The Archuleta County Planning Department is currently operating on limited office hours.
According to the county’s website, the Planning Department’s hours are from noon to 4 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; by appointment only on the first and third Tuesday of the month; 12:30 to 4 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month; and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon.
During an Oct. 6 work session held by the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), County Manager Longinos Gonzalez explained that temporary business hours are expected to last between 30 and 45 days, “and then return back to normal hours.”
He also noted that residents should continue to email all Planning Department related questions and applications to adminp@archuletacounty.gov.
Gonzalez explains in an email to The SUN that “Meeting the needs of residents is our priority and we wanted to assure them that they can continue to direct questions related to their already open or new applications to the email and contact information found on the Department’s County webpage or in-person during the temporary office hours schedule.”
Gonzalez also explains that the county has three Planning Department positions budgeted for 2026, that includes the development services director and two planning personnel.
“The three positions are vacant and are currently being advertised on the job boards,” Gonzalez wrote.
During the Oct. 6 work session, Commissioner John Ranson offered some comments on the matter, mentioning that during a meeting in September he was “bragging about our management team here,” noting he still believes the county has “top-notch people” in “key positions.”
Ranson explained in a later interview that Development Director Eva Kruse is no longer employed with the county.
Ranson commented during the work session that “we had some problems, but that’s life; you’re always gonna have that kind of stuff going on.”
Ranson also noted that he was “disappointed,” but added, “I do believe we can make lemonade out of lemons.”
He also explained that this would be the “second build around” for the Planning Department during his current term.
“Part of the first one was my doing and my responsibilities,” he said, explaining that he was “not pointing fingers.”
Ranson expressed that the county should “take a step back here,” suggesting to get the building community involved “to help rewrite some rules and regulations that seem to cause the problems.”
He added, “God bless us if we could simplify it.”
Ranson suggested the county wait on looking to hire someone to fill the development director position, “so this doesn’t happen again.”
Ranson noted that in the meantime, other county staff are assisting in Planning Department-related work.
Gonzalez’s email also explains that “The County plan is to continue all work in-house but does not rule out the possible short-term use of a third-party contractor to handle a pending or new project, if deemed necessary.”
Ranson went on to express optimism on the situation, stating, “I really believe that we can turn this into a big positive.”
He explained that the department has grown by a rate of 30 percent per year over the past five years.
“I think we can become more efficient,” he said, indicating the county could save up to $250,000 “and still have first-class service.”
Gonzalez also explained that the intent is to perform a land use code rewrite, noting the county is currently conducting a comprehensive plan rewrite and is using feedback received through that to help guide the land use code rewrite.
“We will be absolutely addressing that land use code,” he said.
Commissioner Veronica Medina commented that she agrees the county needs to rewrite its land use code.
She also noted that the county attorney and assistant attorney could possibly help with that process.
“Why don’t we just start from scratch? Because we definitely have too many regulations that we are not enforcing, because we just don’t have the staff to do it,” she said, noting that was an issue even before losing staff members.
Medina suggested the county start with what’s required by state statute.
“Throw everything else out the door and then work on building what else Archuleta County needs,” she said.
Commissioner Warren Brown suggested that the Planning Department situation is a good reason to have an administrative building that houses the majority of county departments.
“I think that this underscores the need for an administrative building where all of us can be under one roof all the time,” he said, adding that it is “not to micromanage, but to be aware.”
He added, “And sometimes perspectives and thoughts can change if folks are too far removed from administration.”
Brown expressed that having the ability to have daily conversations would prevent things from getting “out of hand.”
“That is the benefit of centralized leadership, and I think it just underscores the need for that,” he said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
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