Thursday, January 24, 2008

BoCC agrees to code of conduct

By James Robinson
Staff Writer

Archuleta County Commissioners agreed to a basic code of communication conduct Friday, following task force member warnings earlier in the week that the commissioners’ behavior was having a detrimental affect on employee morale and the county’s financial recovery.

The agreement, forged in a session between Citizens’ Financial Advisory Task Force members and Archuleta County Commissioners Bob Moomaw, Robin Schiro and Ronnie Zaday, establishes basic principles of how board members will communicate with staff, department heads and the county administrator, and comes after the task force charged the board Jan. 15 with unnecessary and deleterious micromanagement of department heads and county staff.

In their presentation to the board Jan. 15, the task force asked the commissioners to adhere to basic principles of civil professional communication and to cease all direct contact with county employees, or else resign.

Friday’s agreement sought to rectify the situation, although not all three commissioners immediately embraced the measure with open arms.

During the discussion, Schiro said the task force had “crossed the line” by meddling in personnel issues and accused the task force of political grandstanding, blindsiding the board, and not learning “both sides of the story” before making the micromanagement allegations.

Task force member J.R. Ford responded to Schiro’s accusations and said, “Everyone knows what’s going on. We have heard both sides and this place is about to blow apart.”

The task force has asserted that various key county personnel have come to them to express their discontent, and that some are close to tendering their resignations. The task force maintained employee turnover and resignations of key personnel could “seriously jeopardize the county’s financial recovery.”

Since Dec. 18, the county has lost two key paid positions and one volunteer position. Former Archuleta County Administrator Bob Campbell resigned Dec. 18, former airport manager George Barter resigned Jan. 14, and former Airport Advisory Commission chair Elmer Schettler resigned Jan. 16.

Task force members Marion Francis, Les Mundall and Richard Lindblad also countered Schiro and said financial and management issues are inextricably intertwined, hence the group’s involvement.

Key to the agreement is the commissioners’ pledge to communicate to department heads and staff through the county administrator, interim or otherwise. Moomaw and Zaday agreed to the policy early in the discussion.

Schiro, however, put forth a string of hypotheticals concerning when a commissioner should be allowed to circumvent the policy, such as in an emergency situation or following an urgent constituent request.

“I’ve heard two agreements and a qualified (agreement),” Francis said.

And Schiro countered that she was “only worried about the emergencies.”

Ultimately, all three commissioners signed the document, with the understanding that violations would be aired publicly during a board of county commissioners meeting.

Moomaw described the signing as “real progress,” while Lindblad said, “That’s an historic event.”

During discussions, task force members Francis and John Ranson, both of whom have filed candidacies for county commissioner, offered to step down from the task force if the board perceived their participation as a conflict of interest.

After discussion, the board agreed that both men had contributed greatly to the task force and the county’s financial recovery, and that their resignations were not necessary at this time. However, it was also agreed that Francis and Ranson would not participate in the hiring of a county administrator.

james@pagosasun.com


Ranson signals bid for BoCC

By James Robinson
Staff Writer

Citizen’s Financial Advisory Task Force member Republican John Ranson formally entered the District 1 county commissioner’s race Jan. 17, and Ranson’s bid marks the second task force member to enter the fray.

Ranson’s task force colleague Marion Francis filed a candidacy for the District 2 commissioner’s seat Jan. 8. Francis will run unaffiliated.

Ranson said he will seek the ballot through petition, rather than the caucus process.

Ranson currently shares the field with Democrat Ron Chacey, and Republicans Kenneth Cowen, Gene Crabtree and Randall Mettscher.

Ranson said, if elected, he can bring a unique skill set to the Board of County Commissioners.

“Due to the responsibilities that my fellow task force members have assigned to me during the past eight months, I have spent time analyzing and compiling financial information to assist in making informed decisions. It is for this reason, I have acquired a deep and detailed overview of the County’s financial standing. If elected, my commitment would be to continue ‘digging deep’ to ensure that the financial information that we are receiving as county commissioners is accurate, precise and made available to the public in a timely manner,” Ranson said.

Throughout the crisis, Ranson has worked closely with the treasurer’s office to provide accurate, up-to-date treasurer’s reports, and constructed cash flow models to ensure solvency through the brunt of the crisis and through 2008.

In addition, Ranson said he spent 17 years in public finance, serving as a chief executive officer and board member for seven years at the Kansas Municipal Fund, a mutual fund regulated by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The manager of that fund, Ranson Capital Corporation, was also a key financial advisor and bond underwriter for many cities, counties, utility companies and school districts in Kansas.

If elected, Ranson said he will work to foster change, economic growth and unity.

“This county government is in desperate need for leadership, teamwork and an atmosphere that will allow talented individuals to work toward a common goal. To accomplish our dreams and goals, we must stop the practice of divisive behavior. A major objective of mine would be to establish a positive and professional atmosphere.

