Lake City | The Silver World Newspaper

Affordable Housing Part Four, Final Plan: Lighting the Fuse, Housing Plan Lifts Off

February 11, Town of Lake City Trustees and Hinsdale County Commissioners, along with members of the Town Planning & Zoning Commission, met at the Town meeting room to review the final draft of the Affordable Housing Plan.Vision statement “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.”The Housing Plan is a story built on numbers, the numbers that define the crisis, the numbers that paint the backdrop, and the numbers that may lead to a solution.The presentation, led by Sarah McClain of Western Spaces, began with a review of how the plan was built by the community, with 97 household surveys and 21 employer surveys starting the process, shining a spotlight on the housing crisis. There were 20 working group meetings that included representatives of the Town and County and the consulting group. There were also three steering group meetings with more than 20 participants, including representatives from across the community.There were four public meetings with members of the consulting group, the County Commissioners, and Town Trustees, together with members of the Town Planning & Zoning Commission.Numbers further define the scope of the housing crisis.The survey that began the planning process revealed there are 24 unfilled jobs due to lack of housing, and one in five households are in danger of being displaced. There are zero long-term rentals while there is a 72 percent housing vacancy rate due to the seasonal nature of the Lake City community. The population of Lake City has declined since 2010 while housing costs have continued to rise, with the median home price topping out at $563,000, up 25 percent since 2022. The student population has dropped as well, leaving the school short in funding from the state based on student counts.The housing crisis affects every aspect of life in Lake City, from the seniors wanting to age in place to the families wanting their children to attend a supportive small-town school. Except there is no place for the seniors to downsize to, and no place for young families, and no place for new teachers or new government employees. With 52 percent of the housing share, couples without children dominate the housing market, while families with children make up only 18 percent.According to the Employer Survey, “When there aren’t enough workers in the service industry, tourism begins to decline. Restaurants, hotels, shops, and entertainment venues either reduce their hours or shut down entirely.”In-depth analysis of the crisis and examination of both the strengths and weaknesses in the local housing market, along with numerous conversations with stakeholders led to a series of recommended steps and strategies to chip away at the housing problem.The goal of each strategy is to create housing opportunities. The plan estimates 20-40 units can be created or recovered through legislative steps, the easiest way to start. The first strategy presented involves updating or implementing certain policy changes in the Zoning Ordinances of the Town of Lake City or in the Land Use Code of Hinsdale County. Specific steps include adopting a fast-track review policy for any proposed projects that include affordable housing, which have been adopted by both the Town and County. This fast-track review will encourage developers to include affordable housing opportunities in plans. Another step adding housing units to the existing inventory is to allow Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in both new construction and existing residences. The Town Planning & Zoning Commission is analyzing options so they can make recommendations to Trustees to update how ADUs are addressed in Town ordinances.The County has instructed its Planning & Zoning Commission and County Attorney to review the entire code to streamline and update. To that end, Colorado has recently provided small governments across the state with a detailed template for just such updates. These types of policies will create a path of least resistance to housing as modifications to existing regulations.The next strategy presented is to optimize the existing housing inventory. This strategy aims, in part, to tap into the 72 percent vacancy rate in Lake City. The Town, County, or any of the large employers in the community could work to acquire and rehabilitate some of these empty houses for employee housing. Along those lines could be grants or low interest loans for emergency home repairs and weatherization to create year-round inventory.The Household Survey states, “The town is shrinking per census and school enrollment, and year-round residents are left with a shell of a town.” Strategy 3 is all about the need to create sustainable income for supporting the housing effort. The most urgent step in the direction of sustainability is passing a small mill levy, which ties directly to the vacancy rate of 72 percent, as these second and vacation homes will bear the brunt on the mill levy. This housing tax of 4 mills would bring in approximately $232,000, about $25 per $100,000 in assessed value. Other funding ideas include impact or linkage fees, requiring fees from some new developments, and leveraging grants for specific projects. Predictable income allows for multi-year project planning and matching funds for grants.This is where the cultivation of partners in the community, such as Lake City Community School (LCCS), will also contribute to the efforts to ensure their ability to maintain their own workforce. The Town and LCCS have purchased employee housing, and both the County and Town have plans to create employee housing in properties which both entities already own.The Lake City community is ahead of similar communities now tackling housing issues in that the Town has held on to property located in the 700 Block of north Henson Street, in part waiting for the very opportunity offered by this plan, and a recent emphasis on housing as a priority by the State of Colorado.While the first two strategies may produce ten or twenty new housing units, the proposed Lake Fork project will provide 28 units altogether, ranging from condos that can be bought

