Gunnison County Colorado

"Gunnison County cherishes its sense of community and place. We strive to preserve and promote the well-being of the County's citizens, natural environment and rural character. We will deliver services and set standards that reflect our values and preserve our unique quality of life for present and future generations to enjoy."

-- Gunnison County Vision Statement

Find Us on Facebook and Twitter!

Check out Gunnison County on Facebook and Twitter for news alerts, agendas and more! Following Gunnison County on Facebook and Twitter, you will have access to up-to-the-minute news releases, road conditions, Board of County Commissioners meeting agendas, and more! For questions related to the County's presence on Facebook or Twitter, please contact County Administration.

Gunnison Conservation District Grant Program for Control of Scentless Chamomile

Please visit the Gunnison Conservation District's website for additional information on this grant program available to private land owners in the East River Valley for the control of Scentless Chamomile.

National Foster Care Month - May 2012

May is National Foster Care Month – a time to make a lasting difference in a child’s life. There are more than 400,000 American youth in foster care. No matter how much time you have to give, you can do something positive that will “Change a Lifetime” for a young person in foster care. For more information on how you can help, please visit www.fostercaremonth.org today.

Marlene Crosby – Named Woman of the Year 2012 by Gunnison Business Women

Marlene Crosby

Public Works Director

(Below are excerpts from the 4/4/2012 Hometown Happenings article written by Jan Badgley.)

Every spring, Gunnison Business Women nominate outstanding women, business owners, customer service representatives and rising stars to be honored at a Celebration of Women event. This year’s event will honor nine women.

GBW is an organization dedicated to supporting working women through advocacy, education and information. We strive to enhance Gunnison Valley women’s lives through networking, continuing education, political advocacy and outreach. Any woman is welcome to join GBW, because even if you aren’t in business, most all women work, whether inside the home or out in the workforce.

GBW helps women achieve their goals through programs, workshops, networking and friendships. GBW holds monthly business meetings from 12-1 pm on the second Wednesday of every month from September through May, and all are welcome. GBW provides free educational seminars to members as well as the general public, and the organization puts on networking events and supplies scholarships to nontraditional WSC college students. Call 641-4164 if you are interested in joining. Dues are $60/year.

GBW was born out of Colorado Business & Professional Women, an organization that played a major role in supporting women and fighting for equal pay for equal work since 1919. The local organization (Gunnison Business & Professional Women) worked under the umbrella of the state organization, which was under the umbrella of the national organization, where lobbyists used our dues to fight for equal rights for women. Restructuring of the organization led to the new name of Gunnison Business Women, existing under the state organization of Colorado Business Women in Denver.

Marlene Crosby managed to rise through the ranks of public administration in a man’s world. When she was first hired as Gunnison County’s Director of Road & Bridge, one County Commissioner commented that he was not sure if “the Road & Bridge Department was ready for a woman.” Marlene won the job over five male applicants in 1985 due to her strong administrative skills. “I knew how to manage a budget and I typed faster and more accurately than any of the men,” Marlene shared.

A Gunnison native, Marlene received her degree from WSC in elementary education and business administration. She worked as an elementary school teacher for several years before moving into her job with the County. She has served as County Manager twice and now serves as Assistant County Manager. In 1994, Marlene was presented with the Rural Road Supervisor of the Year award, and in 2004, she won the William Korbitz award, which is the highest award given by the Colorado Chapter of the American Public Works Association for outstanding service.

Marlene has been a member of the Vashti Rebekah Lodge for more than 40 years, and she is also involved with Eastern Star. She donates her time to the Willows Assisted Living Center, and through her job, she is involved in the Pro-Challenge Race, the Gunnison River Festival and the annual Household Hazardous Waste collection.

Marlene is a successful role model for other women seeking to break into male-dominated fields.

April 2012 is Child Abuse Prevention Month in Gunnison County

On April 3, 2012, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed April 2012 to be Child Abuse Prevention Month in the County of Gunnison, Colorado. Read the full text of the official proclamation here.

