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51st state question will be on Weld ballot this fall

Monte Whaley and Katharina Buchholz
The Denver Post
AKRON, CO-July 08, 2013: Almost everyone in the room, at Washington County fairgrounds, raised their hand when asked if they felt if their needs were being ignore by the Colorado State Legislature during a public meeting to talk about the idea of forming the 51st state, July 08, 2013. The proposal comes after many attending the meeting feel that the State Legislature continues to ignore the needs of rural Colorado. (Photo By RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)
DP | THE DENVER POST

GREELEY — Weld County Monday officially began divorce proceedings with the State of Colorado.

The county commissioners voted unanimously to ask county voters in November whether they wanted to form a 51st state along with several other northeastern Colorado counties.

Monday morning’s vote by the commissioners was the result of years of frustration over dealing with the Denver-metro area and its perceived indifference toward the concerns of rural Colorado, commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer said.



“I know with meeting with people they truly believe rural communities are now under attack,” Kirkmeyer said. “There are plenty who told us that we should vote Denver and Boulder off the island.”

But serious discussions about breaking away from Colorado began at the end of the state legislative session in which several bills passed at the expense of farmers, oil and gas producers and gun owners, the Kirkmeyer said.



To read the full story, go to http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_23893746/51st-state-question-will-be-weld-ballot-this


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