“I’m an eternal optimist. The people here are phenomenal. The people here care. Things are going to turn, but it’s going to take people to do it. Three commissioners aren’t going to be able to do it, but a community can,” Ranson said.

james@pagosasun.com


Aspen Springs could build water station, parks, trails

By Chuck McGuire
Staff Writer

The Aspen Springs Metropolitan District has taken the first step in creating improvements in the subdivision which proponents suggest will improve the quality of life for all residents there. Now, it’s up to the public to weigh in with meaningful input.

In last week’s edition of The SUN, district president Pat Ullrich published a public notice informing Archuleta County residents, and those of Aspen Springs, of the district’s intent to develop a potable water fill station, neighborhood pocket parks and an interconnecting trail system within Aspen Springs boundaries. Following publication of the notice, the public had 45 days to respond.

A portion of the public notice reads, “ The service plan of the District does not explicitly provide for the provision of this service, however, the Board of the District considers this service to be consistent with other services provided by the District and does not consider the proposed activity to be a material departure from the Service Plan of the District.”

The notice goes on to say, “The provisions of C.R.S. 32-1-207(3)(b) provide that any action to enjoin any activity of the District as a major departure from the service plan must be brought within forty five days from the publication of this notice.”

According to Ullrich, if no movement is undertaken to enjoin, or prohibit, the planned actions in the next 38 days, the district will have the legal authority to pursue them. He added that, once the district has gained the authority, public meetings will garner vital input from area residents, before any final decisions are made. He also said various means of financing appear available, that could result in little or no development costs to Aspen Springs taxpayers.

For now, a vast majority of Aspen Springs residents must haul potable water to their homes and store it in a cistern, or underground storage tank. Just two coin-operated fill stations exist in the county, one on First Street in Pagosa Springs, the other on Travelers Circle in the Pagosa Trails subdivision. The water is good and affordable, but due to growing demand, wait times are often lengthy.

Citing exorbitant costs, Ullrich said there is no serious consideration toward developing a comprehensive water supply system in Aspen Springs. But, he said, it is possible to extend a water line from the neighboring Elk Park subdivision to one of several potential fill station sites in Aspen Springs.

Should that option become the preferred plan among area residents, it’s likely that the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District would assist in the engineering and design of the system, including placement of a commercial-grade meter at the Elk Park boundary. Aspen Springs would pay all costs associated with the installation and maintenance of the line extension and fill station, and would ultimately be responsible for paying PAWSD for water that passes through the meter.

The fill station would be coin-operated and available to Aspen Springs residents at rates similar to those at the two existing fill stations. Meanwhile, it would also increase fire protection by allowing firefighters to refill tanker trucks at the subdivision, rather than having to travel greater distances during a crisis.

While Ullrich said there are grants available that would help defray expenses, he could not say whether at least some of the costs might be borne by Aspen Springs residents. He did say the Colorado Department of Transportation may require development of acceleration and deceleration lanes at the fill station site, once one is chosen. That, of course, would add considerable cost.

Another less favorable option for developing a fill station would involve the drilling of a community well and creation of a small water treatment plant for the purpose of adding essential chemicals. That too, could prove expensive and there’s no guarantee how much water pressure might be attained, or what the quality of the water would be.

Either way, Ullrich and the district board hope to have a potable water fill station in place somewhere in Aspen Springs, “in the next couple of years.”

As for parks and trails, Ullrich said many Aspen Springs residents support the creation of neighborhood pocket parks, with interconnecting pedestrian, bike and equestrian trails. If developed, each of the six subdivision phases would have one or more parks, and the trail system would allow safe passage between them. He also suggested a 100-acre greenbelt might be suitable for a community-wide park, and any development would be coordinated with the county.

Ullrich said, once the district has the authority to pursue a parks and trails action, it will hold public meetings, beginning in the spring.

“We want citizen input, so we know what residents want,” he said. “If they want a trail system, we’ll give first priority to creating trails that school children can use to get home safely, without dodging cars on area roads.”

Should residents choose to develop a parks and trails system, Ullrich said the United States Forest Service has offered to assist in its design and development. Meanwhile, he said several grants, including funds from Great Outdoors Colorado, are available to cover most of, if not all, the costs.

In light of recent storms, which knocked out power to all county residents for a time, Ullrich also suggested the district might be able to build a community center with Federal Emergency Management Administration funds. Among other things, the center could prove useful as an emergency shelter for residents without heat or electricity.

Ullrich believes the creation of at least the water and parks/trails systems will serve to increase property values within Aspen Springs. While he acknowledges that some residents don’t really care about increased values, he insists the improvements will certainly enhance the quality of life for virtually all area residents.

For now, it’s up to members of the Aspen Springs Metropolitan District to decide.

chuck@pagosasun.com


Four finalists for interim county administrator

By James Robinson
Staff Writer

The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners will select an interim county administrator later today, following candidate interviews last Friday.

According to Archuleta County Commissioner and Board Chair Bob Moomaw, four finalists vie for the post: Bruce Dryburgh, Richard Lindblad, Gregory Schulte and Rockey Wells.

Dryburgh is a retired Texas attorney residing in Pagosa Springs with professional and educational experience in finance, law and management.