3/19/2012 PRESS RELEASE: 2nd Annual Gunnison Sage-grouse Festival

• FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES: Bring your family to a morning & afternoon of fun with interactive exhibits from agencies & conservation organizations, live music, chili lunch, art, nature slideshow (Sage Spirit: Future of the American West), onstage dog-training seminar, Gunnison Sage-grouse & OHV conservation videos, field volunteer signup opps & more!
• KIDS: Enjoy kids’ craft stations and giveaways, face painting, photo opps with Smokey Bear & Elbert Ram, and a ‘Let’s Get Outside’ Kids 1500 race Free for kids 14 & under (and their parents), with kids’ prizes for top placeholders.
• ATHLETIC EVENTS: Don’t miss three great athletic events (click here for a PDF of the event map) including a 5k run/walk on a jogger-stroller-friendly mixed-surface course; a 10k run single lap around Gunnison; and a multi-lap mountain bike race on trails behind Mountaineer Bowl (weather & conditions permitting) with points counting towards the 2012 growler series. These 3 events are $25 including an event t-shirt & lunch. Kids 12 & under are free with a guardian waiver. Proceeds benefit Gunnison Sage-grouse conservation education and conservation efforts on local private & public lands.
• LIVE RAPTORS! Meet live Colorado native birds of prey visiting from the Nature & Raptor Center of Pueblo.
• PHOTO WORKSHOP: Half-day nature photo workshop with acclaimed conservation photographer Dave Showalter.
• DOG OWNERS: Learn how obedient your dogs really are to your voice commands by bringing them to our dog agility & distraction courses with Waggin’ Tails & K-9 Training. Later, join Drew onstage for a dog-training & equipment demo.
• WHEN & WHERE: The 2012 Gunnison Sage-grouse Festival will be held Saturday April 14 from 9 a.m.–3 p.m. at the Western State College Center.
• FOR MORE INFORMATION: Look for detailed 4-page event programs with course maps, schedules & registration information inserted into the Wed. April 4 Gunnison Country Shopper & the Thurs. April 5 Gunnison Country Times.

Notice of Gunnison County, BLM and USFS Road Closures

Gunnison County, the BLM, and the U.S. Forest Service will be closing several roads to all motor vehicles to protect Gunnison Sage-grouse during their mating season and to prevent road damage during the wet spring conditions.

The cooperation of the public is required to successfully implement these road closures. The closures will aid in the preservation of the Gunnison sage-grouse and may assist in reducing impacts on residents and visitors of Gunnison County from a possible Federal listing of the grouse under the Endangered Species Act.

The following roads will be closed from March 15, 2012 through May 15, 2012: Airport Road (W Mountain); CR #7, Miller Lane; CR #25, Pine Creek, HWY 50 (N) end; CR #25, Pine Creek, (S) end past Blue Mesa Estates; CR #26, Sapinero Mesa at current winter closure gate HWY 50 (N) end; CR #26, Sapinero Mesa, HWY 149 end at current winter closure gate; CR #32, McCabe Lane, at cattle guard past Moncrief Ranch; CR #51B, Sun Park, just past intersection with Overlook Drive; CR #62, Razor Creek at BLM boundary; CR #743, Lost Canyon, at existing winter closure gate; CR #818, Wiley Lane at private/ BLM boundary on S end; CR #818, Wiley Lane at intersection with Mill Creek Road.  All FS roads within the Flat Top Mountain area including FS Road #829, Hinckel Rd. at CR 730; FS #860, Smokey Bear Rd. at HWY135; FS #862 at 860 Rd; FS#863 at 860 Rd.; FS #955 at 829 Rd.; FS #603 along Alkali Creek. The U.S. Forest Service closures are extended through June 15 to protect nesting Gunnison Sage-grouse.

