today. So, if we became home rule tomorrow we wouldn’t lose any of the authority we have today.”
Home rule would basically mean Douglas County will gain a little more idnependent, allowing more local decisions.
The county would be exempt from some state laws and would get to create some of its own. This could include immigration enforcement and even cooperation with ICE.
Home rule would not be foreign to Douglas County, Weld and Picken counties have had it for years.
“I’m not sure if home rule is a good plan for Douglas County or not. What I am sure of is that impressing a timeline for something as such a difficult and complex project is not in the interest of Douglas County,” said a concerned resident in the crowd.
The first vote for home rule in Douglas County is set for June 24 and a final vote on home rule charter is set for November 4. If it’s all approved the new home rule would start on January 1.