Art by Larry Day

A different kind of library request opened Monday’s Garfield County Commissioner (BOCC) meeting. Ellen Dole of the local group Protect Our GarCo Libraries approached the board with a polite letter and petition — with a stated 1,400 signatures — asking the BOCC to rescind a resolution about appointing Garfield County Public Library District trustees. The BOCC decided to take control of library board of trustee appointments, from advertising for open positions to interviewing and appointing members, in Feb. 2024 and signed Resolution 2412 in March. Prior to that, the library handled the appointment process and the BOCC made the final approval based on library recommendations.
“Through this resolution, the commissioners gave themselves the power to select library trustees to align with their political ideology and positions on censorship,” said Dole. “It’s my opinion that most people in Garfield County support the freedom to access information, protect our Garfield County libraries, believe the library board trustees should be free from political ideology and be allowed to continue to fully support the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights,” she added.
“We also have another petition of about 1,400 signatures from a group that would like to see some restrictions in the library,” said Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. “So that discussion will be ongoing, and I think the appropriate place for that will be within the library board.” He added that he hopes the library board has diverse opinions in order to have that discussion. Dole agreed.
“But,” she added, “I think grounded in the First Amendment, grounded in common principles of access to information is important as well.”
Jankovsky replied, “This board feels very strongly about the First Amendment.”
The BOCC appointed Myrna Fletchall in early May to fill the Rifle vacancy on the Library Board. Now, they are getting ready to fill positions for the New Castle, Glenwood Springs and Carbondale branches.
Later in the meeting, Heather Beattie, county attorney, discussed next steps. The New Castle position needs to be filled until the end of December 2025. Both trustees for Glenwood Springs and Carbondale are eligible to serve another term. The county has received letters of intent from the incumbent trustees but is still going to advertise for those positions. Applications are open until Nov. 27. Interviews are scheduled for Dec. 5.
Beattie also brought up the intergovernmental agreement with the library that is as yet unsigned. It is uncertain at this point when the BOCC will meet with the library board.
In other news, the BOCC heard grant requests from the Mt Sopris Nordic Council, the Western Slope Veterans Association, Colorado Mountain College Foundation, KDNK and Symphony in the Valley. Roaring Fork Show Up, a new nonprofit focused on raising awareness of racial disparities and amplifying voices of under-represented races from Aspen to Parachute, also requested assistance.
The BOCC heard from two applicants for a spot on the county fair board and approved a development plan for Vantage Aviation at the Rifle/Garfield County Airport. The county clerk and recorder’s office gave an update on last-minute voting and where to vote on Election Day.
A liquor license request from No Name Bar and Grill was postponed despite the applicant’s desire for the BOCC to grant a temporary license until all conditions for the permanent license are met. The applicant must provide food — at a minimum of heat and serve items — in order to receive a liquor license. Garfield County Public Health requested the menu and times of operation and, once those have been submitted, will conduct an “unannounced inspection.”
The BOCC approved a temporary use permit for storage and helipad activities at 530 County Road 335 in New Castle associated with the rebuild of an electric transmission line. The laydown yard and helipad will be on 16 acres of the McLin property south of Silt. No date has been set for the start of construction on the line, which will occur in two phases.
A request for a substantial modification to a land use change permit for the Gianinetti Community Event Center at 644 Cowen Drive in Carbondale was also postponed due to public noticing errors.
Commission Chair John Martin is out on medical leave this month.