March 20, 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

Snow Depth, Water Content Continues Dismal

Snow depth and water content above Lake City remain at dismal, near-record low levels with median 1991-2020 levels on the Upper Lake Fork and elsewhere in Hinsdale County on Upper Rio Grande and Upper Piedra in the county’s South End, ranging from 54 to 60 percent of long-term median.Closest to home, Natural Resources Conservation Service’s 11,560’ Slumgullion Pass SnoTel site registers just 57 percent of 1991-2020 median with meager 24” snow depth on Tuesday, March 10, equivalent to 6.6” snow/water content.No surprise to winter recreationalists this winter, traditionally snowy Slumgullion Pass only reached 30” snow depth at the SnoTel site on one day February 21 — last month and then steadily dropped to 28” depth February 22-24, and 24” compacted snow ranging 6.3-6.4” water equivalency March 2-6.As of Tuesday this week, Slumgullion snow remained 24” depth with slightly elevated 6.6” water content.Similarly dismal up valley at Wager Gulch on the upper Lake Fork near Carson, snow depth was 18”, 4.3” snow/water equivalent February 23-24 but has incrementally decreased, 16”depth February 25-March 2, and now Changes in Natural Resources Conservation Service’s precipitation median from February 28, above, to March 8, upper right: Gunnison drainage from 68 to 65 percent median and red-shaded Arkansas now below 50 percent of norm as result lack of moisture, temperatures, and wind. 15” snow with 4.4” water as of March 10.Mid-county on the Upper Rio Grande, the 11,580’ elevation Beartown snow measuring site is marginally better at 60 percent of median, 25” snow depth on February 9 and now increased to 34” depth, 10.6” water on March 10.Weminuche Creek in far south Hinsdale County, 10,730’ elevation, is at 54 percent of median, the site recording 22” snow depth/4.9” snow/water February 9, increasing to 28” depth with 8.1 snow/water content as of Tuesday this week.Newly appointed Gunnison Basin Round Table member Bruce Heath has a regional perspective and expresses concern with not only local snow conditions but the southwest U.S. region as a whole, Colorado River at record ebb and, consequently, Lake Mead Reservoir on the Arizona-Nevada border just 32-33 percent of capacity.The reservoir’s low capacity will undoubtedly have a negative impact on downstream water users, California and lower water appropriation Arizona, where it is now confirmed that electric generation is endangered because reservoir dams such as Hoover Dam were not designed for generation with such low water levels. STAY IN TOUCH Subscribe TODAY!