The following roads will be closed by March 15, but could be closed earlier if muddy conditions exist; they will reopen on May 15, 2012:   BLM #3038, Kezar Basin Road;  BLM #3038 Nine Mile Hill west of HWY 149;  CR #61, Pole Creek road;  BLM #3061 Hartman Rocks roads south of powerline;  Hartman Rocks powerline road east of South Beaver Creek; BLM #3061 south entrance into Hartman Rocks; CR #72, Tomichi Heights, closure at BLM boundary; CR #42, Six Mile Lane at existing gate on BLM boundary;  BLM #3107 Cabin Creek road at HWY 50; BLM #3106 Dry Gulch road at HWY 50; BLM #3106 Sewell Rim Road at HWY 50; South Parlin Flats access road off HWY 114 near mile-marker 5; BLM #3076, South Parlin Flats access road off HWY 114 near mile-marker 7; Camp Kettle Gulch road off HWY 114;  BLM #3103 North Parlin Flats road; CR #43, South Parlin Flats, approx 0.4 mi S of HWY 50; Roads off CR#44 accessing  Woods Gulch area; BLM #3096 off south end of CR#44; Poverty Gulch road off Doyleville Cutoff road; BLM #3094 Tomichi Dome road; BLM #3073 Krueger Ranch road; BLM #3067 Stubbs Gulch access at Gold Basin shooting area;  BLM #3108 north side of HWY 50, 3 miles east of Gunnison.

Three additional roads in the Hartman Rocks area were closed in anticipation of winter conditions and ski trail grooming.  These will reopen when the roads dry out. These roads are:  Hartman Rocks northwest entrance; BLM #3061 at McCabes Lane (CR32) entrance; and Hartman Rocks powerline access off CR #38(Gold Basin road).

Forest Service Roads in the Flat Top Mountain area will be closed through June 15 to protect nesting Gunnison Sage-grouse.

Copies of the closure list and maps are available at Gunnison County Public Works, 195 Basin Park Drive; Gunnison County Administration office, 200 E. Virginia; Colorado Parks and Wildlife office, 300 W. New York; Bureau of Land Management office, 650 South 11th Street; and the U.S. Forest Service office, 216 N. Colorado, Gunnison, Colorado.

These closures apply to all motor vehicles. Do not park at the closures in a manner that blocks access through the closure gates.  For additional information call Gunnison County Public Works at 641-0044; the Gunnison County Wildlife Conservation Coordinator at 641-7604; BLM at 642-4940; or the U.S Forest Service at 641-0471

Gunnison County Strategic Plan

Click here to download the Gunnison County Strategic Plan, as adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on May 20, 2008 and most recently revised on May 24, 2011.

PRESS RELEASE (11/30/2011): Gunnison County Manager Named "Administrator of the Year"; State-wide award given to County Manager Matthew Birnie

Gunnison County, Colorado - Last night Gunnison County Manager Matthew Birnie was awarded the “Colorado County Administrator of the Year Award” at the winter meeting for Colorado Counties, Inc. held in Colorado Springs. The recognition has been awarded annually since 1999 by the Colorado Association of County Administrators as a way to recognize strategic organizational leadership and effectiveness and productivity in local governing.

Birnie’s vision and leadership have also been noticed at both the state and national levels prior to this week’s award. He has been featured in Governing Magazine and was invited to Washington DC to share his expertise at “The Cost of Governing Summit” last year. He has also been featured at the Advancing Government Accountability Performance Management Conference and at a previous Colorado County Winter Conference. Additionally, last month Gunnison County was awarded the "Distinguished Budget Presentation Award" by the National Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). No other county in the state under 100,000 in population, let alone under 20,000 has received this honor and County Manager Birnie was part of the team that made that award a reality.

The nominating committee that submitted Birnie’s name for this award included Commissioner Paula Swenson, Human Resources Director Debbie Moore, Public Works Director Marlene Crosby, Director of Finance Linda Nienhueser, County Attorney David Baumgarten and Assistant to the County Manager Katherine Haase.

Some of the highlights from Birnie’s nomination submitted by his colleagues in Gunnison County government include:

• “Matthew came on board in early 2007 and Gunnison County has excelled in the past four years like no other organization I have seen both in the public sector and in private industry. Matthew has created a team that is unstoppable. He implemented the national governing model "Managing for Results" in Gunnison County which has created government transparency in a strategic, measurable, and performance-based manner that has allowed us to get a clear picture of what is important and how we can accomplish it.
  
