Briefs: Gunnison County

By Katherine Nettles

Housing Authority authorities

County commissioners approved of several items in their consent agenda during their regular meeting on February 17 regarding operations of the Gunnison County Housing Authority related to business insurance and risk management. “We’re starting to move from the transition phase into ongoing operations,” said county manager Matthew Birnie of the county’s recent takeover of many of the former Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority’s (GVRHA) operations and responsibilities. “We contemplated the transition, but we didn’t fully contemplate the going forward,” he said of the more granular details. He said at the next meeting there would be further resolutions clarifying the delegation of authority for him to sign contracts and open accounts, etc. for the newer county-based housing authority that will be consistent with his other roles as county manager. Birnie said he is also discussing with the municipalities in the valley other areas that the county can assist with services the GVRHA had previously handled for them.

Planning commission appointments

Commissioners appointed Anna Fenerty and Beverly Troxtell for the two vacant county planning commission alternate positions. Each is a one-year term. They had conducted interviews on February 10 and agreed unanimously that although Fenerty had missed the interview due to a time zone mix-up, each had extensive experience working with her in other governmental capacities and valued her perspective as a long-time resident of Crested Butte.

Framing another building at Whetstone

Birnie reported that the Whetstone housing project had an additional test with the Crested Butte Fire Protection District this month in which the project exceeded flow requirements for its fire mitigation water supply. “So they are allowing us to start framing one more building.” He said this will potentially get things ahead of schedule.