March 12, 2026 No Comments

Dynamite Shack Ice Climber Severely Injured in100’ Vertical Plunge

A male ice climber in his 50s was critically injured Saturday afternoon, January 24, after falling approximately 100’ at the Dynamite Shack portion of ice climbing wall on Henson Creek.The injured man, who has been identified as Vratislav, a resident of Canada, was transported to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction by CareFlight of the Rockies helicopter ambulance with injuries which are described as traumatic, complex and life-threatening.As an indication of the severity of the man’s injuries, responders to the scene following the 3:21 p.m. emergency page were Hinsdale County Emergency Medical Service — EMT Danny Oge, EMT student and driver Lorie Stewart, EMT Katherine Heidt, AEMT Dan Humphreys, and EMT Sarah Moody, together with support from Gunnison Valley Paramedics who were called in based on critical care mutual aid. Also responding to the scene were Lake City firefighters with Lake City Fire/Rescue, Hinsdale County Search and Rescue, and Hinsdale County Sheriff Denim Starnes.Among those first on the scene at the base of the ice wall and after crossing open-flowing Henson Creek were Sheriff Starnes and Fire Chief Justin Thompson, the latter joined within moments by Chief Engineer R.E. Hall and firefighters Evan Milski, Mike Ralph, Nathan Wuest, and Matt Jones.From his perspective, Fire Chief Thompson was highly complimentary of the entire medical and emergency crew which assembled at the scene, adding that he was also impressed with members of the ice climbing community who immediately “showed up big time, ready and willing to help.”According to bystanders at the scene, the Dynamite Shack portion of the ice climbing wall where the man fell approximately 30 meters/100 feet vertical ice with a tree on the upper portion which was used as a belay anchor by the man’s partner.The injured man was not attached to the tree, however, and — according to a Reddit post by a fellow climber who was at the scene — was using a single strand of 75 meter climbing rope.Typically when descending, an ice climber ties hand knots to both ends of the rope and, at the half-way point in the rope, attaches an anchor or quick link, both the upper and lower ends of the rope then passing through an ATC — otherwise referred to as a belay/rappeling device — for the downward descent.Although probable cause of the climber’s fall remains unknown, one possibility is that only a single strand was attached to ATC, an observer at the scene noting that after the fall, the knot at the tail of the climber’s rope was wedged in the quick link upper anchor.Regardless of the cause, the man’s serious injury is being described as a tragic accident.According to an observer at the scene who later posted on Reddit, “I just wanted to remind everyone, please do all you can to be safe out there.”Saturday was an extremely busy day for Hinsdale EMS with a second, non-ice-climbing-related incident which was received at 3:36 p.m.EMT and student/driver Melody Crump, and EMT driver Kyle Harrison were dispatched to a residence in response to a female who was injured while ice skating.The injured party was subsequently transported to Gunnison Valley Hospital Late Tuesday, SILVER WORLD learned that a gofundme account entitled “Help Bring Vratislav Home for Ongoing Medical Care” has been established with $67,401 raised by 434 donors as of Thursday morning toward a goal of $250,000.According to the gofundme site, “Vratislav is a passionate skier, climber and traveler who has dedicated his life to adventure, nature, and living with a purpose..”“Together with his wife, he worked hard to turn their dreams into reality – choosing experience over possessions and setting out on what was meant to be their dream journey. During their ice climbing trip to Colorado, USA, he suffered a devastating accident that abruptly changed everything.Vratislav fell approximately 40 meters from an ice wall. He survived the fall and was airlifted to hospital in Grand Junction, where he was stabilized and has already undergone multiple surgeries, with more to come. Hopefully his future care can be completed in Canada.Fortunately, the doctors confirmed there was no severe traumatic brain injury and at this time his vital signs are stable. His injuries are extensive, as he sustained multiple facial fractures, a shattered femur with knee involvement, a shattered heel, a fractured and dislocated shoulder.As a result of his injuries, there will doubtless be more surgeries necessary.He is currently in ICU in Colorado and will be facing a long and challenging road ahead. The immediate goal is to bring Vratislav back home to Canada where he can continue treatment. Due to the severity of his injuries, the only option is an emergency medical transport.Funds will be raised to cover the cost of transport from Colorado to Canada. All additional funds will go towards medical expenses incurred in the United States, ongoing medical care, rehabilitation and recovery.This accident happened suddenly and without warning. Bringing Vratislav home is the most important next step in giving him the best possible chance at recovery…. thank you for reading and your support. If you’re able to help — by donating, sharing, or simply keeping them in your thoughts — it truly means a lot.”

January 30, 2026 No Comments

Amidst Springtime Temperatures in January, Chamber of Commerce Cancels Annual Brewski

Lake City Chamber of Commerce’s annual beer-sipping slog around the south end of frozen Lake San Cristobal has been cancelled, in part owing to warmer than usual daytime temperatures and uncertain ice conditions.The annual event, scheduled on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14, was also cancelled due to lackluster pre-event registration, according to Chamber Administrator Kat Menzies, who said, “people have been watching the weather, and it’s been unusually warm for this time of year. I think many saw the writing on the wall. With no snow on the lake, the Brewski just wouldn’t feel like the event we all know and love. A number of factors played into the decision, but ultimately it wasn’t shaping up to be the kind of experience our community looks forward to. We’re already thinking ahead to next year.” Brewski was halted in part owing to variable ice conditions at the lake, ice depth in some locations reported between 8” and 20” but in other areas thin or uncertain ice depth with patches of open water.Similar ice conditions were encountered for last year’s Brewski when, instead of lake ice, contestants walked a circular loop on mostly-dry Peninsula Park parking lot. Cancellation of this year’s Brewski does not impact a full slate of “Winter White-Out” events which are scheduled next month, starting with Town of Lake City’s Ice Climb Fest Saturday, February 7, and continuing into mid and late-February with Hinsdale County Search & Rescue’s Ice Fishing Derby and Lake City Area Medical Center’s Cannibal Snowshoe Race, respectively Saturdays February 21 and 28, both of which are scheduled on the frozen surface of Lake San Cristobal.