  In Matthew’s time as Gunnison County Manager, major projects like a new detention facility and public works building both of which were extremely high priority projects in the County for over 20 years have become a reality, without an increase in our tax revenues. In the current economic downturn, the commissioners asked Matthew to ensure that our budget was as trim as possible while not cutting the services that our community needs. With a clear management and budgeting approach, he was able to deliver a proposed budget for 2012 that not only does not increase our local property taxes, but it decreases them,” Paula Swenson, Gunnison County Commissioner.
  
  
• “Effectiveness of County government can be measured in many ways, but the true test might be the relationship between the services provided to its citizens and the cost of those services while focusing the conversation on the needs and experiences of citizens. Matthew has truly lead Gunnison County from a culture of looking at the things we do to the results we produce for the citizens of Gunnison County.
  
  His vision for transparent government with strategic, measurable, performance-based management led him to propose using the Managing for Results (MFR) model for Gunnison County. In a short time period, Gunnison County is poised to be the only Colorado County of our size with a fully integrated MFR system,” Linda Nienhueser, Finance Director.
  
  
• “There is a saying that integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful. Matthew’s behavior has integrity, is informed by ethics, and backed by knowledge and experience,” David Baumgarten, County Attorney.

When asked to list three additional attributes of a good administrator that Birnie has, the committee responded: is a visionary; is a team leader and does his job with humor. His colleagues feel he fits all of the attributes of a good leader and rightfully deserves this recognition as a statewide example of an exceptional leader. "Matthew Birnie is more than deserving of this honor,” says Commissioner Swenson.

PRESS RELEASE (10/17/2011): Administration Department Earns Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA)

Gunnison, CO – In August, the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) announced that Gunnison County, Colorado’s Administration Department received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its 2011 budget.  The award is scheduled for formal presentation to the Administration Department during the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners meeting on 10/18/2011 at 11:30 am.

The award represents a significant achievement by the Administration Department.  It reflects the commitment of the County and staff to meeting the highest principles of governmental budgeting.  In order to receive the award, the Administration Department had to satisfy nationally recognized guidelines for effective budget presentation.  These guidelines are designed to assess how well an entity’s budget serves as:

• A policy document.
• A financial plan.
• An operations guide.
• A communications device.

Budget documents must be rated “proficient” in all four categories, and the 14 mandatory criteria within those categories, to receive the award.

When a Distinguished Budget Presentation Award is granted to an entity, a Certificate of Recognition for Budget Presentation is also presented to the individual or department designated as being primarily responsible for its having achieved the award. 

For budgets including fiscal period 2010, over 1,250 entities received the award.  Award recipients have pioneered efforts to improve the quality of budgeting and provide an excellent example for other governments throughout North America.

Serving only 15,394 residents, Gunnison County is the least populated county in Colorado to win the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, with the next smallest being Mesa County (147,522 residents).  Among previous winners are Denver City and County (618,650 residents), Arapahoe County (571,598 residents) and Jefferson County (545,848 residents).  It is a testament to Gunnison County’s dedication to excellence that it has achieved this distinction without having the resources of these large jurisdictions to apply to the effort.

PRESS RELEASE (10/17/2011): Presentation of 2012 Staff Proposed Budget

Much thought and careful consideration has gone into this year’s budgeting process. In response to the current economic climate, instead of proposing the allowable revenue increase from property tax (5.5% plus new construction), the 2012 County Staff Proposed Budget includes a reduction in total property tax collections of 7.37% for all components of the County mill levy. This will result in an overall reduction from 2010 property tax collections of $622,889 as detailed below:

Property Tax Comparison - 2012

The full allowable increase in property tax revenue: $599,494

The decrease in property tax revenue proposed: $622,889

Savings to the property tax payers: $1,222,383

This could lower current taxpayers’ county property tax bills by as much as 8.8% depending on their property values.

While taking the taxpayers into consideration, the County Staff Proposed Budget also includes a 2% cost of living adjustment for County employees. Without this adjustment, 2012 would be the third year that almost one third of the full time employees have not received a raise, while the cost of living has increased approximately 7% and health insurance premiums will have increased 21% in the same period. Still, due mostly to attrition and job consolidation, the 2012 wages, for the entire County organization, will be almost $11,000 less that in the 2011 budget.

