Briefs County

2013 budget approved
The Board of County Commissioners adopted the 2013 budget on December 14. The budget included total appropriations of $73,141,021 and a mill levy of 11.328.

Foreclosure stopgap?
Ornamental blacksmith John Murphy made an impassioned plea to the commissioners on Tuesday, December 18. The Community Banks construction loan he hoped to turn into a mortgage was terminated after the bank was purchased. He is not in default on his loan, but the bank is asking for full payment on the loan.

“Community Banks does not want to work with me,” Murphy said.
The bank is insisting on payment in full, and even though he has not defaulted on his loan, Murphy says that is forcing him into foreclosure. He added that he is grossing over $150,000 this year, his business brings out-of-state money into the valley, and his business is poised to grow with an employee or two.
“I’m being forced into foreclosure by this bank,” he said, asking the commissioners to write a letter to Judge J. Steven Patrick, who is overseeing Murphy’s hearing on Friday, December 21. Murphy added that he is simply asking for time to get his 2012 taxes in order and get into 2013 so he can show the potential of his business and appeal to other banks for financial assistance.
The commissioners said they were not in a position to appeal directly to the judge but were supportive when county attorney David Baumgarten and county manager Matthew Birnie offered to make a phone call to Murphy’s attorney, who they know.
“Sometimes that can be more effective than a letter to Judge Patrick,” Baumgarten said.

New rules for wastewater treatment
The state of Colorado is considering adopting new regulations for on-site wastewater treatment systems, and the county wants to get in on the process. Environmental health specialist Richard Stenson said, “Those regulations would be considered as a minimum standard for county regulations. They would be the minimum requirements that the county could use.”
The change could have significant impacts at the county level, which would have the option to adopt the regulations with amendments much like the International Building Codes are adopted with amendments.
“It seemed to me this is a significant change, potentially,” said Commissioner Hap Channell. Stenson and county attorney David Baumgarten agreed. The commissioners gave the nod to the attorney to file for party status in order to have a greater voice in the rulemaking process.

Survival skills
A film crew from National Geographic has requested a permit to conduct some extra plowing near Waunita Hot Springs this winter. The exact location is yet to be determined, but a crew of 22 people wants to stick a car in a ditch and make a film about the associated survival skills. The commissioners were supportive of issuing the necessary plowing permit.

LMD funds looking good
The Gunnison-Crested Butte Tourism Association reported that marketing tax collection is up this year. The TA is funded by a 4 percent fee on overnight lodging, and looking at October of this year compared to October of last year, there’s a 5 percent increase. There is a cumulative increase of 8 percent overall.

Expanding ORE’s reach
The Office for Resource Efficiency (ORE) is looking at expanding its revolving loan fund for home energy improvements to new counties. The $985,000 fund is currently available to Gunnison, Pitkin and Eagle counties.
“I don’t want to open up the whole pot to other counties because it could easily all go,” said ORE director Maya Silver. The idea is to make small amounts of funding available for other counties to pilot a similar program. The funds would ultimately be returned to the revolving loan fund.
Commissioner Channell, who also sits on the ORE board of directors, said he was supportive of the program. “I’m not concerned or fearful of this. I think it’s probably a good use of funds and more important, it’s a good program and the more we can get it out anywhere, the better.”
All three counties will need to agree with the idea before ORE moves forward.