January 23, 2026 No Comments

Hinsdale County to Perform Controlled Burns at Transfer Station During Month of January

Hinsdale County will be conducting a series of controlled burnings at the Transfer Station throughout the month of January to mitigate a pile of natural vegetation that has accumulated at the Transfer Station. This completely organic material was brought primarily to the dump by local property and ranch owners clearing their land or yards of potential wildfire fuels and consists of trees, shrubs and grasses. It is important to note that no there are no construction materials or treated wood within this pile of material.Commissioner Greg Levine was able to obtain a permit from the State of Colorado through asmoke management program. Commissioner Levine stated that the permit, which allows the county to burn at the Transfer Station, is a very cost effective and logical solution. The program will be a hybrid strategy alongside the continuation of the existing chipping program, which is, according to Levine, too expensive on it’s own, costing up to $20,000 per year. Thankfully, Hinsdale County has obtained a grant for further chipping activity in 2026 and beyond.The days of the controlled burns will be up to the discretion of Don Menzies, Hinsdale County Road and Bridge Manager, as long as certain weather conditions are present.Levine said, “ideal burning days would be snowy or rainy days without high winds, with lower wildfire conditions.” Levine stressed that these burnings will occur only during the winter, never in the summer.Levine predicts that the amount of material needing to be burned away is small enough that the task should be completed by the end of January, barring any extreme weather conditions.Levine said now that the permit is in hand and the public has been notified, Menzies can begin the burns whenever he chooses.Menzies told WORLD that this natural material will only have a small amount of accelerant added, “to get it going,” such as diesel fuel or kerosene, but that the amount would be miniscule. Menzies also wanted to note that there will be a full water truck on standby on site, as a safety precaution.Anyone with questions or concerns can call Menzies at 970-944-2400 or Hinsdale County Administration Offices at 970-944-2225.

January 8, 2026 No Comments

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

January 1, 2026 No Comments

Myriad of Topics Covered at Lively Town Meeting Dec. 17 Including Sheriff IGA, April Election, Short Term Rentals

The first topic on the agenda of the Town of Lake City Board of Trustees workshop December 17 was to continue an ongoing conversation about an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the Town and Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Office.Mayor Dave Roberts and trustees were presented with a revised draft of the IGA, which has undergone several revisions factoring in budget restraints, insurance, and information from other small towns comparable to Lake City, and how they make their Sheriff’s IGAs work for them.“The key to this is,” began Mayor Roberts, “we want law enforcement in our town, and we will have an IGA. The best way to explain this – when I was a trustee, when the Sheriff’s IGA would come up, it was just something we had to do, just renew it. No information, no thought put into it, really. What we’re trying to do is put together an agreement that makes sense. The old one was very strange and what we’re working on doing is putting together something that is fair between the Town and County. Nothing is set in stone yet. We’re just working on something that we can negotiate with that will be fair.”Roberts went on to say that it was suggested the Town Board compare Lake City to Silverton’s Sheriff IGA, since the towns are similar. “Their budget,” Roberts said, “is 8.3 million a year, and ours is 1.1 [million per year].”Roberts opened the floor to comments and asked Trustee Jodi Linsey to speak first. “I’m awful glad that we are not just rolling the same IGA over and over with no thought as to what it actually means in our world. From what I’m seeing [in this latest version] reflects a lot of the things that we have discussed in our workshops, so that’s good, and it’s time to lob it back to the County. Do we need to adopt an ordinance, or just give it a thumbs up?”Attorney Dan Krob, attending the meeting via Zoom, added “what we want to do is be on the same page as far as what we expect and what the County will expect. There will be hiring issues, that’s a statewide issue, and you guys being as remote as you are, it’s beautiful but that presents a challenge. So, we don’t want to put the Sheriff’s Office in a position to say, ‘we’ll give you fifty guys,’ when they can’t ever fulfill that.” Krob went on to say that the IGA should probably provide guidelines for what hours the Town expects the Sheriff to be working, and that a 3 percent increase in cost year upon year was fairly standard to other IGAs he has seen in other small towns. “But that’s completely up to you,” he said.Linsey replied with, “I think a set number of hours is going to be seen as unreasonable. The Sheriff’s Office will want to know how to track that; will there be timekeeping? I think it opens [the IGA] to issues rather than supplying answers.”Attorney Krob said, “Generally when I’ve seen these, there’s a breakdown that comes from the Sheriff’s Office that says ‘this is what our employees cost, this is what it costs to get them their vest or their car or whatever, and what we’re asking you [the Town] to pay, comes out to this amount of money.’ So I think it wouldn’t be out of line to ask the County – you [the Town] proposed $100,000 – what do we get for those services, what can we expect? I do think both sides want to work collaboratively, but I think both sides need to be on the same page as far as what is expected.”Town Manager Lex Mulhall said, “I do think [tracking] hours would be problematic and an administrative burden. As far as the cost, we had put in here $65,000, at a previous workshop someone mentioned $75,000, someone said that was too much, so we included a provision where if they provided a deputy for special events, that took place on town property, we would offer them additional compensations, they could charge us for that. I wanted your feedback on that. That way, also the non-profits wouldn’t have to hire their own security, which they had to do this year, at least for Wine and Music Festival.” Mulhall went on to say, “They [Hinsdale County] did provide additional information including dispatch fees; what’s expected for next year for just the dispatch fees it’s $69,317, plus a full-time deputy plus benefits plus overtime in the County Deputy Sherriff salary is $66,950. Undersheriff is $72,100. Also – the cost of the vehicles, which they just recently received two new Ford Expeditions, $71,500 each. I mention that because one of the other communities base the cost on one fully-equipped law enforcement vehicle. Then every three years, the cost of the IGA goes up based on a new vehicle being purchased and what the purchase price that year is for that vehicle. That is one of the ways we could approach this. If we did the three percent annual increase, and we paid the $100,548 they said they wanted next year, by 2035 we’re paying $131,193. It will keep going up more and more with that annual three percent increase, which is not really sustainable for us since our revenues aren’t going up three percent every year. Everyone’s cost goes up every year. Something that may be more manageable may be to [look at] the cost of the vehicle – $71,500 every three years, whatever it costs you to replace a vehicle, is what we pay – or something to that effect. Also in here, what was changed based on the conversation we had last time, was the insurance we changed to match some of the other IGAs that we’ve shown as examples, instead of us paying the liability insurance for a full-time police officer, which is another $8,700, we would just be adding them as additionally insured. $65,000 maybe a little

