Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) Monday spent a little over an hour in the morning and maybe a half-hour in the afternoon approving, denying and continuing various items. No one from the public had anything to say about issues not on the agenda.
An update from Rural Public Lands County Council lobbyist Robert Weidner from Washington, D.C. was first on the agenda. President Biden’s 30×30 plan, also known as the America the Beautiful Initiative, is a top concern for the BOCC and Weidner, as is the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Public Lands Rule (PLR) published on April 18, which adds conservation to the BLM’s multiple use management framework.
Last week, several conservative western senators introduced legislation to block approval of the rule, stating that it violates the 1976 Federal Land Policy and Management Act. Weidner and the BOCC agree. They discussed possible political ways to foil the PLR but Weidner said that it doesn’t look good for opponents.
“The conservation rule is an administrative rule through the BLM and what came out of the House was a bill in opposition to that rule,” said Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. “But it won’t get any traction in the Senate.” He added that he’s confident there will be legal challenges to the PLR. “It really gets to that point where it’s a Big Government and administrative oversight,” he said. The BOCC approved a payment of $7,500 to Weidner for his work during the first quarter of 2024.
Two abatements were approved, including Valley View Hospital Association for $58,484 due to its non-profit status. The BOCC approved a pass-through grant for electronics upgrades as well as the consent agenda. Jankovsky recused himself from a decision to approve an amended final plat on a lot in the Coryell Ranch, northwest of Carbondale. “My wife did not receive any compensation but represented the owners of this lot,” he explained.
All but two discretionary grant requests made last week were approved. Yampa Mountain High School’s Yampah Campah request for $3,900 for this summer’s activities was denied. Jankovsky said it felt like the county would be funding an individual instead of a nonprofit. Roaring Fork Pre-Collegiate was also turned down because, said Jankovsky, the nonprofit has “$212,000 in reserves.”
Two fee waivers were granted for upcoming events at the county fairgrounds as well as a supplemental request for $20,000 for the CSU Foundation. Commissioners agreed to sign a letter of support for Eagle County to pursue a $15 million federal grant for improvements to Blue Hill on the Eagle County side of Cottonwood Pass. Garfield County received $287,960 from the National Forest Reserve for 2023, which, according to Jamaica Watts, county finance director, is a little over $19,739 more than what was received the year before.
In the afternoon, the BOCC approved an extension request by Royal Mini Storage to complete conditions of a November, 2023 approval.
Now, about those condos. Garco Premiere Hangars wants to build five condominium units in a 20,000-foot hangar at the Garfield County Airport. While listening to the presentation, The Sopris Sun thought that building condos inside an airplane hangar was a novel housing idea and asked for clarification. “It’s for airplanes, Amy,” replied Commission Chair John Martin. “Not for housing.” They continued the public hearing and will make a final decision on Monday, May 20.