County Commissioner | The Silver World Newspaper

Regular Meetings, Special Sessions Top Busy April for County Board

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.”

April 23, 2026 No Comments

County Board Poised for Interim Hire of Delta Paramedic

Hinsdale County Commissioners held a Special Workshop on Tuesday, April 21 to discuss the possibility of contracting with Reuben Farnsworth of Rockstar Education and Consulting to assist Hinsdale County EMS through a transition period following the resignation of Chief Paramedic Brad Jones.Hinsdale Commissioners Kristie Borchers and Robert Hurd attended the meeting in person, Commissioner Greg Levine attending the workshop remotely via Zoom.EMS Director Katherine Heidt was also present in the meeting room, while EMS Medical Director Dr. Avery MacKenzie and Rueben Farnsworth attended virtually. Following introductions, Farnsworth recited an impressive list of qualifications and accomplishments, most relevant to the discussion being his decades of experience working on the Western Slope as a Paramedic and his experience educating Basic and Advanced EMTs.MacKenzie stated she has worked with Farnsworth for many years and seemed pleased the Commissioners were contemplating bringing him in to support the Hinsdale EMS system.Responding to comments and questions from the Board, Farnsworth noted he had already consulted with Heidt about shared priorities, with the number one priority being to make sure Hinsdale County has good solid coverage over the upcoming summer season.He went on to talk about ideas to get the current EMT students on the verge of graduating the practical experience they need to qualify for their certification.Farnsworth indicated he is contemplating how to grow relationships with regional partners and develop some type of paramedic sharing program that could benefit a number of the smaller systems in the mountain region. The first order of business, he said, is to move Hinsdale from BLS (Basic Life Support) to ALS (Advanced Life Support) as quickly as possible.Commissioners and MacKenzie went back and forth with ideas as to the scope of work they will want from Farnsworth but left much to be hammered out in Executive Session on Wednesday, April 22, including compensation.In the early afternoon special meeting and workshop on April 22, following the board’s regular meeting in the morning, Commissioners hosted Farnsworth in person during an executive session held for the purposes of negotiation.Before adjourning the meeting, Borchers announced there will be another special meeting commencing 9 a.m., Wednesday, April 29, to review the potential contract.

April 23, 2026 No Comments

30 GOP Delegates to Assembly; Nominate County Candidates

by Schuyler Denham Hinsdale County Republican Party held its 2026 caucus and county assembly last Saturday, March 7, in Baptist Church Fellowship Hall on Bluff Street.Attendance was nearly 60 residents, including a handful of observers.County Party Chair Diane Bruce called the meeting to order at promptly 1 p.m. and business began after the Pledge of Allegiance and an invocation.In addition to Bruce, the other officers were Michael Murphy, Vice-Chair, and Wes Williams, the Secretary-Treasurer.The credentials committee recognized 50 attendees – those Republicans who had been registered at least 22 days in the precinct – as eligible to participate in the proceedings.Bruce acknowledged how Hinsdale County was simpler to run as it has only one precinct and, thus, one assembly; some counties have over 100. [While Hinsdale County has the fewest number of registered voters in the state, Mineral and San Juan counties have fewer Republicans than Hinsdale’s 292.]Following eligibility verification, delegates were elected to the Hinsdale County Assembly that……… Seven Delegates to Hinsdale County Dems’ Assembly Expressing varying degrees of dissatisfaction with the present national political situation, all seven registered Hinsdale County Democrats attending last Saturday afternoon’s Caucus were named Delegates to present platform resolutions and vote in the county party’s ensuing Assembly.Democrats with three observers, town mayoral candidate Jodi Linsey, New York college student Silas Fox remotely, and Jesse Kendall, were warmly greeted by returning party chairperson Jennifer Rightsell who wryly noted “It’s been an interesting year. Maybe the only way we’re going to get through this is with a good sense of humor.”Both Rightsell and returning party secretary Grant Houston were unanimously re-elected as Hinsdale Party Democratic Chairperson and Secretary for both the 31-minute Caucus and 10-minute Assembly which were held at Lake City Public Library.In addition to Rightsell and Houston, Becky Vickers, Mary Nettleton, Carol Robinson, Bill Stewart, and Henry Woods were selected as Assembly Delegates.Woods, a past Democratic county party chair, enthusiastically proposed two Hinsdale County…… READ BOTH ARTICLES IN FULL SUBSCRIBE!

