The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved its consent agenda at its Sept. 1 regular meeting, with commissioners Warren Brown and Veronica Medina voting to approve all the items on the consent agenda, and Commissioner John Ranson abstaining from the vote.
Ranson commented on an item on the consent agenda: the ratification of the BoCC chair’s signature on a letter of support for the Town of Pagosa Springs in its application for a Great Colorado Outdoors (GOCO) grant application for its Reservoir Hill Forest (RHF) acquisition project.
According to the meeting’s agenda, “GOCO funding will allow the Town to achieve its longstanding goals to protect the Property that is the forested backdrop to the Town and its famous hot springs, to provide more recreation opportunities, and to support the Town and County’s local economy.”
The town is currently in the process of negotiating to purchase approximately 300 acres of land adjacent to the existing Reservoir Hill park for a total price of about $8 million.
In June, during a Pagosa Springs Combined Parks and Recreation Board meeting, Parks and Recreation Director Darren Lewis indicated that the town would likely be receiving a $5.7 million Forest Legacy grant to go toward the project.
During that same meeting, it was noted by Recreation Supervisor Amanda Gadomski that the plan would be for the town to apply for $1.5 million though GOCO.
The county’s letter of support states, “Conserving RHF will allow the Town to protect the forests and open space that are essential to visiting the Town of Pagosa Springs and our County, including the hot springs that are near this Property. The project will also allow the Town to expand its adjacent Reservoir Hill Park (RHP) from 142 acres to a total of 445 acres. Acquiring RHF will include a graded road that will provide better access for our community to experience recreation at both RHP and RHF. RHF has a 4.6-mile trail system for hiking, running, biking, and cross-country skiing, which is currently closed to the public. The acquisition would provide more public recreation opportunities on a ready trail network.”
During the BoCC’s Sept. 1 meeting, Ranson explained that he had considered asking for the letter of support to be its own item, but was ultimately OK with it being left in the consent agenda.
Ranson commented that he can be a “wet rag” on finances, “but that’s why people elected me,” explaining that finances are in his background.
“Right now … our balance in our road and bridge fund is $193,000. It was $8 million four years ago,” Ranson said.
He mentioned that he is often asked about “why I get after the town.”
“This county has a lot of debt,” he said, clarifying that “the county itself is very healthy,” but that with upcoming ballot measures from the Archuleta School District, and potential future measures from other entities, “We’re approaching close to $500 million dollars.”
Ranson explained that he is running an analysis through other finance experts, and that he will have a report to present in October.
“This is why the community’s getting so expensive,” he said, “and I can assure you [Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District, (PAWSD)] is right on the line with their debt coverage ratios.”
Ranson stated that PAWSD’s debt coverage ratio is 1.1,“which is skinny.”
He indicated that “more than likely” means PAWSD will raise rates next year, while also noting La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) might do the same thing.
“You can’t take $250 million dollars of debt on our behalf and not raise rates,” Ranson said.
He spoke more about how the county’s road and bridge fund is down to “nothing” and that the BoCC is doing all it can to direct more funds to the Road and Bridge Department through budget savings and initiatives like the lodgers’ tax ballot question.
Ranson also explained that approaching $500 million in debt at a 4 percent interest rate means paying approximately $36.8 million a year in interest payments.
“That hurts the economy,” Ranson said, “and so when people hear me complain about things like this, that’s why I’m doing it, for the people.”
“We can’t afford this stuff if we’re not careful.”
Ranson also stated that his view is “nothing against the town’s request” for the letter of support.
“I don’t have any information on this. If it was by itself, I would vote against it,” Ranson said, explaining he does not know what kind of “match” the county would be asked for.
“We need better information when we’re being asked to send this kind of stuff on, especially when you’re talking big money like that,” he said.
Ranson added that he is not in favor of passing a $5 million to $10 million deal “with no information,” acknowledging that it is just a letter of support, “but that’s where they always start, and they very rarely end there.”
Ranson also stated again that his main point is that if the community does not watch its finances, “We’re going to be pricing people out of this community.”
Affordable housing deed restrictions
During the same meeting, Medina offered comments on a different consent agenda item: the ratification of the BoCC chair’s signature on phase two deed restrictions of the Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation’s (PSCDC’s) affordable workforce housing project in the Chris Mountain II and Trails neighborhoods.
Medina explained that County Manager Longinos Gonzalez was able to coordinate a meeting with the Archuleta County Housing Authority (ACHA) and PSCDC to talk about differences and the “lack of communication.”
Medina mentioned that she was pleased to say that “they were able to work it out,” and the ACHA “is the entity that will be managing the deed restrictions for the [PSCDC] on the second-phase homes.”
Medina commented that this is a good example of “clear communication” and conversations coming from the ability to sit down with each other and work out differences.
She added that the entities “came to a great resolution,” calling it a “huge win” for the community.
“The [PSCDC] has done amazing work in our community,” Medina said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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