The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Veterans hurting in the county
Gunnison County veteran’s services officer Steve Otero gave commissioners an update recently, citing an uptick in veterans with issues related to their benefits, particularly with healthcare and uncertainty on the federal level.
“Veterans are very, very frustrated. All over the country,” he said. Otero estimated there are between 900 and 1,000 veterans in the county. He described several ways he is trying to keep local veterans connected and supported, particularly with networking and enrichment events, in some cases hosting other veteran groups from outside the community to visit. His salary comes through the state, and he said he is not certain how that might change either.
West Elk Coal Mine royalty rate reduction?
Gunnison County commissioner Jonathan Houck is investigating a royalty rate reduction underway for the West Elk Mine. Coal mines on public lands such as the West Elk Mine pay a royalty rate, and the funds go to the state and then a portion is allocated to the county of origin. Houck said the process for requesting rate reductions are typically presented if there are production constraints or market demand/price decreases. “The general reports we’ve had coming out of the North Fork [Valley] is that that production has gone back up,” he said, which doesn’t meet those criteria.
The coal mine last attempted this process in 2017. “There has been no consultation to the local government, and we should be part of that discussion,” said Houck. Having reviewed the correspondence from the 2017 process, he said, “It’s the same issues. They’re moving forward; no one is working with local government.”
The state governor will have input on the final decision, and Houck said he would like to get Gunnison County involved. Commissioners showed informal solidarity, since no action could be taken during a work session. The county receives approximately $400,000 annually in tax revenue from coal production, according to the county assessor’s office.