March 12, 2026 No Comments

Busy Commissioner Session Highlights71 Hill Solar, Tax Bills

by Jodi Linsey Hinsdale County Commissioners Greg Levine, Robert Hurd, and Kristie Borchers met at the Coursey Annex on January 21 for their second regular workshop and meeting of the new year. The use of credit cards by certain members of the All Hazards Team created the most buzz during the workshop, along with the state of ice at Lake San Cristobal.During the open discussion portion of the workshop, Commissioners covered a wide-ranging variety of topics. Borchers praised the transition to Mission2Market, a Denver-based marketing company with experience in tourism, for their work with Kate Hopson to smooth the way into the 2026 marketing contract.Borchers also congratulated local water watcher Bruce Heath as he takes a seat at the Gunnison Basin Roundtable as the Hinsdale County representative.She noted that there has been some discussion concerning several of the property tax bills that have the wrong year printed on them. There followed a short discussion on what action can be taken about it, or if any action is warranted.Commissioner Hurd updated the assemblage about the solar installation at Hill 71, a vital communications link in Hinsdale County, reporting that all inspections are complete and the new meter that can track credits for any energy created is installed. At the February 18 Commissioners meeting, representatives from the solar installer and Gunnison County Electric Assoc. will be present to talk about how solar credits work.Vol. 48, No. 45 Friday, February 6, 2026 Lake City, Hinsdale County, Colorado 81235 U.S.P.S. No. 436-630Levine continued a discussion begun earlier in the workshop concerning the selling of vehicles, in particular Search & Rescue (SAR) vehicles that recently became redundant with the purchase of a new Toyota hybrid. At least one of the older SAR vehicles can be sold, and it was determined that SAR operates under the Sheriff’s Office (SO), meaning that it would be that office that would be responsible for the potential disposal of vehicles.Commissioner Levine is urging the SO to sell any redundant vehicles to Lake City Fire/Rescue (LCFR) to support a Wildfire Crew. As well as the vehicle made redundant by the SAR purchase, there is also an orphan Wildfire Response Vehicle filled with wildfire fighting gear, stored at the Road and Bridge shop awaiting a home. Hurd suggested any decisions by the SO be delayed until after the election in November, citing that respect for the Sheriff’s Office needs to be considered. Borchers stated that “The wildfire program itself could really make a difference.”Wrapping up open discussion was a conversation about replacing and adding to signage on county- owned property around Lake San Cristobal, including Wupperman Campground and Red Mountain Gulch Day Use Area, leaving the bulk of the work to Administrative Assistant Davee Menzies and Enforcement Officer Gabe McNeese.The regular workshop was dominated by talk about Special Event Permits for the Cannibal Snowshoe Scramble and the Ice Fishing Tournament. Ice has been slow to form and grow at Lake San Cristobal, which creates a hazard for these two events planned on the lake surface. As previously reported, Lake City Chamber of Commerce has already cancelled their popular Brewski fundraiser that takes place at the lake.Hinsdale Search & Rescue’s Ice Fishing Tournament, in particular, is threatened by poor ice because of the popularity of the event and the use of trucks and snowmobiles across the ice, vital for some of the participants. The organizer Seth Withrow has been finding 10 inches of ice and Hurd stated that there should be 20 inches by Valentine’s Day. Hurd adding to the discussion by asking “Is this ice building or not?” Also meriting an in-depth discussion in the workshop was the topic of credit card use for members of the All-Hazards Team. Emergency Manager Phil Graham joined the conversation via Zoom, explaining that 10-15 members of the team bringing in the highest returns to Hinsdale County are the ones most in need of credit cards. He further explained that he is getting feedback from team members indicating uncertainty with their Missing the full story? Receive every issue either by mail or email- Just click the button below!

