After thanking firefighters for their work on local fires and praising Aspen’s gondola transit system idea, Steve Kuschner of 350 Roaring Fork asked the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) Monday to support an in-person town hall with Congressman Jeff Hurd (R-CD3). Hurd has been on the hook with constituents since last March for having tele-town halls rather than showing up in-person to answer questions.
”Personal connection and personal gatherings foster a sense of community and allow for more personal interactions,” said Kuschner. “We also are looking for focus and engagement, community spirit, accessibility and an impactful discussion — more than we’ve been seeing online with those kinds of town halls.”
Commissioner Mike Samson committed to calling Hurd later in the day.
The BOCC also honored discretionary fund grant requests made last week. The Glenwood Arts Council, Andy Zanca Youth Empowerment Program (AZYEP), Grand Valley Parks Association, YouthEntity and Roaring Fork Public Radio (aka Aspen Public Radio) requested a total of $25,000. All but AZYEP received $5,000.
Commissioners agreed that AZYEP did not have enough of a presence in the Colorado River Valley to warrant $5,000. AZYEP Director Brendan Girardot stated last week that the organization hopes to make more headway into schools in the western part of the county. “But, I question the sincerity of that statement, to be quite honest,” said Chairman Tom Jankovsky. “We heard it last year,” said Samson.
“And the year before,” added Jankovsky. The BOCC awarded AZYEP $3,000.
“AZYEP has consistently pursued the goal of reaching more students in the RE-2 and RE-16 school districts, with varying results,” Girardot told The Sun. “In the 2025-2026 school year, our management team is committed to increasing our work with youth in the Colorado River Valley communities through partnerships with teachers and organizations in the region. We are incredibly grateful for the continued support of Garfield County, and we look forward to presenting on our expanded reach next year.”
Commissioners approved funding for a dividing wall for the county jail and a promotion for the legal assistant to move into a paralegal position in the county attorney’s office. But in a 2-1 vote, citing the recent hiring freeze and a tight budget, they denied a new hire to replace the assistant county attorney whose last day is Aug. 18. Jankovsky cast the dissenting vote. Samson said it would be worth revisiting if the office’s case load becomes too much of a burden.
The appointment process for three Garfield County Libraries Board of Trustees will begin in the fall. Myrna Fletchall resigned in July, six months before the end of her term, leaving the Rifle position open. The New Castle and Parachute positions also expire Dec. 31. But instead of going through the appointment process now for the Rifle position and repeating the process later for the other two positions, County Manager Fred Jarman suggested they do one process for all three.
County attorney Heather Beattie said that library bylaws require that trustee vacancies be filled as soon as possible. “I think that can be read to include that it be done efficiently and in a reasonable manner,” she said.
Jankovsky brought up the intergovernmental agreement between the library and the BOCC about trustee appointments that has yet to be signed, and added that he plans to return a call from the library board’s chair, Adrian Rippy-Sheehy.
Cheryl Strouse, executive director of the Garfield County Housing Authority, introduced the new deputy director, Ben Ogden.
In the afternoon, commissioners approved a permit for 39 directionally drilled natural gas wells about five miles northwest of Rifle on private land owned by the Clough Sheep Company. The plan, offered by Terra Energy Partners, or TEP, includes about 12 acres of new surface disturbance plus pipelines for natural gas, produced water and condensate. Total surface disturbance is expected to be about 53 acres, including remote storage and hydraulic fracking facilities.
According to Garfield County staff, there are no buildings, schools, childcare centers or designated outdoor activity areas within 2,000 feet of the pad. But it is within an “aquatic sportfish management waters high priority habitat” boundary and high priority mule deer winter range. The Highway 13 bypass will provide access to operations via County Road 244.
Leslie Robinson, chair of the Grand Valley Citizens Alliance, was the only member of the public to comment on the project. She requested a delay of approval until damages to mule deer populations and habitat from the Lee Fire are assessed.
She also questioned if TEP plans to build temporary housing for rig operators. “We’ve had previous problems with sanitation, garbage and litter at these man camps,” she said. “Will Garfield County be sending inspectors to these man camps?” TEP replied that only a small number of employees will live near the pad.
Robinson also said that she has spoken with Rifle City Council members who have had no interaction with TEP about the project. “And I don’t see any references to the special Roan Plateau planning boundary that puts special limits on disturbances on the top and sides of the Roan Plateau,” she added.
The BOCC unanimously approved the project with 13 conditions, including prohibiting firearms. TEP said that the Bureau of Land Management will provide an environmental assessment by the end of the year.