The County is a large organization and thus has a very complicated annual budget. The public is encouraged to attend the Public Hearing for the 2012 Budget on December 6th, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room in the County Courthouse. Let us answer your questions, explain our rationale, and hear your concerns.

- - Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners

PRESS RELEASE (10/14/2011): Gunnison County National Citizen Survey Results In - Many high marks from citizens, some areas to focus on in the future

On Tuesday, October 25th Gunnison County Commissioners will take a first look at the results of the National Citizen Survey which was sent to 1,200 County households this summer. The survey is a collaborative effort between National Research Center, Inc., and the International City/County Management Association and has been administered by Gunnison County twice now (in 2009 and 2011). The return rate of the survey for 2011 was 35%. Having data from 2009 and now 2011 provides the Board of Commissioners and County staff with comparative data that will be used in long term planning for improved services and in reaching the goals of continuing to improve quality of life for Gunnison County residents.

Benchmarks

Gunnison County’s results have been weighted against approximately 100 jurisdictions in the Western region of the United States with populations less than 40,000. Looking at these areas where Gunnison County is above, similar or below benchmarks can help leaders determine areas that the County is successful and also areas that need improvements.

Gunnison County’s Above Benchmark Areas in 2011 were: Snow Removal, Bus/Transit Services, Recreation Programs, Recreation Facilities, Historic Sites, County Open Space, Preservation of Natural Areas, Drinking Water, Power Utility, Sewer Services and Storm Drainage.

Gunnison County’s Similar Benchmark Areas in 2011 were: Public Information, Animal Control, Street Repair, Traffic Enforcement, EMS, and Sheriff Services.

Gunnison County’s Below Benchmark Areas in 2011 were: Planning and Zoning, Code Enforcement, Economic Development, Library, Health Services, Fire Services and Recycling.

Overall Areas of Improvement

Gunnison County survey results also can show where residents have reported improvements. Some highlights of improvements in 2011 data as compared to 2009 data include:

• Snow Removal received an 80% excellent of good rating, up from 74% in 2009.
• 90% of residents say they feel safe in the County downtown areas after dark, up from 84%, and 95% say they feel safe from violent crime (e.g. rape, assault, robbery), up from 90%.
• Sheriff services were rated as excellent or good by 82% of residents up from 73%, and EMS services were similarly rated at 74% up from 61%.
  • Overall, each public safety question ranked above benchmarks as well.
• Preservation of natural spaces such as open space, farmlands and greenbelts received a positive rating of 81% as compared to 70%.
• 90% of residents said they recycled, up from 87% and 67% said recycling services are excellent or good- up from 61%.
• Availability of affordable housing received 23% positive, up from 17%. This is an area that the County will continue to work on as it is still below the benchmark, but has seen a 6% improvement from 2009.
• Mental health services were rated at 51% excellent or good, up from 38%, and drug and alcohol services were rated excellent or good by 46% of residents, up from 43%.
• 68% of residents said they had read the Gunnison County newsletter, up from 60% and 58% said they’ve visited the Gunnison County website, up from 52%.
• Gunnison County’s Public Information services were rated excellent or good by 64%, up from 55%.
• 67% of residents said they had contact with a Gunnison County employee in the last 12 months, and of those 81% said courtesy of the employee(s) was excellent or good, 78% rated knowledge excellent or good and 76% said responsiveness was excellent or good. All of these ratings are similar to the benchmark.
• The value of services for the taxes paid was rated as excellent or good by 58% of residents, up from 48%, which is similar to the benchmark.

The BoCC and County staff are encouraged by many these many improvements and similar or above benchmark ratings and will continue to work to find ways to improve in areas that had below benchmark ratings. Improving these rankings will also be pursued by utilizing the Managing for Results Strategic Business Plans of each County department. These plans provide increased transparency and accountability for citizens in understanding what specific results they are buying with the County’s revenues. By combining the Managing for Results departmental plans with the Citizen Survey results, the County will be able to further the goals of enhanced communications with the public, and overall increasing customer satisfaction in every County department.

For more details on the survey results please contact County Manager Matthew Birnie at 970-641-0248, mbirnie@gunnisoncounty.org.