Lindblad is a Pagosa Springs resident, a member of the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Task Force, a retired chief operating officer and systems developer for such firms as Bell Laboratories and AT&T, and the owner of the Lindblad Group, a Pagosa-based consulting firm.

Schulte lives in Durango and was appointed to the city’s financial advisory board in 2007. In addition, Schulte was a key manager with the City of Sacramento’s development services department and oversaw a $20 million budget.

Wells is the owner and chief executive officer for Wells Properties, and has facilities management experience with the Colorado Department of Corrections. Wells lives in Canon City, Colo.

The board agreed to hire an interim county administrator following a formal recommendation from the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Task Force Jan 15, and after acting interim administrator Moomaw said the dual role of administrator and county commissioner put him in an untenable position.

During board action Jan. 15, the commissioners unanimously agreed to solve their short-term management problems by hiring an interim administrator. However, a move to find a long term replacement for Campbell with an executive search firm received a split vote — Moomaw and Commissioner Ronnie Zaday in favor, Commissioner Robin Schiro against. With the decision, the county will contract with Slavin Management Consultants to hire a replacement for former Archuleta County Administrator Bob Campbell, who resigned Dec. 18, 2007.

Although state statute mandates the county must publicly announce finalists in an executive search at least 14 days prior to an offer of employment or appointment, Moomaw said his service as interim was not working well and the board agreed to put the hiring of an interim administrator on the “fast track.”

Although the task force recommended that hiring an interim should be the product of a “thorough and thoughtful selection process,” many in the group appear comfortable with the caliber of the finalists and the proceedings in general.

Moomaw said task force members, county officials and department heads participated in Friday’s interviews.

With the county’s short term management issue nearly solved, staff continue to forge ahead with Slavin Management Consultants. According to Slavin documents, their executive searches typically take between 60 and 90 days.

james@pagaosasun.com


NEWS

COUNTY

Airport advisory commission addresses vacancies

By Chuck McGuire
Staff Writer

The Archuleta County Airport Advisory Commission (AAC) met in regular session last Thursday for a meeting that was anything but regular. With two prominent figures having resigned their posts in the days leading up to the assembly, the remaining commission members were forced to deviate from the original agenda and address vacancies.

On Jan. 10, as a result of what investigators eventually found to be unsubstantiated charges of sexual harassment by county assessor Karen Prior, airport manager George Barter resigned his post, effective immediately. Just six days later, AAC Chair Elmer Schettler also resigned effective immediately, in apparent protest to circumstances leading up to Barter’s departure. As airport manager, Barter also served as an ex-officio member on the AAC.

In Schettler’s absence, vice-chair Gerard Pearson led the meeting, during which most agenda items were considered. But, as discussion continued, the primary focus shifted to covering day-to-day airport operations until a new manager assumes duties at Stevens Field.

To that end, AAC member Pat Artis presented the commission with a proposal to create an “Airport Conservancy Team,” and said the proposal was the product of an informal “pilots and friends of the airport” meeting held two days prior. Following some dialog, the commission voted to approve the proposal.

As conceived, the three-person team will include a representative from Avjet, the fixed base operator, to address low-level operational concerns. Avjet manger Bob Goubitz was mentioned as the likely candidate. Another participant will be an AAC member or other airport stakeholder capable of interfacing with the Archuleta Board of County Commissioners (BoCC). The third will be chosen from the Citizen’s Financial Advisory Task Force.

While having no authority to execute binding agreements or the ability to address the broader scope of an airport manager’s day-to-day responsibilities, the team will provide position papers and recommendations to the BoCC on matters related to the airport. Its primary objective will be to handle a variety of ongoing key activities.

Of course, the BoCC will also have to approve the creation and responsibilities of the conservancy team. Assuming it does, the team will function until a new manager is hired. According to Commissioner Bob Moomaw, that could take approximately three months.

As for vacancies on the AAC, three member terms will expire at the end of April, and adds soliciting volunteers for consideration as replacements are now running in the local media. Including the vacancy created by Schettler’s sudden exit, the BoCC will eventually appoint four people to serve either two- or three-year terms.

chuck@pagosasun.com


TOWN

Middendorf resigns from town council

By Thea Skinner
Staff Writer

John Middendorf has tendered his resignation from the Pagosa Springs Town Council, citing a pending move to Australia as the reason for his action.

After serving on the town council for nearly one and a half years, Middendorf announced his resignation last week. He will serve his last day on the council Feb. 12.

At the end of February, Middendorf and his family will leave for Hobart, in Tasmania, Australia, entering the country on a permanent residence visa. By living in Australia before that visa expires, said Middendorf, the family can return to Australia at a later time if they desire.

“It is with sad regret that I am leaving my position as town counselor. It has been a rewarding service. I care a lot about the town, and I hope it progresses into a place where we can raise our family,” Middendorf said.

While in Australia, he will maintain Lynx Geosystems, LLC, his Web-based mapping business.

Middendorf said he and his family will return to Pagosa Springs in 18 months.

“We will build a house in the county in the Lower Blanco area,