Dear Editor:
We understand that the current Board of County Commissioners intends to select our county representative on the Colorado River District Board at their Jan. 5, 2021 meeting, one week prior to the newly elected commissioners’ term of office and their first meeting. The timing of this appointment raises several concerns.
A clear majority of the community elected two new commissioners who will take office on Jan. 12. The new BOCC should have the opportunity to select the county’s repr...
Dear Editor:
We understand that the current Board of County Commissioners intends to select our county representative on the Colorado River District Board at their Jan. 5, 2021 meeting, one week prior to the newly elected commissioners’ term of office and their first meeting. The timing of this appointment raises several concerns.
A clear majority of the community elected two new commissioners who will take office on Jan. 12. The new BOCC should have the opportunity to select the county’s representative to the CRD. Important issues are at stake with this appointment because of the CRD’s critical role in the resolution of Western Slope water issues.
While statute says the BOCC should make the appointment at its “first meeting in January,” this is no excuse for the commissioners to rush the process. The purpose of this statute is to ensure the appointment is made in time for the new representative to take office on the third Tuesday in January, which is the loth. We understand there are a number of precedents in other counties for deferring the selection past the BOCC’s first meeting in January. This item should be rescheduled or continued to the Jan. 12 meeting so that the new BOCC can make the selection, leaving ample time for the CRD representative to take office on the loth. Respect for the new commissioners and the democratic process demands nothing less.
Moreover, county residents deserve transparency of process and opportunity for public input – another reason for deferring the appointment. Letters of interest for the position are not due until Dec. 29. If the appointment is scheduled for Jan. 5, that leaves only a few business days and a holiday weekend for the BOCC to schedule interviews and for the public to review, consider and provide meaningful input on the applicants for this important position.
Finally, the BOCC should avoid potential conflicts of interest. It is troubling that our current representative serves as attorney for the Ouray County Water Users Association (and Montros County and other private and public interests) while simultaneously serving as the County’s representative to the CRD. Our county representative must be someone who has undivided loyalty to the interests of the current Ouray County community as a whole, not those of a particular segment or clientele.
Sincerely,
Ridgway-Ouray Community Council
Kate Kellogg, co-president
Yield Warner-Huggins, co-president