Food Establishments’ Inspections Now Available On-Line

View inspections of food establishments here. The inspections have been done through an agreement with Gunnison and Montrose County Department of Health & Human Services Environment Health. This agreement was developed through a regional partnership (West Central Public Health Partnership) that was created by a 5 year grant from the Colorado Trust. Locally, the primary responsibility of the Gunnison County Environmental Health Office is to protect the public's health and the environment by preventing the contamination of ground and surface waters through inspections, monitoring, consultation on septic systems and by issuing permits for the proper construction and installation of septic systems.

In contrast, food establishment inspections are a part of Consumer Protection services. There have been no recent concerns regarding food establishments. These reports are going on-line now simply because we have the technology to do so. Food establishment inspections are public record. By making this available on-line, the records are more accessible. Montrose County has had this available for more than a year. You may access these reports by going to the Gunnison County website, then Health & Human Services and then under Public Health where a link will take you to that specific part of Montrose County website. Do not be confused, you are in the right place. There is a drop down to select Gunnison County. For a limited time, the link will run in the recurring calendar on the Gunnison County Home page.

This effort as well as food handlers’ food safety classes are part of Public Health’s mission to assure just that—“the public’s health”. For questions, please contact the Environmental Health office in Montrose at 252-5040.

FREE Workshops - 2009 Building Energy Codes

Free, half-day informative workshops in Gunnison and Crested Butte on the recently adopted 2009 Building Energy Codes hosted by the Colorado Energy Code Support Program provided by the DOLA Division of Housing and the Governor's Energy Office. Click here for more information.

7/26/2011 PRESS RELEASE: Oil & Gas Regulations

The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is committed to ensure that our Oil & Gas Regulations protect the public health and safety of our community. Additionally, we are also committed to work with the State of Colorado to find collective solutions for regulatory overlaps and preemptive issues. Currently, the BOCC (represented by Commissioner Paula Swenson, County Manager Matthew Birnie and County Attorney David Baumgarten) has been engaged in discussions with the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (represented by Director David Neslin) to attempt to clarify, coordinate, and harmonize the application of the respective State and County regulatory programs to oil and gas development within Gunnison County. We have met in person in Gunnison and Denver, and also by telephone. We have been joined by Mike King, Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, and his staff, and representatives of Colorado Counties, Inc.

The discussions to date have focused on three areas: Improvements to use of the state “local government designee” process; Improvements to the Gunnison County regulatory process; and Improved inspections. We have deliberately and respectfully made these our initial focus rather than disagreements over “preemption” or “who should regulate what.”

Gunnison County is very hopeful with the discussions and believes that we can reach common ground with the State which will further benefit our process as well as theirs. Because of the continuing conversations and the efforts to work together; the BOCC intends to not act on the current amendments to the Oil & Gas Regulations at the public hearing set for August 2, 2011. We intend to continue the public hearing to a date in early 2012 to give adequate time to foster the continued discussion with the State. This will also keep in effect the current regulations, which includes a 500’ set back from waterbodies.

Additionally, during the scheduled time of the public hearing on August 2nd, a report will be presented to the commissioners regarding the conversations with the State. The public is welcome to sit in and comment on the issues.

- - Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners

6/24/2011 PRESS RELEASE: Facilities for the 21st Century: Public Safety Center & Public Works Maintenance Facility Project Rapidly Taking Shape

Today the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners saw progress being quickly made toward completion of both a new Public Safety Center (which will include the County Detention Center, County Sheriff’s Office and County Emergency Operations Center), and a new Public Works Maintenance Facility. The tour was given by the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) - GE Johnson Construction Company. Construction of both developments began in late 2010 after funding by the sale of Certificates of Participation (COP’s) which enabled the projects to proceed without any new taxes. During the tour, Chairperson Hap Channell summarized both the necessity for and the planned longevity of the structures by saying, “These projects satisfy a desperate need and they will take care of us for a long time.”

Public Safety Center

Seen here are Commissioner Paula Swenson, County
Manager Matthew Birnie and Gunnison Times Editor Will
Shoemaker touring the facility on 6/24/11.