December 26, 2025 No Comments

Jury Trial Date in Hit-and-Run Incident Set in Lake City, May 2026

After near-monthly court hearings in Gunnison and coming up on a year since the January, 2025, hit-and-run accident which left a Lake City man paralyzed, a court date has been set for a four-day jury trial in which Keenan Blake Earley faces a variety of felony charges, including Vehicular Assault, Reckless Driving, Accident Involving Death or Serious Bodily Injury and Duty to Report Accident.7th Judicial District Judge Kellie Starritt once again presided at a short, 20-minute status hearing in district court in Gunnison last Thursday afternoon, December 11, during which she conferred with both prosecution and court-appointed defense, referencing the protracted delay and the fact that since June or July last summer, “victims are ready to resolve this case one way or another.” Barring a potential change in dates as outcome of status hearing February 12, 2026, and a Pretrial Conference on April 23 next year, Earley’s district court jury trial is tentatively set in the upstairs courtroom of Hinsdale County Courthouse in Lake City May 26-29, 2026.Attendance before Judge Starritt at last week’s status hearing was minimal, both Earley and his court appointed defense, Patrick Crane, attending remotely by Webex, and the prosecution, Jessica Wagner from the 7th Judicial District DA’s office, attending in person.Also attending remotely from Lake City and nodding her head in agreement with the judge’s recommendation to proceed to trial, was Phyllis Bairrington.Public Defender Patrick Crane indicated that both he and another Montrose-based Public Defender, Steven Rodemeyer, will represent Earley at the Lake City trial and that the delay to date involves paint chip analysis by Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensics.That final element of evidence is expected shortly, after which Crane said Defense will be prepared for trial.District Attorney Office’s Wagner asked Judge Starritt to schedule either a four or five-day 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. trial, with first day set aside for jury selection starting 8:30 a.m.In advance of the tentative four-day May Lake City trial date — and with both Earley and Bairrington and defense and prosecution reps silently nodding in agreement — a motion hearing is scheduled in Gunnison at 2 p.m. Thursday, February 12, 2026, and a tentative Pretrial Conference at which Earley is requested to attend in person at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 23. Never miss a local story! Subscribe to the Lake City Silver World and receive the local news right to your inbox or mailbox

December 19, 2025 No Comments

Town Board Debates Changing Number of Trustees, Approves Donation Requests for Community Organizations