February 6, 2026 No Comments

A Year That Built More Than Projects: Lake City & Hinsdale County in 2025

January 1, 2026 No Comments

County Commissioners Ponder Topics Ranging From Pass Access, Mt. Morris Lode Sale, All Hazards Team

by Jodi Linsey Hinsdale County Commissioners met for their third regular meeting of the month on Wednesday, October 29. Following are highlights on a wide-ranging topics during the open discussion portion of the workshop touching on subjects ranging from conditions on Cinnamon and Engineer Passes to PILT funding.Commissioner Robert Hurd led a discussion about two recent incidents involving out of state visitors getting stuck on top of Engineer Pass in a couple of feet of snow. Both of theses parties accessed the pass from the Animas Forks side. According to County Administrator Sandy Hines, the county has received calls and comments suggesting that the gates located on the pass roads that are closed and locked during winter months be locked now, although Hines pointed out that there are still hunters and recreationalists as well as property owners accessing the high country beyond the gates.Commissioner Kristie Borchers had multiple items to report, including upcoming sampling at the Ute-Ulay Mine complex that is owned by the county. She stated that during some routine clean-up, antique transformers were discovered in an overgrown area and that the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) will conduct testing to determine if they pose an environmental danger.Borchers reported Hinsdale County Marketing Committee has received six proposals in response to its Request for Proposals (RFPs) for a one-year contract for a Marketing Consultant. Of those six proposals, there were two local people or companies, one with close local ties, one from Salida, Colorado, and two larger marketing companies. The RFP follows the declination of Kate Hopson to renew her contract with the Marketing Committee after her five-year tenure in that position.Catching up on housing news, Borchers spoke about the county’s commitment to the ongoing Affordable Housing Project by working to obtain a grant to pay for the hiring and two years’ salary of a Housing Coordinator. She will also pursue other funding sources to reduce the county’s costs for the project while obtaining buy-in from other local institutions.There was further discussion on topics from the potential loss of SNAP benefits for the 27 local families currently relying on them, to AlpineLoop.org, to the loss of highway cameras in Powderhorn and on Spring Creek Pass.The regular workshop agenda began with recent flooding in the Upper Piedra area in the South End of Hinsdale County, with County Emergency Manager Phil Graham reporting on the possibility of residents receiving State and Federal Emergency Funds. In the following regular meeting, the Commissioners ratified the Emergency Declaration that was verbally declared by the County Administrator on Monday, October 20.Next on the agenda was discussion about Emergency Medical Services Director Katherine Heidt’s employment contract, with some minor changes in language approved by county attorney Michael O’Laughlin and yearly compensation of $75,600. In the following meeting they unanimously approved the contract.Brad Jones has been nominated by Sheriff Denim Starnes to be Hinsdale County’s official alternate to sit on the Gunnison Hinsdale Combined Emergency Telephone Service Authority (GHCETSA), which is the authority regulating the 911 system in the local jurisdiction. The Commissioners readily approved Jones for this position in the following meeting.The Commissioners next took up the matter of the finalization of the sale of Lot 2 of the Mt. Morris Lode Subdivision to Josh Gray following a prolonged process including a title search to determine the surrender of the property for unpaid taxes in the 1920s. The Commissioners decided to then create a subdivision in order to protect a corner of the property that contains a short length of the popular walking trail along Henson Creek. The requirement for a Special Use Permit also complicated the timeline as the buyer, Josh Gray, first inquired about the property and is still planning on building a campground of yurts.Phil Graham was back in front of the Commissioners to discuss the Natural Disaster Mitigation Enterprise Grant contract, which is a small grant that helps fund the Hinsdale County wood chipping program, an integral part of the local wildfire mitigation program. This was easily approved in the following meeting.There followed a lively discussion about the possibility of expanding the number of participants that the county can manage from the current cap of 60 to 80 employees in the All Hazard Team Program. Following delayed state reimbursed for salary and benefit costs of the employees, the county came close to dropping the program altogether but have since worked with the state to remedy the situation. The Commissioners agreed to the increased employment ceiling during their regular meeting.The final workshop agenda item discussed by the Commissioners was an opportunity for a JAG grant to pay for integral security infrastructure for the Sheriff’s Dept in the new County Administration Building. This agenda item was approved in the following meeting.Following a break in the action between the workshop and the regular meeting, the Commissioners opened bids for the 2026 propane service contract. Out of the three bids received, the one receiving the winning vote was submitted by JC Propane, with a price of $1.59 per gallon for 10,000 gallons for Hinsdale County and an added benefit of $1.99 per gallon for Hinsdale County employees.Other than the business that was introduced in the workshop and subsequently dealt with in the regular meeting, Commissioners reconvened at 1 p.m. to discuss the concessionaire fees at Deer Lakes Day Use Area. Betsy Bair of Senator Jeff Hurd’s office explained that both the county and the Senator’s offices have received complaints concerning the implementation of user fees at Deer Lakes. Following critical repairs that were paid for by U.S. Forest Service, management of the area was given to concessionaire, Recreation Resource Management, which also manages Williams Creek Campground above Lake San Cristobal. The management company has imposed new fees including a camping fee, a day use fee, and a new impact fee.There will be another meeting in January with Senator Hurd’s office which, in the interim, will attempt to negotiate changes in the fee schedule to allow for moose viewing and fishing without extra fees.

