The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Commissioners making the effort before local councils
By Mark Reaman
The Gunnison County commissioners are starting a regular monthly informational tour of the municipal councils in the area, starting March 4 with a visit to the Crested Butte Town Council by new county commissioner Roland Mason.
Mason gave an oral update of some of the projects he and the county commissioners have been focusing on, from affordable housing projects to lobbying trips to Denver and Washington.
“We want to get in front of all the councils with updates,” Mason said. “For example, John Messner just got back from two days in Denver working on issues at the capital and Jonathan Houck is spending a week in Washington, D.C. right now as part of the CCI [Colorado Counties Inc]. Getting input at those levels is a good opportunity for Gunnison County to have a strong voice at the state level and in D.C.”
Mason reported the commissioners were in the midst of selecting a developer for the affordable housing project located on the Rock Creek parcel near Walmart in Gunnison. Some county affordable housing units being built at Stallion Park are almost ready to be sold as well. He said the county is determining how to make the already efficient courthouse even more energy-efficient.
Councilwoman Laura Mitchell encouraged Mason and the county to support an effort by the Scenic Byway group to get the Crystal River designated as “Wild and Scenic.” She said there has been some pushback by some citizens of Marble who apparently don’t want to draw tourist attention to that area.
Mitchell asked Mason if the commissioners had plans for the 13-acre property located just south of Crested Butte that was recently purchased by the county.
“There are no plans and intentions for it right now,” Mason responded. “It started before I was elected but it was a great purchase. It is up for whatever is needed when something good comes up. I doubt it will remain as a place for light industrial.”
Mason reported the county has not received any word from the Brush Creek developers on what their next move is after the towns of Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte detailed some conditions they required before moving the proposal from sketch plan to preliminary plan.
In response to a question from councilman Jackson Petito, Mason said he would pursue the idea of a countywide tenant protection entity with the Housing Authority. “As we get more public rentals I’m all for addressing that,” he said.
Councilman Will Dujardin said he had missed the latest intergovernmental dinner gathering between elected officials and staffs from throughout the valley, but said he had heard county manager Matthew Birnie had acted inappropriately toward Crested Butte mayor Jim Schmidt. (See page 9).
“With you as our district commissioner representative, how do we not have such interactions in the future?” Dujardin asked.
“My take is these types of venues and events are important,” Mason responded. “I have questioned why staff members are there. It seems more important for elected officials to be there and communicating.”
“Jim and I disagree on things but get along great,” said Dujardin. “I feel it is important to probably have staff there. But I’m not sure that type of interaction should happen. How do you represent us up here?”
“I think we can, as elected officials, move forward,” Mason said.
“Since you are new there, but sat up here as a councilman, hopefully you can implement a new mindset with the county,” said Mitchell. “It is frustrating to see Matthew Birnie earn so much [as a professional public administrator] and act like that. I hope you can break through that crust and get a positive mindset.”
Mason said Birnie’s salary is based on his job here and not necessarily in comparison to other, different counties. “Look at the positives,” he said. “The county has been pretty successful from where it was 12 years ago, in terms of projects and relationships.”
“Well I would hope you could start the conversation about getting the county clerk and DMV up here again,” said Mitchell. “There is no reason for people to have to drive to Gunnison for those services.”
“I’m willing to start those conversations,” replied Mason. “I can look at it from this end, being on the board of commissioners now.”
Mason did inform the council that road maintenance in the county is on a fixed annual budget and while a low-snow winter like last year resulted in lots of summer road maintenance projects, a big snow winter like this year is eating up the budget. He cautioned against expecting a lot of road improvements this summer.
Mason also said the regular monthly reports will be handled on a rotating basis from the three commissioners.
