by Jodi Linsey
Hinsdale County Commissioners were kept busy with their regular meetings and special meetings in April, with their regularly scheduled workshops and meetings on April 1 and April 15, and two additional special meetings pertaining to Hinsdale County EMS on April 8 and 14.
Since the February 26 dismissal of Amanda Hartman there have been numerous communications from then Chief Paramedic Brad Jones and EMS Director Katherine Heidt to the Commissioners, which resulted in a tense meeting with Heidt on April 8. Jones resignation on April 9, and a contentious special meeting on April 14 with the Commissioners, Director Heidt, Medical Director Avery MacKenzie, and a large audience on Zoom and in person.
The first special meeting occurred on April 8, dealing with three updates to Heidt’s job description and duties. Following a reminder from Commissioner Borchers that all employees of Hinsdale County were subject to periodic updates to their job descriptions, Heidt was asked to comment on the revisions regarding her duties.
Her only response was to refer them to previously submitted remarks.
The other special meeting was held following the resignation of Jones, and the lone agenda item was to discuss Hinsdale County EMS.
Commissioners invited Heidt and Medical Director MacKenzie to attend to discuss the reduction of the local EMS service from Advanced Life Support (ALS) to Basic Life Support (BLS). There were no conclusions as to how to move forward from this move.
Heidt presented a letter for the consideration of the Commissioners and audience (WORLD, April 17).
Due to the uncertainty of Brad Jones’ relationship with Hinsdale County EMS, Commissioners Robert Hurd, Kristie Borchers, and Greg Levine removed him as the Alternate County Representative to the Gunnison Hinsdale Combined Emergency Telephone Service Authority (GHCETSA) at the April 1 meeting.
This partnership operates the regional 911 dispatch center for Gunnison and Hinsdale Counties.
At the next regular meeting on April 15, Commissioners appointed to the alternate position Undersheriff Jordan Kaminski, newly returned to service at Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Department. In other county news was an update at the April 1 meeting about the All Hazards Team. County Financial Director Lynn McNitt reported that they have wrapped up all of the 2025 accounts and have had three invoices paid thus far in 2026.
McNitt also reported the county has received the 2024 distribution of the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) funding, amounting to $159,000, to be split evenly with Hinsdale County School District. These Title I funds are made available through the U.S. Forest Service for the maintenance of roads and schools in counties with large amounts of Federal lands that do not pay property taxes.
Good news for fishermen and women ready to take to Lake San Cristobal is confirmation Commissioner Levine has completed training to conduct boat inspections for invasive aquatic species. He plans to fill in when needed, such as during the shoulder seasons when there is not a regular schedule ofPuebloinspectors.
A milestone in the creation of an Early Childhood Coalition is the formation of the inaugural Board of Directors. Lily Virden, representing Wee Care; Tara Anderson of Silver Thread Public Health District; Corrine Jaegar representing the Hinsdale/Gunnison Early Childhood Coalition; and Kayla Gowdy, parent of a Wee Care student.
Among the other topics addressed at the regular workshop on April 1 was the new State requirement for a Wildfire Resiliency Code, which will be analyzed before adoption. Also presented was a tour of the updated Flood Risk Draft Map presented by Deputy Assessor Sarah Tubbs.
Commissioners received a request from County Veterans Affair Officer Mike Harrington to add two men to the Hinsdale County Veteran’s Memorial located in the park by the Courthouse. Edwin ‘Ed’ Nettleton and Francis James ‘Bud’ Weems both served their country and the Lake City community and will have that service enshrined.
A potential Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the Town of Lake City and Hinsdale County regarding the efforts to implement the Comprehensive Housing Plan was discussed.
In previous discussions between the two entities, it was determined that each would pursue funding to hire a Housing Coordinator to begin implementing the plan, including identifying sustainable funding sources and developing protocols for each aspect of the plan.
The IGA under discussion would cover this initial contract and launch of the plan.
News from the transfer station is that organic debris, such as brush and tree trimmings, are now less expensive to dispose of, so as to promote fire mitigation by homeowners and contractors. The previous cost was $12.75 per yard and is now $6.35 per yard. This debris will either be chipped on site or will be burned if the conditions allow. Borchers stated that “This is the single most important thing a homeowner can do to protect themselves.”