November 7, 2025 No Comments

Town Board, County Commissioners Hear Housing Crisis Stats at August 13 Joint Meeting

A joint meeting between the Town of Lake City Board of Trustees and Hinsdale County Commissioners was held Wednesday, August 13, where agencies Proximity Green, Triple Point Strategic Consulting, Dynamic Planning + Science and Western Spaces, LLC., gave a presentation to show their findings from a housing strategy survey in and around Lake City earlier this year.Jeff Moffat, Principal of Triple Point Strategic Consulting, was in attendance, as was Ethan Mobley, owner and Principal Planner of Dynamic Planning + Science. Leading the meeting was Grant Bennet, real estate consultant and developer with Proximity Green, via Zoom from Denver, who explained that the purpose of the meeting was to help build momentum for collaborative action between the Town and County by understanding the housing crisis reality through data-driven evidence, and to provide direction for the next phase of strategy development.“I have been deep in the trenches,” he said, “with both Town of Lake City and Hinsdale County for the last three months. I have rolled up my sleeves and really gotten to know this community”Bennett began the slide presentation by saying that there were 97 household survey responses received, as well as 21 employer surveys collected.The results of the study solidly confirmed that there is, indeed, a housing crisis in Lake City. Seventy-seven percent of Lake City’s residents said housing availability is a critical problem, and the community’s biggest problem. Twelve percent said they plan to leave Lake City due to housing costs; seventy two percent of housing stock is seasonal or vacant, with a zero percent rental vacancy rate.The survey also showed that the median home price is $563,000, with the average annual salary around $39,000, and while 43 percent of employers provide housing assistance, families, workers andcontinued page 7essential services are being lost because people can’t afford to live where they work.Within Lake City, the survey confirmed that at least 24 jobs remain unfilled due to housing barriers. Bennett also said the response rate of the survey was 25.5 percent of the Lake City community, a statistic that would be literally impossible to achieve in larger communities.“It’s not exactly a shock that there is a housing crisis,” he said, “but this will put up some data points for Trustees and Commissioners to ponder.”Three hundred sixty of the three hundred eighty households surveyed said their residence is in poor condition; 340 said housing is too expensive; 50 renters were blocked from ownership because of cost. These statistics are based on the 97 household surveys, projected to all 380 county households.“So what is causing displacement,” Bennett said. According to the survey statistics, renters have seen a 34 percent rent increase; 28 percent of homes in the community are vacant or used as short term rentals and not used year round; 22 percent of residents have seen lease non-renewals; and 16 percent of renters were displaced by owner move-ins. Fourteen percent of residents live in overcrowded homes, with 20 percent needing more bedrooms, with many unable to afford needed repairs.“Again, this is no shock to Lake City’s residents,” said Bennett, “but there is literally a zero percent rental vacancy rate. There are currently only five homes actually for sale. Families are forced to take whatever is available, and if a rental does come up, it disappears immediately.”Further, Bennett said that 12 percent of households are planning to leave Lake City due to housing, but there is some hope in the fact that fifty-one percent are interested in ‘deed-restricted’ housing, or affordable workforcehousing.The next slide showed why businesses in Lake City can’t function without affordable workforce housing with statistics from the local employer survey response saying they are having problems providing housing just to keep the doors open. Essential workers can’t afford to live here. Showing examples of average earnings, the slide showed teachers salaries are $39-69 thousand per year; nurse salaries are $32-64 thousand per year; and a Sheriff’s deputy, $26-56 per year.This means that affordable housing on a teacher’s salary would cost around $245,000; a nurse, around $200,000; and a deputy, around $165,000. With a median home price in Lake City averaging $563,000, a teacher would be facing a gap of $318,000 between salary and home price, which Bennett called “obviously unsustainable.”Jeff Moffat then took over the meeting, saying“according to these statistics, even the highest paid workers can’t afford basic family life. Construction work is the best paid local job, and even that still falls $24,355 short annually. This isn’t about poverty, it’s about the impossibility of middle-class life in Hinsdale County. These are serious red flags,” Moffatsaid.Moffat went on to show a slide revealing that Hinsdale County has a $92-million a year economy, breaking down to $70.6-million from local economy, $5.4-million in tourism and outdoor recreation, and $16.4-million in the vacation home industry.“This diverse $70.6-million local economy is three times larger than tourism but it all depends on housed workers,” said Moffat.Further, the survey showed that the cost of inaction would be an annual economic loss of $960,000 from unfilled employment positions, service degradation resulting in reduced school quality, healthcare access and public safety response. Also, each family that leaves Lake City makes it harder to recruit the next essential worker.There will be missed funding opportunities as well, as state housing programs require local action within the next 12 to 18 months.Bennett said, “bottom line – this is not just a housing study, it’s a community survival strategy. We have the data, the funding opportunities, and the first project ready to go. What we need is leadership commitment to act.”Bennett went on to say that the four agencies have developed a proposed vision for Lake City and Hinsdale County, which is to provide housing opportunities across all life stages, enabling residents to find appropriate homes as they begin careers, raise families and retire in the community they love. Bennett said, “we want to put both a vision and goals forward that reflect your interest, and we are listening loud and clear to get feedback to understand, and if we

