Eagle Co. home rule back on ballot

EAGLE COUNTY ” It is official. Eagle County voters will soon be receiving ballots asking them to decide whether to expand the board of county commissioner from three to five members.

The county commissioners Friday morning gave their unanimous approval for a second election on the government reform proposal known as home rule, and approved the wording for the ballot question voters will begin receiving on April 2.

If the initiative passes it will create two new commission seats, allow citizens to petition the county to place issues on election ballots, and institute a new code of ethics for elected officials.

If the initiative fails, the county will not have another opportunity to bring it back to voters until the population of Eagle County reaches 70,000 or another charter commission is elected and a new charter is created.

The special election will run 30 days, and votes will be tallied on May 1.

Eligible voters include residents of El Jebel and part of Basalt who reside in a sliver of Eagle County that extends into the Roaring Fork Valley. Home rule would create a seat on the Board of County Commissioners to represent constituents in the valley.