Briefs Gunnison County

Senior care center seeks place on the ballot
On Tuesday, April 26, Gunnison Valley Health (GVH) representatives asked the Board of County Commissioners to put a new measure on the ballot this fall: a tax increase to help fund a new senior care center. The request comes during the same year that the library plans to go before voters with a plan to improve the Crested Butte library and a new facility in Gunnison.

The new senior care center would expand capacity and private rooms, create a more homelike feel for residents and cost a total of $11,300,000, with GVH contributing $1,300,000. A tax increase would help fund $920,000 in annual debt service for a loan to fund the remaining $10,000,000. GVH cited rising construction costs—increasing the overall budget more than $1,000,000 if they wait a year to build—as incentive to take this issue to the voters this year. But commissioners cited the lack of public knowledge of the project as a reason to consider waiting to put the measure on the ballot.
“Healthcare and our seniors are very important to me, and they’re very important in our community,” commissioner Paula Swenson said. But she noted that ballot measures that pass in Gunnison County are often accompanied by extensive public education. “If and when we decide to move forward with this, there need to be outreach meetings, public meetings—we need to find out if it’s the best plan. Just because the consultant says it’s the best, doesn’t mean that it is.”
“We’ve made no effort to tell the community,” Bob Hall, Gunnison Valley Health trustee, said. “It’s an enormous energy and effort, and there’s no need to do any of it unless it’s going to be on the ballot.”
There are additional challenges with the project: the expansion would build on an area where the Gunnison Home Association has laid underground work for expansion of an independent living facility. The commissioners encouraged GVH to seek additional funding partners and delayed making a formal decision until their regular session on May 10, when the Gunnison Home Association has scheduled time with the board.

Deferred linkage fees will accrue interest
The Board of County Commissioners will likely formalize deferrals of linkage fee payments by drafting an agreement to be signed by the county and the deferring homeowner. Currently, homeowners may defer payment until they receive their certificate of occupancy (CO), but there has been no formal way to track it.
“When we passed the linkage fee, we originally gave people the option to pay when they pulled their permit up front, or later, when they applied for the certificate of occupancy,” commissioner Paula Swenson said. “But there’s no incentive to pay it up front, so this was the suggestion from staff… We can track it, [and understand] what are the ramifications if don’t pay at the CO.”
The board reviewed a draft agreement provided by county staff and suggested considering an interest rate of 7 percent, or 1 percent over bank rates, to avoid going into competition with private lenders. The rate would be evaluated on an annual basis to stay current. Staff will make final revisions to the document and bring it before the board at a regular meeting for formal adoption.

CB South association manager joins Planning Commission
The Board of County Commissioners appointed Chris Behan to the Planning Commission on Tuesday, April 19, filling a position left vacant by John Messner. Behan has been manager of the Crested Butte South Property Owners Association since 2005. Prior to that, he served as town planner for Breckenridge and was a private-sector planning consultant for a Colorado Springs architecture and planning firm. He holds a degree in urban planning from the University of Buffalo, New York.
“This one I can vote for, absolutely,” said commissioner Hap Channell. “It makes sense.”
The board is currently reviewing candidates for the alternate position left vacant by Behan’s appointment.

Board of Equalization hearing dates set
Commissioners have set aside several dates for homeowners to protest county assessed property values as part of the County Board of Equalization (CBOE), beginning July 21. In 2009, with a record number of nearly 300 appeals, hearings lasted for seven days—with a total of 58 hours of hearings. This year, the board will hire a third-party hearing officer for a portion of cases, but details are still being implemented.