The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) is looking to organize public meetings to provide the community with more information on plans and associated costs for the new administration building to be built at 2901 Cornerstone Drive.
The BoCC discussed the matter during a work session on Tuesday, April 1, with County Manager Jack Harper stating that staff is looking for some direction on what the commissioners are wanting, “so we can get those set to begin moving forward.”
Commissioner John Ranson stated that he’d like to have a meeting take place before the county gets too far into planning.
Harper indicated that he has a meeting scheduled this week for the purpose of coming up with building plans and costs.
Harper also encouraged having a similar format to the meetings held in regard to possible properties the BoCC was considering before deciding on the Cornerstone property.
In response to Harper, Commissioner Warren Brown stated that’d like to see at least two public meetings take place no later than the last BoCC meeting in May.
“We need to get on this,” he said, explaining that he’d like the chance to hear direct public input.
Brown also noted that the county is up against timetables, referring to the lease at the old county building located at 449 San Juan St., which is now owned by Ronnie Urbanczyk.
Brown mentioned that the county needs to get rough estimates and costs, “so we can try to get our community the best estimate that we have.”
Medina commented that it is difficult to set the meetings before having the information the community wants to see.
She referenced the meeting held in regard to potential properties, explaining she received feedback that “we really didn’t have much to offer the public.”
Medina also addressed the timeframe concerns, saying, “Yes, we do have a timeframe, if you will,” but explained that it was stated in a previous meeting that Urbanczyk may be willing to extend the county’s lease, under different terms.
Medina went on to state that she has not yet spoken with Urbanczyk and that she was waiting for him to get back in town.
Harper indicated that a letter had been sent to Urbanczyk, and Weaver explained the letter was sent to his local representative.
“I have not received any response other than, ‘Thank you, I’ll be back in touch,’ so,” Weaver said.
Medina went on to state that the matter of a new county administration building has been discussed since before her time as a commissioner.
“I just think if, truly, the push is to have conversations with the community but not really go to a vote and just do the [certificate of participation (COP)], I think that’s the better conversation to have so that way we can give real direction to staff,” Medina said.
She explained that it’s “not fair” to have staff do a bunch of “legwork” in preparing for a vote if the commissioners ultimately opt for a COP.
“Because I’ve been hearing different things in the community,” she said, adding that a “real” conversation is needed about the “true intentions of commissioners.”
Medina then asked for the thoughts of the other commissioners, with Ranson replying that he stated during his campaign that he wouldn’t support a COP “until we have substantial public input.”
He added, “I’m comfortable with that route unless everybody comes out and raises Cain.”
Ranson also brought up how other major projects are happening in the community, with Archuleta School District considering a bond election and the Town of Pagosa Springs considering a sales tax increase ballot question to address wastewater infrastructure concerns.
Ranson added that the BoCC’s job is to get to a point where a plan can be presented to the public “on how this can fit into our budget, so that, ‘Yes we can pay for this on our own’ and we’re not asking them for additional resources.”
He explained that the county needs more detailed information because, “right now, we don’t have anything to even present.”
Ranson added, “I do believe that people will support a COP if we’ve done our homework,” adding that it is a long process that needs to get started.
Medina replied, explaining the county has started the process with the property under contract and Harper working on getting numbers this week.
“It’s not fast ... this is Pagosa,” she added.
Brown also spoke on how other projects in the community are happening, stating, “I don’t know that I’d like to see the county compete for the voters’ vote.”
He went on to explain that these are “all big issues,” but that it is hard to say one is more important than the other.
Brown also commented that the county has progressed in the same way as the community in putting off things that should’ve been addressed that couldn’t be afforded.
“But, our infrastructure does seem to be all crashing about the same time,” he said.
Brown noted that he would be “hesitant” to support one option over the other without more information, noting the county has three years left in its lease at the San Juan Street building.
He also commented that the county at one point was paying a $500,000 annual note on a lien against that building that was taken out to repair a road.
“There are a lot of nuances here and I don’t want to jump the gun,” Brown said.
He added, “We’re responsible for making the best decision for us, as a county.”
Medina then informed the BoCC that she had received an unsolicited proposal from a company offering to facilitate public “stakeholder meetings.”
She spoke more about how there was feedback from the community about the previous property meeting that constituents were “not happy about how we conducted the meeting,” adding that “no, we didn’t have any information” and that it was more of the BoCC trying to let people “vent.”
Medina then asked Harper if he had any questions on his direction on the matter, to which Harper replied, “not as of now.”
“Just get it done,” Ranson added.
clayton@pagosasun.com
