The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Agrees to refund event fees, working on economic relief
By Katherine Nettles
In their regularly scheduled weekly meeting on Tuesday, Gunnison County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to extend the county’s declaration of a state of emergency, addressed returning fees to organizers whose events have been cancelled and presented a united commitment to work with and for citizens in the coming weeks as the COVID-19 pandemic simultaneously affects local public health and economics.
“We will continue to work diligently for the community…we are not separate from this,” said Gunnison County commissioner Jonathan Houck at the meeting’s onset. Houck addressed the difficulty facing business owners, families and others during this period of isolation for the community in efforts to curb the spread of the virus. “We are also small business owners and parents. We consider very carefully the decisions we have made, and we understand the gravity of the situation for everyone. They are having the same effects on us as well,” he said.
Commissioners agreed to extend indefinitely the emergency declaration that the county manager made last week. The board is required to authorize this if it extends beyond seven days.
“I am obviously recommending that we stay in a state of emergency, for all the benefits that provides us both in unifying our executive structure and demands, and being eligible for [federal] reimbursements,” said Birnie.
Commissioner John Messner noted that the state of emergency extension would be in place until the board decides to formally retract it. This gives authority to extend regular contracts beyond their assigned dates or scope, and to reassign police, and roles for county officials as well.
“This is an unprecedented time. I am so grateful to Matthew for your work and for getting this in place when you did,” commented commissioner Roland Mason.
Gunnison County Public Works director Marlene Crosby engaged the commissioners in a discussion about how to handle events fees when the county has to cancel an event. The commissioners authorized a refund of the associated fees for all things cancelled due to COVID-19 public health restrictions on public gatherings.
Mason reported as a member of the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority board of directors that the GVRHA is looking into potential ways to extend rent payment due dates, spread out payments over a couple months and/or waive late fees.
Birnie noted that the GVRHA only has the authority to do that for its own properties, which is only Anthracite Place. Mason said they are also speaking with homeowners whose properties the GVRHA manages.
“There are a lot of things in play right now, and we are supporting both employers and employees throughout the valley. Throughout the valley, there has been a sort of task force to look at how we take significant steps toward supporting our tourism businesses, both in the short term and the long term that will be meeting later today—virtually—for the economic crisis that inevitably is running parallel to this public health crisis. That is first and foremost on the commissioners minds,” said Messner. “To your point, Roland, the steps the Housing Authority takes to support folks in the community is just another example of the steps that we all need to take holistically as we deal with and as we come out of this.”
The meeting was held as a remote one; however Houck and commissioner Messner attended in person at the county courthouse along with the county manager, administrative assistant Elizabeth Mense, county attorney David Baumgarten and the Public Works director. Commissioner Roland Mason called in, as did all media and members of the public.
