Briefs County

by Adam Broderick

Irwin man facing trespass charge

The informal “Mayor of Irwin,” so called by many Irwin residents, pled not guilty to two misdemeanor charges—one for tampering, one for second-degree trespassing—on November 12 in Gunnison County Court. John Biro admits to removing a rock barrier blocking the road to the Irwin Lodge, a barrier installed by the Eleven Group this past summer. He is arguing that the barrier was installed on a public easement and that it blocks allowed public access to the Scarp Ridge trail.

A motions hearing is scheduled for January 14 at 2 p.m. in Gunnison County Court, and moving forward, if a resolution is not reached by the plea bargain cutoff date of January 28, a decision will be made by a jury at a trial scheduled for February 1, 2016.

Tin Cup Civic Association okay with upcoming Cottonwood Pass closure 

Gunnison County commissioner Jonathan Houck told the News on Tuesday, November 17, that he had heard back from Tom Carroll, president of the Tin Cup Civic Association, in response to an email notifying the Association that County Road 209 will be closed from Taylor Reservoir to the top of Cottonwood Pass for 2017 and as much of 2018 as needed to complete construction and improve road safety and user experience. Houck said one complaint has come in from a single resident of the old mining town who disapproves of the road closure. Commissioners Paula Swenson and Phil Chamberland said they had yet to hear disapproval from anyone.

Petition to vacate certain alleys at Irwin 

Irwin property owners Edward and Christie Miedema want to vacate the alleys between six lots on their property and cluster the lots into one larger, single lot. The idea is to construct a single building on the newly established plat of land, so county commissioners discussed the proposal to amend the current plat agreement at their November 17 board meeting. No objections were heard from commissioners and there was no public comment, so the Miedemas now have the county’s permission to vacate the alleys.

Finance department awarded for 2015 budget work

Gunnison County’s finance department was awarded the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award during a November 3 commissioners’ board meeting. Commissioners celebrated with the finance department over food and refreshments, congratulating them for great research and anecdotal budgeting work.

According to the GFOA website, the GFOA established the Distinguished Budget Presentation Awards Program in 1984 to encourage and assist state and local governments to prepare budget documents of the very highest quality that reflect both the guidelines established by the National Advisory Council on State and Local Budgeting and the GFOA’s best practices on budgeting and then to recognize individual governments that succeed in achieving that goal.

Gunnison’s government offices were displaced last year while the new courthouse was being built, and commissioner Paula Swenson applauded members of the finance department for doing such a great job, even in temporary offices.

“This year is even more special than years past because not only did you do such great work but you did that work in the airport, even in closets,” Swenson said.