September 5, 2025 No Comments

Grant,

The Hinsdale County Commissioners would like to address the continued public confusion and proliferation of misinformation pertaining to the Hinsdale County All Hazards Team (AHT). The All Hazards Team is an emergency response team that operates within the county’s Office of Emergency Management. The AHT Program was developed to assist local, state, and federal agencies in responding to and recovering from emergencies of all types, including wildfires, floods, tornadoes, hurricanes or any other type of emergency where specially trained resources may be needed to support the incident. The County Commissioners approved county sponsorship of the team in 2021 and the program began in January 2022. As the sponsoring agency, Hinsdale County collects an administrative fee for the work necessary for deployment of team personnel to incidents around the country. As has been the case for several months now, and as has been reported by the County Commissioners in public meetings, the County has been fully reimbursed by the State of Colorado for all outstanding All Hazards Team invoices that were the subject of controversy at the end of 2024. The billing issue with the State of Colorado initially arose because the County was claiming a 10% “indirect rate,” or profit rate, on its All Hazards Team invoices, rather than the State required 1% rate. The County believed that the 10% indirect rate was the correct rate, as the State had approved and paid hundreds of invoices that included the 10% indirect rate fee since the program was first implemented in 2022. It was not until the State notified the County of the billing irregularities in late 2024 that anyone had any idea that the billing process was flawed. The State, at that time, identified and determined that the 10% profit/indirect rate only applies when an agency is using the payment amounts for AHT personnel that are provided by the State. When an agency uses its own personnel payment amounts, it is only entitled to a 1% indirect rate/profit margin. This is where the confusion came in, as the County was using its internal AHT personnel payment amounts but also charging the State a 10% indirect rate, which is not permissible. The County was only entitled to charge a 1% indirect rate.Legal issues with the State arose because the State had an affirmative duty to timely notify the County of any billing irregularities but instead paid many months of invoices without otherwise notifying the County of any problems with the bills or the claimed profit amounts. The State’s approval of hundreds of invoices that included the 10% indirect rate led the County to believe it was billing correctly. This was until the State caught the problem and notified the County of the problem in late 2024. The County has since corrected all the previously outstanding and unpaid invoices from 2024 and has since been paid the correct amount for all outstanding invoices. This includes the 10% fiscal agent fees on personnel base pay and the 1% on personnel overtime as well as all per diem and expense payments. There is no actual “loss” to the County or need to “restore” any money to the County’s bank accounts because no money was actually lost by the County during this process. Rather, the County received a 1% profit for the program, rather than a 10% profit, for the invoices that were disputed by the State. The AHT program is continuing now according to proper billing protocols, and the State and County are on the same page. In addition, and in response to the billing issues with Hinsdale County, as well as similar issues encountered with other agencies, the State has implemented new guidelines for the program, which the County and State have been following in 2025. As such, the 2025 Hinsdale County budgeted amount of $400,000 in indirect rate funds from the AHT program is still accurate. Hinsdale County is committed to its partnership with the State on this important program, and we appreciate the state continuing to make it possible for Hinsdale County to sponsor our team.The County has also been questioned as to why the bank account balance at the end of 2024 was approximately $3.1 million less than it was at the beginning of 2024. The answer is simple, as the County has spent its money on typical things, including but not limited to, payroll and benefits for County employees, both of which increased in cost from 2023, normal operating expenses for the County, grant matches, County Road 30 work, repairs and upgrades to the County Transfer Station, Road & Bridge Department equipment repairs and equipment rentals, additional capital outlay, new equipment for the Coroner, and new vehicles for the Sheriff’s Office. There are simply no missing funds at this time from AHT or otherwise, and the County is moving forward as normal with its budgeting process for 2026. Thank you. Hinsdale County CommissionersKristie Borchers: [email protected] Hurd: [email protected] Levine: [email protected]

