September 11, 2026
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According to board member Lyn Lampert and executive director Camille Richard, Monday evening’s Lake Fork Valley Conservancy annual “Forest Feast” fundraiser was the “absolute best yet” both in terms of food and staff, vastly increased beaver knowledge, environmental comaraderie and, perhaps most important in terms of finances, financial remuneration with revenues from the event topping a whopping $50,000. While the monetary intake was record-breaking, Executive Director Richard explains September 7 revenues are commensurate with Conservancy’s many equally large and ambitious environmental programs. As briefly enumerated by Conservancy board member John Coy, serious in his address to the overflow crowd while dressed in a buck-toothed beaver costume, Lake Fork Conservancy’s ongoing and ramped up projects include the Slumgullion Pass astronomy site and three-year Lake Fork River water study with hoped for achieving “outstanding waters” designation. Introducing himself as “Bob the Beaver,” following an illuminating program by Colorado Natural Heritage Program’s Sarah Marshall on the benefits of beaver introduction, serious-faced Coy ended his remarks to applause, “nice gnawing you.” Marshall, a Wetlands Ecologist from Boulder, Colorado, spoke on the benefits of a re-energized beaver population in the state in terms of diverse wetland habitat, aquatic and terrestrial plant habitat, and, especially significant in drought year 2026, the fact beaver ponds and associated wetlands mitigate drought, wildfire, and aquatic sediment loads as a result of climate change. “Beavers,” said the enthusiastic Marshall, “are helping us get through the drought.”
Lake Fork Health Service District Board of Directors hosted a facilitated planning workshop for community education and engagement on Saturday, August 29, at the Lake City Area Medical Center – Zeller Conference Center. The workshop planning focused on community education and the engagement phase of a multi-year Project started in late 2025. The Project’s purpose is to assess Lake City medical and dental center services and Health District financial condition. Workshop attendees included Lynn McNitt – Board President; Kay Vossler – Board member; Rachel Moore – Health District Executive Director; Phillip Virden – Project Manager; Sherry Huisman – Family Nurse Practitioner; Amanda Fender – Physician Assistant; and Sarah DeCristino – Administrative Assistant and Project Team member. Also participating were Nancy Chambers and Sarah Moody. Facilitation was by Janice Welborn of Welborn & Associates and Bernie Krystyniak. Lynn McNitt, President of the Lake Fork Health Services District, said “our Board and staff are committed to making sure we provide quality healthcare to all the citizens and visitors of Lake City and Hinsdale County. Our clinic is one of a kind in that we have a modern, up-to-date facility staffed by highly qualified professionals. Even with the economic challenges we face as costs rise to provide necessary services, our mission is to continue to provide these services well into the future.” Community Conversations Underway The workshop began with a status review of interviews by Board members and the Project team of an initial list of two dozen community members. There was confirmation of plans to complete the first round of these interviews over the next few weeks. A second tier of an additional several dozen community members was then listed and assignments made to begin those interviews. Each interview is a conversation with the Board or Project team member. The interviewer provides information about the current and future state of the District. Then the interviewer spends the rest of the time listening carefully to community member questions and feedback. Planning Through Spring 2027 The second part of the workshop was spent developing a milestones and events timeline running into the spring of 2027. Included are community engagement events, timing of development and production of communication and support materials, and key decision points for the Board. Phillip Virden, local business owner and community leader, has volunteered to join the team as Project Manager. Virden said “since coming to Lake City, I have had the good fortune of seeing the Lake City Area Medical Center evolve to a top-notch health care facility. Local citizens and visitors have benefited greatly from the staff’s incredible dedication to providing first-class health care. It is imperative that adequate resources are available to continue to satisfy that critical need.” Five-Year Financial Forecast Identifies a Growing Challenge The initial Project phase started late last year and completed early this year with an assessment of the Health District’s operations and financial condition. One of the outputs was a five-year financial forecast for the Health District. The Board and Team concluded that maintaining current staffing levels, current hours, and current service levels is not sustainable with the existing revenue streams. Operational costs, in particular personnel costs, have outpaced revenue growth since the last revenue increase in 2015, and will continue to climb during the next five years. The current Project Phase continuing until the end of this year is focused on educating the community on medical, dental, and other healthcare capabilities available at the Moseley Healthcare Complex. It also includes engagement components to have direct, face-to-face conversations with dozens of Lake City citizens and visitors about clinic performance and future needs. Board Decision Planned for December The current education and engagement Project phase culminates near the end of the year. Then a Board decision will be made based on learnings from the earlier Project phases on the future trajectory of providing healthcare service. This will include how to pay for the forecast revenue shortfall if services are to continue at current levels and even expanded, based on community feedback. A wide range of complex internal and external factors is being considered in the Project process leading up to a final decision on the long-term viability of our local clinic. Internal factors include the five-year financial forecast, staff recruitment and retention, and community expectations for types of service and hours of availability. External factors related to the health and prospects for the local and national economy and patient and community demographics are among the many inputs. Feedback and data from the community, tourists, support agencies like the Colorado Rural Health Center, and data sources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics are all being considered. How the Health District is Funded The Health District, formed in 2003 as a Colorado Special District, has four revenue streams – patient revenue, property tax levy, sales tax revenue, and donations and grants. While a final decision has not yet been made, the early Board discussion of a solution has generally focused on a potential sales tax increase. A final Board decision is planned in December. Community Feedback Encouraged The Health District encourages people to contact Board and Project Team members with questions and feedback. The District website is LCAMC.net and can be followed on Facebook at Lake City Area Medical Center.