ON TIME: From an early construction start, and after the establishment of the project Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) of slightly less than $15 million budgeted for construction, the work on both jobsites has progressed to the point where the County Commissioners on Friday viewed both facilities that are close to completion. The Public Works facility is on track to be completed in early August 2011, and the Public Safety Center is on track to be completed early December 2011.

Completion of the exterior façade on the north and east sides of the new building by the time of the 2011 Cattlemen’s Days celebration this July was a particularly important deadline and will be met. “The GE Johnson team very worked hard to get the building looking less like a construction site and more like a finished office building in time for the carnival which will, as in years past, soon be setting up for Cattlemen’s Days. This was a high-priority, interim goal for the project” said Mike Mismash of Project One Integrated Services, the Owner’s Representative who is assisting the County in the overall planning and management of the development of the capital improvements.

ON BUDGET: Due to the fact that the projects are developing within budget and the GMP the development team led by County Manager Matthew Birnie were able to trigger additional construction of certain highly desired but potentially budget exceeding “add alternates” that are projected to be completed entirely within the original budget. In the case of the Public Works Maintenance facility, the fully enclosed Vehicle Wash Bay, located on the south end of the building is now nearly complete. At the Public Safety Center, nearly the entire second floor of the facility will house the new Sheriff’s Department and an Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Public Works Maintenance Facility

Seen here are Commissioners Paula Swenson and Hap

Channell touring the facility on 6/24/11.

SUSTAINABLE AND ENERGY EFFICIENT: The development team has also been committed to making sure the buildings have high efficiency and sustainability features. Energy saving factors include use of integrated daylight and passive solar gain, native plant and low water usage plants used in landscape, roof insulation that is significantly higher than required to lower heating energy, use of low-emitting materials for interior finishes and insulation, condensed boilers to lower natural gas consumption and energy use and use of energy efficient lighting and electrical. Both buildings were targeted for achievement of what would be a LEED designation but no formal certification process will be undertaken because of the relatively high cost involved. Still, the County was able to have the designs and specifications of both facilities reviewed by a green building consultant in conjunction with a grant from the Governor’s Energy Office which set forth specific potential recommendations, many of which were incorporated into the work and will continue to be incorporated into the future. “We felt that instead of spending the thousands of dollars needed to gain LEED certification we would instead invest those dollars in reaching the sustainability and efficiency goals provided to us by the Governor’s Energy Office,” said Matthew Birnie, County Manager.

DOLLARS SPENT LOCALLY: Another important goal for the project, particularly driven by current economic conditions, was to optimize local participation of subcontractor and vendor firms on a competitive bidding basis while keeping with the overall goals of the project which include an on-time completion of both separate buildings, staying within the overall intended project cost and GMP, gaining the intended level of finish quality, and maintaining a safe jobsite. In fact, given the relative complexities of the types of commercial/industrial facilities involved, vs. the relatively residential construction orientation of the majority of local construction concerns, a good amount was spent on local and regional subcontractors with 19% bid to local subcontractors and an additional 37% bid to regional western slope subcontractors. Additionally, approximately $700,000 was spent locally on hotels and restaurants by the out-of-town contractors. “This project represents by far the best local results that we have ever achieved on a mountain project of this magnitude and complexity of type. I would say Gunnison County’s rate of local subcontractor bids is the best I have seen in a mountain project,” GE Johnson’s Project Executive, Todd Seawell explains.

For more details on either project please contact County Manager Matthew Birnie at 641-0248, mbirnie@gunnisoncounty.org. For additional photos or site plans please contact Molly Mugglestone at molly@mdmpublicaffairs.com or 970-275-8909.

Gunnison County Carbon Policy Task Force Final Report and Recommendations

Click here to view the Gunnison County Carbon Policy Task Force Final Report and Recommendations document that was presented to the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners on 2/8/2011. Gunnison County encourages citizen input regarding this document. Please submit all comments via email to bocc@gunnisoncounty.org or via mail to 200 E. Virginia, Gunnison, CO 81230.

Capital Projects Information

Visit the Public Works and Jail capital projects website to view information relative to the Public Works and Jail capital projects.

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