August 29, 2025 No Comments

Town Board and County Commissioners Consider Options for Sheriff’s Office IGA

During the joint Town and County Meeting August 13, Town of Lake City staff and Hinsdale County Commissioners’ final item on the meeting’s agenda was to begin negotiations for an Inter-departmental Government Agreement (IGA).Mayor Roberts began the conversation explaining that the former IGA between these entities remained unclear in terms of language used because it had been amended and patched together out of old IGAs, and that it was possibly necessary to ‘wipe the slate clean’ and ‘start from scratch.’Town Manager Lex Mulhall said, “that’s really the first question. Why spend the money on the IGA? Is he [Sheriff Denim Starnes] going to sign an IGA?”Mulhall was referencing an article written by correspondent Gianna Morena in the July 25 issue of Silver World that stated:‘Starnes is frank about the lack of manpower putting long-term planning on the back burner behind more immediate concerns. Nevertheless, he points to modernizing operations and reestablishing a presence in the more remote parts of Hinsdale County, which he feels have been neglected, as areas he hopes to address.One way to narrow his office’s focus may be to allow HCSO’s contract for law enforcement services with the Town of Lake City to expire in December. “I’m going to be either lauded or hated for what I decide to do with this contract. But the longer I think about this, the more and more I’m becoming convinced that the Town of Lake City needs to have its own marshal’s office so that the sheriff’s office can actually do its job out in the county.” [said Starnes.]Incorporated towns in Colorado have a statutory duty to provide police service. While many sheriffs provide municipal services under contract, they are not obligated to do so. The administrative and financial costs to the town for standing up its own police force would be substantial.’Starnes was not present at the August 13 meeting,(nor was Commissioner Greg Levine, who had attended the meeting earlier but needed to leave mid-meeting), and Mulhall said, “without the Sheriff being here…we can have our attorneys work on details such as liability language in there, what the costs potentially would be in 2026 and beyond, but what we really need to do is circle back, get the Sheriff in a room in a mutual understanding between all boards, that is really key at first, so maybe we need to wait until that happens before we dig into this.”County Administrator Sandy Hines said, “I think we all know for many years, that idea of the Town potentially looking at another way has come up over and over. I think it’s possible that Sheriff Starnes may have heard those conversations or may have heard over time alternate ideas. But nothing official has happened.”Mayor Roberts said, “why I want to talk about this while we’re all together, there has been some muddy water over this but I want to make it clear, the trustees did not wake up one day and say ‘we’re cancelling the IGA’ or anything like that.”Commissioner Kristie Borchers said, “I think one of the first things we need to hammer out is that there is a difference in legal opinion between the Town and County attorneys regarding what a County is required to provide a town with law enforcement. I think that would be first on our list, because that then drives the money. Also, I wanted to bring up this idea of one person assigned to the Town. The reason that came up was a way to evaluate costs, only. That was Sheriff Kambish, he thought that was the way to figure out costs, but maybe its not. The idea is, how is it equitable to split what the Sheriff is doing within the Town as opposed to what he does in the County. Even though that is how it is written, I think we just tend to think that we have to sign it for three years, and it happens again and again. Now we have a couple months. I think now you have this opportunity where our attorneys can collaborate and we can come up with a better agreement. The IGA has been cobbled together for so long, now it’s time to think about best practice models and come up with something better. ”Town Attorney Dan Krob spoke up, saying, “I just wanted to say a couple of things. You guys are all there doing public service, you’re all there for the community, whether that’s people in unincorporated Hinsdale County, or in the Town of Lake City, you’re all there on the same team. Like Commissioner Borchers said, that IGA has probably been hacked together over longer than I’ve been practicing law. I do think you would all benefit to sit down and figure out what exactly you want and what your priorities are. It might be time to wipe the slate clean and start with a new IGA if you guys want to do that. I’ve seen a lot of collaboration between you [two boards]. which is one of the reasons I enjoy being down there, and we can make this work easy and simple. There’s been enough rumors flying around that I think it would be beneficial to sit down with the Sheriff and find out what is his position, what does he want to do, and go from there.”