During the workshop portion of the December 3 Town of Lake City Board of Trustees meeting, the first item on the agenda was to discuss the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the Town and County for the Sheriff’s Office. This topic has been discussed at length during town meetings of late, and progress can be tracked through previous issues of Silver World.Trustees did not come to a conclusion during the workshop December 3, as they have decided to hold off on making a decision until they have the opportunity for Sheriff Denim Starnes to meet with them in person.Trustees had been given a draft copy of an IGA prepared by Hinsdale County, and Mayor Dave Roberts said, “there is no action [to be taken tonight] on this. We all got a copy of the IGA that the County presented. The purpose of this is for us to have an open discussion, to gather some information, and I believe we had some questions for the Sheriff. He was going to try to be here this evening, but there is a truck accident apparently on Slum, and he’s stuck so he will not be able to make it.”“ I believe we will be able to get our questions answered before we move forward with this. I think it’s important for the trustees to be able to share their opinions, also, Dan [Krob, Town Attorney] is on with us tonight. One thing I want to say about the IGA is that I believe as a board, and I myself, we all believe it’s very important the citizens of Lake City have police protection.”Attorney Krob stated that he thought the IGA was “a pretty good framework” that just “needed details hammered out.”It should be noted that County attorney Michael O’Loughlin was in attendance during the workshop to represent the interests of Hinsdale County.Also during the workshop portion of the meeting was a topic previously discussed by trustees; the possibility of a 2026 election ballot question to reduce the number of Town Trustees.The conversation began with Town Manager Lex Mulhall saying, “there was discussion about this 630when there were only four trustees and we had three vacancies and we couldn’t get anyone to sign up. If this were something that we decided to do, it would not go into effect until 2028. I just wanted to see if that was something worth discussing or thinking about. I thought I would be negligent in not bringing it up since we had that issue for a while.” Mayor Roberts said, “I remember when that issue came up and part of it was because we couldn’t even fill seats. It’s also a lot to ask. Let’s face it, you’re all volunteers, minus your big check every month,” to which Trustee Diane Bruce said with a laugh, “89 dollars and 55 cents!”Roberts continued, “I was told that the board used to be smaller and it got changed to seven – six trustees and a mayor, where it used to be four trustees and a major and I still don’t have an answer as to why it got changed. It seems to me, if you can’t fill the seats, what’s the point? Maybe if there were more people willing to run and be more dedicated to the job. I’m not saying anything about [the trustees] not being dedicated; this is one of the best boards I’ve ever been a part of and I appreciate the time and effort you guys put into it. Anyways, we wanted to throw that out and get your feelings on it.”Trustee Jodi Linsey spoke up, saying, “I think you have a really valid point, but I would counter it with the fact that the more people you have sitting at the table, the better you’re going to be able to govern, because you have greater diversity and you have a greater opportunity. If you only have four people, they might all be of the same opinion, whereas when you have more people, you have more diverse ideas. I’m a proponent of diversity. Also, I’d like to point out that we did have a very dysfunctional and angry board for a while, and those people are no longer sitting on the board and I think we’re more productive now, and I think we all contribute, whether we were elected or appointed”.Roberts responded, “I appreciate that, and I do agree with the diversity piece. I just wonder if it’s overkill. There’s three commissioners.”Linsey retorted with, “they also make $75,000 a year.” Roberts agreed, saying, “we don’t have time to discuss that.”Trustee Woods said, “I support keeping it at seven. It gives more of our citizens a chance to take part in the political process and if we don’t, then only three people would be a quorum. So three people could make a decision for the whole town.”Mulhall agreed, saying, “in most cases, unless it’s a super majority.”Trustee Bruce said “I haven’t made up my mind. I see both sides of it, but of course, this would have to go to a vote of the people.” Roberts confirmed, saying, “that’s what [we need to decide]; is it worth putting it to a vote of the people. I think the key to this is, there are seats coming up [to the end of their term], and a big part of our board right now filled vacancies instead of being elected by the citizens. You talk about representation; we were at a point where we needed a body in that seat – for someone to jump on board, and it worked out well, thank you all, but…that was another reason. If we don’t have enough citizen participation to even have elections, then are we serving the people of the town?”Trustee Kendall, who was initially appointed as town trustee, noted, “I can see both sides; there was a vacancy and I was assigned to it and then I got re-elected. I can see the other side too, it’s getting hard to

December 12, 2025 No Comments

Tag: Lake City