With a 2-1 vote on Tuesday afternoon, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) moved forward with choosing a firm for the engineering and design for a possible new county administration building, and opted to create a citizen advisory board.
Discussion on the matter began earlier that day at the board’s work session during a discussion on budget priorities.
“Every year we put this off, the more that we are asking our taxpayers to pay,” Commissioner Warren Brown said. “And the need’s not going away.”
Commissioner Veronica Medina noted the issue has been talked about for years and the price continues to go up with inflation.
Commissioner John Ranson suggested he’d rather buy the Wyndham building at Village Drive and that the county could purchase it and remodel it for less than $2 million and buy time on the admin building construction.
He also cited the needs of the town, school district, and Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District and the costs that will need to be brought before the voters in the coming years.
Ranson also noted that he campaigned on not doing certificates of participation (COPS, a financing mechanism that does not require voter approval) because they are difficult, unless there is public buy-in.
He added the county’s revenues should increase with inflation.
Brown and Medina both, during their turns speaking, expressed gratefulness over the current building on Village Drive housing some county offices, but suggested it is not a long-term option.
Consideration of the contract for engineering and design at the afternoon’s meeting began with public comment, with five audience members speaking.
Several comments suggested that, between the county’s needs and those of other local districts, taxpayers are going to be asked for too much, and some are already unable to afford to live here any longer.
One, who noted he served on the county’s citizen financial task force 20 years ago, stated he is concerned about the county’s spending and suggested another citizen task force.
Others suggested COPs shouldn’t be considered and compared the county’s spending on roads before the jail COP and after.
Following public comment, Interim County Manager Mike Torres explained the county received three proposals, with staff recommending Anderson Hallas Architects at a cost of $314,449.
Torres indicated Anderson Hallas was in the middle of the three bids in terms of cost.
Brown stated that he appreciates the comments from the public, then noted the last tax increase voted in for the county was more than 30 years ago, but that nobody is living on the same amount as 30 years ago.
He indicated that the county is not involved in the decisions of other districts and noted that their needs are real, but that the BoCC’s responsibility is for the county.
He noted it is a difficult decision, discussing that if the county were to put it off the price would continue to go up and pointed out the previous courthouse was built in 1927.
He explained he’s not a fan of paying more money and his concern is that county employees have a place to work.
“It’s rarely about yes or no,” he said, adding it’s more about “how do we split the maybe and move forward?”
Ranson explained that COPs were originally started for emergency expenditures before reiterating he wouldn’t vote for a COP without “significant input” from the community.
He explained he was going to oppose the vote on the design and engineering, but expressed agreement with having people to help guide the county and noted the need for the county to devote more to roads.
He again spoke about the possibility of purchasing the Wyndham building and stated that he agrees the admin building needed to be built at some point, but that if everything that’s being discussed is extracted out of the community, it would be too much for an economy this size.
He noted he isn’t a no, just not now.
Medina noted the matter has been “top of mind” for the county since before she took office.
She noted the county said it would do a community meeting and it has, and will do more, but that the matter would have to go to the ballot before any building is built.
She further explained the goal is to house county staff in a building that meets basic needs and not to build something fancy.
She added the decision isn’t being made in a bubble and noted the decision being made is one small step, also citing sewer and roof issues with the Wyndham building.
Brown asked how long the engineering and design would be good for, with Torres suggesting it would be good for years to come.
“This is not the end of your input,” Medina told the audience after again stating more community meetings will be held.
Ranson suggested doing those steps first, with Medina responding there’s been a community meeting and will be more.
As discussion wrapped up, Brown motioned to choose Anderson Hallas Architects and create a citizen advisory board, which was seconded by Medina.
The vote passed 2-1, with Ranson opposing.
randi@pagosasun.com
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