August 23, 2025 No Comments

Early Childcare, EMS, Search & Rescue Considered for Lodging Tax Increase

Hinsdale County Commissioners are narrowing their focus on specific ballot language for multiple questions to be put before county voters this November. At their morning workshop Wednesday this week, Commissioners Borchers, Levine, and Hurd discussed at length specifics of a proposed lodging tax increase of up to four percent.During informal discussion, it was repeatedly stated that a three percent lodging tax increase may be more amenable to county voters and thus have a better chance for passage. Hinsdale County currently has a two percent lodging tax for marketing but new state legislation expands the parameters on how the tax may be used — adding medical services, early childcare, and affordable housing to the mix — for a maximum of up to six percent.Although the discussion is ongoing and will be continued at the county board’s Wednesday, August 6, workshop, the three commissioners have apparently reached concensus on seeking voter approval for a one percent lodging tax increase for both Hinsdale County Search & Rescue and Early Childcare.Still up for discussion at the urging of Commissioner Levine is whether ballot language will include either a one or two percent lodging tax increase for Hinsdale County Emergency Medical Services.Based on 2024 lodging tax revenues, one percent equates to $66,343. Earlier in workshop, both Commissioners Hurd and Borchers had indicated support for a one percent lodging tax increase for EMS, although Commissioner Levine was adamant that Hinsdale EMS — which annually receives a substantial financial subsidy from the county — is “financially strained” and, depending on further discussion, may warrant two percent of lodging tax revenues equating to roughly $130,000 on an annual basis.“I worry about EMS a lot,” said Levine, noting on that on consecutive days last month the county’s EMS team received five calls, all before 6 a.m.He emphasized, “a lot is being put on them.”Commissioners Borchers and Hurd reiterated their unequivocal support for “sustainable funding” for all emergency providers, Commissioner Hurd adding his view that in future revenues from the revamped All Hazards Team Program may be able to provide greater financial support to emergency services.A slight modification in Wednesday’s discussion on ballot wording for proposed lodging tax increases — and different from what has previously been reported — is that Lake City Area Medical Center is, at the medical board’s request, now out of the mix in terms of seeking a portion of lodging tax revenues.Medical Center funding through lodging tax was complicated by the fact the health service district is already a taxing district and any portion of lodging tax revenues would necessarily go to the county and be apportioned at the county board’s discretion.In a letter to commissioners from health services board of directors, it is stated that they now wish to be removed from further consideration for lodging tax revenues, commissioners surmising that “most likely,” said Levine, the health services district “will go for a sales tax increase in the near future.”Medical center’s withdrawal from consideration for revenues from an added county lodging tax mirrors Lake City Area Fire Protection District which had initially expressed an interest