Download: Resolution 2021 – 06 (PDF)

RESOLUTION NO. 2021 – 06
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF THE COUNTY OF BACA STATE OF COLORADO A RESOLUTION OPPOSING 2022 BALLOT INITIATIVE 16

WHEREAS, on March 17, 2021, a citizens initiative entitled “Protect Animals from
Unnecessary Suffering and Exploitation (PAUSE) was approved by the Title Board of the Colorado Secretary of State for petition to the November 2022 General Election as Initiative 16: and

WHEREAS, the initiative will broadly redefine animal sexual abuse in a manner that
will criminalize many common and necessary veterinary and animal husbandry practices; and

WHEREAS, the initiative criminalizes the following veterinary and animal husbandry
practices: spaying and neutering, reproductive practices (artificial insemination, pregnancy
diagnosis, fertility testing) etc.; and

WHEREAS, the initiative will additionally require tremendous delays, in most cases years,
prior to the humane harvesting of livestock; and

WHEREAS, these delays (up to one–quarter of an animal’s statutorily defined natural
lifespan) will greatly increase the costs to livestock producers by forcing the continuation of
feeding this livestock past their prime harvest age at which will cause meat of lower quality to be sold to the consumer at much higher purchase prices; and

WHEREAS, these increases in livestock production costs will put Colorado producers at an
unfair disadvantage to surrounding states and countries that compete with Colorado producers for the same markets causing many to severely reduce or go out of business; and

WHEREAS, many Colorado farmers sell their crops to these producers but because of the
reduction or elimination of these livestock markets, many farmers will also struggle; and

WHEREAS, Initiative 16 is an industry killing effort that will have a disastrous
economic impact to farmers, ranchers, meat cutters, veterinarians, and other related industries;
and

WHEREAS, the governor’s spokeswoman Shelby Wieman said Governor Polis “agrees with
farmers and ranchers that the PAUSE ballot initiative would hurt Colorado and destroy jobs, and he opposes it”; and

WHEREAS, this Board detests the infliction of needless suffering of animals and recognizes
that our cattle and livestock producers take great effort to treat their animals humanely.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Commissioners of the County
of Baca, Colorado, as follows:
1. the Board opposes this Initiative 16 and urges the Governor of Colorado and
Commissioner of the Colorado Department of Agriculture to continue to do the
same; and
2. urges all citizens of Baca County to decline to sign any petition that supports placing
Initiative 16 (PAUSE) on the November 2022 ballot: and
3. that all people that care about the well-being of animals– be they livestock, pets,
service animals, or other – take action to defeat this measure if it does make the
November 2022 ballot.

Adopted this 13th day of May 2021.

The Baca County Board of Commissioners, Department of Human Services, and Baca Child  Protection Team Proclamation for Child Abuse Prevention Month

Download: Child Abuse Prevention Month PDF

WHEREAS, children are key to the county’s future success, prosperity, and quality of life and,
while children are our most vulnerable: and

WHEREAS, every child is entitled to be loved, cared for, nurtured, feel secure, and be free from
verbal, sexual, emotional, physical abuse and neglect; and

WHEREAS, child abuse and neglect can be prevented by supporting and strengthening Baca
County families, thus preventing the far-reaching effects of maltreatment, providing children  the opportunity to develop healthy, trusting family bonds, and consequently, building the
foundations of communities; and.

WHEREAS, we must come together as partners so that the voices of our children are heard by
all, and we are as a community, aware of child maltreatment prevention and working to extend a helping hand to children and families in need; and

WHEREAS, by providing a safe and nurturing environment for our children, free of violence,
abuse, and neglect, we can ensure that children will grow to their full potential as the next
generation of leaders, helping to secure the future of this county, state, and nation;

NOW, therefore, we, Baca County Board of Commissioners, Baca County Department of Human Services, and Baca County Child Protection Team, do hereby proclaim April 2021 as CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH

Done this 8th day of April 2021

BACA COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
(Signatures can be found in the full document)

On September 18 the County Administrator submitted the Protect our neighbors agreement, we are waiting on the state for our agreement status.