The Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting in Rifle on Monday began with public comment from Rifle resident Mary Jane Hangs, a regular attendee when the BOCC comes to town. She had two concerns about the county’s senior citizens. First, she disagrees with how the Garfield County Department of Human Services (DHS) represents the county on […]
Garfield County Public Library District
Posted inLocal Government
Library Report: Board split on recommending Use or Hershey for Glenwood seat, staff compensation called into question
The Garfield County Public Library District Board of Trustees voted on Thursday to recommend Susan Use and Tony Hershey to the Garfield Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for the vacant Glenwood Springs seat on the library’s governing body. On Feb. 27, the BOCC interviewed Hershey and Use in addition to two other applicants — Ksana […]
Posted inLocal Government
Conservative play for library board worries former librarian
On Thursday, Feb. 27, the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) will listen for a second time to candidates for the Glenwood Springs position on the Garfield County Library Board of Trustees. And Jocelyn Durrance, who served as a trustee representing Carbondale for five years, is worried. “I think there is a group within Garfield County who […]
Posted inColumns
Literate Life: Being on a board
I think I have now sat on every side of the table. I’ve been a senior staff member giving reports to a board. I was a director working with an advisory board. I’m once again a director reporting to a statutory governing body. From the other side, I’ve been a nonprofit and governmental board member, […]
Posted inNonprofits
A dinner in support of justice for marginalized communities
This story originated from Sol del Valle and has been translated for English readers. On Friday, Jan. 17, the Glenwood Springs Library served as a gathering place that attracted the attention of diverse communities in the Valley. The Justice Ministries team of Roaring Fork United Methodist Churches hosted a justice dinner and a discussion panel. […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Library budget accepted, gray wolves rejected
Garfield County Commission Chair Tom Jankovsky moved swiftly through Monday’s meeting agenda after listening to a woman talk about the library budget during the public comment period. She and Trish O’Grady, who spoke to the Commissioners (BOCC) at the beginning of the month, are now trying to draw attention to the district’s budget, including Executive […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: O’Grady returns, lobbyist report, Martin still here
A new approach to constraining the Garfield County Library District took the stage during the first Garfield County Board of Commissioners (BOCC) meeting of 2025. Rifle resident Trish O’Grady Zoomed in to direct the BOCC’s attention to the library district’s budget, opining about how the library spends its money, based on information she said she […]
Posted inColumns
The gift that keeps on giving
Recently I ran across an article from an international boarding school talking about U.S. traditions around Christmas. The “Top 10 holiday traditions” for families include: Decorate the tree.Bake Christmas cookies.Write a letter to Santa (and the reindeer).Look at the twinkly lights.Build a gingerbread house.Sing Christmas carols.Exchange gifts.Wear an ugly sweater.Watch Christmas movies.Spend time with the […]
Posted inLocal Government
GarCo Report: Two out of three new Garco Library trustees announced, Martin’s last meeting
“I can see the headlines already,” said Garfield County Commission Chair John Martin at his first BOCC meeting since October and the last meeting of his career. “‘He’s finally gone.’” Martin opened the meeting, thanking everyone for their patience during his absence. He said Nancy, his wife of 56 years, has been dealing with a […]
Posted inLocal Government
No agreement on library trustee appointment process after library board, county commissioner meeting
Garfield County Commission Chair ProTem Tom Jankovsky told everyone at Thursday’s public meeting with the Garfield County Library District Board of Trustees to stick to the topic at hand: an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) between the library board of trustees and the commissioners. “I know there is a disagreement and it’s probably between members of the […]