in lodging tax revenues but later concluded to formulate its own fall, 2025, ballot question seeking a county sales tax increase specifically benefiting the fire district.At the fire district’s meeting Tuesday evening this week, directors finalized plans to seek a 1.25 percent sales tax increase which, with voter approval this fall, would be collected by businesses within the fire district’s boundaries roughly estimated at about $425,000, according to fire district secretary Michelle Pierce. The revenue, in part, Pierce adds, is necessary due to recent determination that the district must hire a fire marshal in order to enforce fire code.Also at Wednesday’s county board workshop and meeting, Lake City resident Ingrid Burnett was formally appointed as the county’s representative on the joint Hinsdale/Mineral County Silver Thread Public Health District. Each county board is allowed two positions on the health board, two Mineral County Commissioners serving on the board and Levine the sole county commissioner from Hinsdale County. Burnett will now represent the county as the second Hinsdale County representative.At start of open discussion prior to start of workshop and regular meeting on Wednesday, Commissioner Borchers uncharacteristically volunteered first in line with a detailed, point by point response to an anonymous letter which has been received critical of the county.Depending on space restrictions, WORLD plans to preprint Borcher’s rebuttal verbatim, although in this abbreviated mention she methodically addressed points in the unsigned letter which included a perceived need for greater financial oversight of the county board, additional details on the now revamped All Hazards Team Program which included Borchers’ acknowledgment that $1.25-million paid by the county as part of the program was ultimately not reimbursed by State of Colorado as the result of unintentional incorrect billing; and the demand in the anonymous letter for greater transparency, including financial and lease/purchase details, on the ongoing construction of the county’s new administration building adjoining Hinsdale County Courthouse on Henson Street.Fellow Commissioners Levine and Hurd concurred with Borchers’ detailed rebuttal of the anonymous letter, Hurd thanking Borchers for compiling the information and emphatically stating “nothing is hidden,” while Commissioner Levine described Borchers’ summation as “very succinct and complete.” Levine continued, noting “the truth is the truth” and inviting and welcoming members of the public to personally attend meetings of the county board — or listen to audio recordings of the board’s meeting — in preference to drafting unsigned letters.Again during open discussion portion of the commissioners’ July 30 meeting, Commissioner Hurd expressed his frustration with ongoing mandatory $8 day use fees required in order to visit Deer Creek Lakes on the Upper Cebolla. Hurd indicated particular outrage at what he termed “aggressive behavior” on the part of the Forest Service facility’s on-site managers which now extends, he said, to placing paper tickets on the windshields of parked vehicles.Commissioners met earlier last month with Forest Service Supervisor Dale Funka who indicated that the decision to impose a charge at the popular fishing and moose-watching

August 1, 2025 No Comments

Tag: County Commissioner