Why are County Commissioners full time paid positions and not regular citizens like the city councils?

The short answer: Because we, the people of Colorado, said so.

County commissions are unusual beasts – elected by voters, commissioners serve both executive and legislative roles. 

In Larimer County, even though the county has a full-time county manager, the three commissioners help directly run the government and also attend public meetings on behalf of constituents. They also make county regulations themselves.  In Weld County, there are five commissioners, who directly run the government with the assistance of a finance and administration director. And in Boulder County, the three commissioners run the county themselves, with assistance from appointed staff. 

Supporters of this system say the amount of day-to-day work that arises in managing a geographically large area like a county is best handled in partnership between the commissioners and their professional staff. In some smaller counties, like Mineral, the county commissioners consider themselves part-time, and as such only take a part-time salary. 

But the long and short of why comes down to this: Because that’s what the Colorado Constitution says they are.

The city Police Chief is appointed based on skills, but the Larimer County Sheriff is elected based on political activity. Why isn't the sheriff an appointed position?

Thinking about taking a run at Justin Smith's job, are you? There are definitely perks, like driving around a giant S.W.A.T. truck. But winning a public election is no easy feat.  

In all seriousness, both jobs are tough and carry a lot of responsibility. The reason for allowing voters to pick the top-ranking law enforcement official in their county, supporters of the elected-sheriff system say, is that it's an important check on law enforcement. By picking candidates they ideologically support, voters have a say in how much emphasis will be placed on topics such as traffic offenses or drugs. Our current sheriff, Justin Smith, says being directly elected helps keep him accountable to the public he serves, rather than acting as a bureaucrat.

There are two counties in Colorado where the sheriff is appointed, not elected: Broomfield and Denver. In Denver, the sheriff is also the city’s public safety manager. In Broomfield, it’s the police chief who holds that title.

What does the health district do? And why does it need an elected board?

People ask the same thing about me all the time. Which is a little redundant once I answer them. "What do I do? I answer questions." You can see the awkwardness in that, right?

Thankfully, no awkwardness in this answer. The health district of Northern Larimer County provides dental, mental health, prescription assistance and health promotions services in Northern Larimer County. It also owns Poudre Valley Hospital, which it leases to University of Colorado Health.

It is a special tax district, like the school district, Poudre Fire Authority and water district, created by voters in 1960. As such, it is governed by a publicly elected board.

Is there a fort somewhere in Fort Collins? If not, how did the city get its name?

The Choice City. The Napa of Beer. Fort Fun. FoCo. There's no shortage of nicknames for Fort Collins.

But why do we call it Fort Collins in the first place?

Fort Collins began as Camp Collins in 1862, named for the popular commander at Fort Laramie, Lt. Col. William O. Collins. Camp Collins served as a base for patrolling and protecting stage and emigrant trails.

On Aug. 20, 1864, Col. Collins issued Special Order Number One, calling for a "permanent post on the Cache la Poudre River." This moved the installation from a camp to a fort, which was ready for occupancy in October of 1864. Two and a half years later, the fort was ordered abandoned. The name stuck as civilians who had been allowed to settle on the military ground stayed and formed the nucleus of the fledgling town's population.

Will they ticket you if parked in the post office parking lot on Sat. night or Sun. afternoon while attending a Lincoln Center performance?

It's 6:57 p.m. You've got front row seats for The Nutcracker at the Lincoln Center. The closest spot you find is at the Post Office at 301 Howes St. You pull in, grab your tickets and head for the door. You make it just in time, but as ballerinas pirouette across the stage you can't help but wonder if you'll have a ticket on your car.

The good news: You won't have a ticket.

The bad news: You might not have a car either.

The Post Office parking lot is federal property, for Fort Collins police won't issue a ticket. However, it's possible the folks at the Post Office could have it towed. Not saying they will, or have in the past, but it's possible.

My advice find another spot and enjoy the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy without a care. If you need some hints on good parking spots, here's a map the folks at the Lincoln Center put together.

What are your recommendations for things to do for New Year's Eve in Fort Collins?

So you want to party like it's 2013, huh? Whether you're hoping to end 2013 on a high note or set the pace for 2014 with something amazing, here's your guide to Fort Collins.

The big hurrah is First Night Fort Collins. Put on by the Downtown Business Association, the multi-venue event features activities for the whole family. You can find more information here: http://downtownfortcollins.com/events/first-night-fort-collins

For those a little more athletically inclined, KRFC’s 29^th annual Resolution 5K Run is scheduled for 6 p.m. on New Year's Eve at Colorado State University. Information:  http://www.krfcfm.org/run

And as always, Old Town will be alive through the evening with live music spread throughout. Various bars, hotels and restaurants will announce their plans as the event grows closer, so keep an eye out for announcements.

Enjoy! And stay safe out there.

Why do natural areas require a permit for purposes non-disruptive to nature such as photography?

How gorgeous is Northern Colorado? I'd put it up toe-to-toe with any other area of the country in terms of beauty. And we get to live here. Who needs selfies when you see this kind of scenery?

Photo by Dawn Madura/The Coloradoan

As a way to try to keep Fort Collins beautiful, the city requires permits in natural areas for activities deemed to be disruptive, such as bringing in large groups, accessing at night, gathering seeds or leaves, or landing aircraft. 

Note to self: No landing a DC-10 at Legacy Park. Got it.

Nothing in the regulations mention restrictions on photography specifically. However, a permit is required for all commercial activities, regardless of their actual impact. Why would that be? According to the city, the idea is to:

• Avoid and/or minimize the impact of the approved activity on natural and cultural resources.
• Ensure that commercial use operators comply with City Municipal Code, Natural Area Regulations, and other state and federal laws. 
• Avoid the impact of the approved activity on the safety and quality of other visitors’ experience.
• Direct commercial use to appropriate sites and at appropriate times in the interest of avoiding real or perceived impacts to visitors and resources.
• Ensure that participants of commercial activities are outfitted/guided by qualified operators with appropriate insurance. 
• Promote practices related Leave-No-Trace ethics, zero waste (recycling) and carbon neutrality ethics to permittees and activity participants. 
• Outline a fee system to recover full costs of permit processing, oversight, and management of commercial uses.

For specifics costs and obtaining a permit, as well as a whole host of other fancy details, I'd refer you to this document on the city's website. http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/pdf/permit-commercial2012.pdf?1335390033

Happy photographing!