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April 18, 2023: Gunnison County Breaks Ground on Sawtooth Housing Development (PDF)
Yesterday, Gunnison County celebrated the groundbreaking of Phase I of the Sawtooth Housing Development, located between the Gunnison County Public Safety Center and the Gunnison County Fairgrounds. The County has partnered with Fading West to manufacture the high-quality, energy-efficient homes in Buena Vista. Local builder, Big C Construction will be handling all of the project management, site work, and installation. Sawtooth will provide additional affordable housing to meet the needs of the community. “Gunnison County is excited to develop new affordable housing units for our community and in an area that is already a great neighborhood and close to amenities like the grocery store and bus stop. We think this will be a great addition to our community,” said Cathie Pagano, Gunnison County Assistant County Manager for Community and Economic Development.
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July 22, 2022: Gunnison County Hires New Chief Financial Officer (PDF)
Gunnison County has hired Perry Solheim to serve as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective July 18, 2022. Prior to accepting his new position and for the past few years, Perry served as the Finance/Administration Manager for Mt. Crested Butte Water & Sanitation District. He brings over 25 years of financial and accounting industry knowledge and experience with him, including being employed as an Assistant Professor of Accounting for Western Colorado University, Fort Lewis College and Montana State University from 2007-2019. Perry has also worked in the government/non-profit audit sector, in addition to serving as the Southern Ute Indian Tribe’s Growth Fund Controller.
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May 19, 2022: Gunnison County Hires New Assistant County Manager for Public Works (PDF)
Martin Schmidt to Assume Role in Summer 2022 - Gunnison County has selected Martin Schmidt to assume the role of Assistant County Manager for Public Works. Martin is currently serving as the Public Works Director for the Town of Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Prior to that, he worked for Gunnison County Public Works for nearly 10 years. He started on the Public Works crew in 2009 and had risen to the District 1 Foreman in Gunnison County’s Public Works Department by the time he departed for the Director job in Pagosa Springs.
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April 27, 2022: Gunnison County Receives First Ever Triple Crown Designation (PDF)
GFOA's Triple Crown recognizes governments who have received GFOA's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (ACFR), Popular Annual Financial Reporting (PAFR) Award, and the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award in a fiscal year. “I’m very proud of our whole Finance team for this impressive achievement,” said County Manager Matthew Birnie. Gunnison County Chief Financial Officer Juan Guerra added, “With the County Manager’s guidance, new tools have been developed to increase communications and transparency to the public and elected officials so they may understand the status of operations, finances, and economic conditions in easy to understand formats. The development of these new tools coincides with professional best practices and hopefully will continue building trust with the community. It’s been an honor to lead the development of these new tools with the help of my team! These new tools along with the tools already available should enable the public to be proud of the good work Gunnison County is doing for them.”
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November 2, 2021: Gunnison County Hires New Human Resources Director (PDF)
Gunnison County has hired Lauren Trautz (pictured on right) to serve as Human Resources Director. Ms. Trautz has served in various Human Resources roles over the past 15+ years and, until accepting this new position, she held the position of Vice President of Human Resources and Business Services at YMCA of Greater Grand Rapids, MI. Ms. Trautz holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Quantitative Methods (Human Resources Management) from Illinois State University. “Lauren has an excellent history of achievements and education, she stood out amongst a very competitive field of professionals; I believe that the employees and therefore the residents of Gunnison County will benefit from her expertise and production, meeting our County Manager’s expectation of excellence. I am excited to have her be part of the team!” said Chief Financial Officer Juan Guerra.
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September 21, 2021: Gunnison County Issues 2019-2020 Performance Report (PDF)
The Gunnison County, Colorado 2019-2020 Performance Report is now available online at https://gunnisoncounty.org/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/4154. The report, customarily provided annually, was delayed due to the County’s extensive involvement in the COVID-19 pandemic response. Fittingly, a special three-page COVID-19 section has been included in the report.
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September 9, 2021: Whetstone Community Housing (PDF)
On August 26 and 27, 2021, Gunnison County, with its consultant team - Trestle Strategy Group, Williford Housing, jv de Sousa Architecture, and JVA Engineering - invited Gunnison County community members and housing development experts to participate in a design charrette for the Whetstone parcel, located in Gunnison County, south of the town of Crested Butte.
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August 9, 2021: COVID-19 Situation Update (PDF)
Gunnison County COVID-19 positive tests have increased in the past two weeks. During the past two weeks, there has been a three-fold increase in the number of weekly cases compared to the average previous summer weekly case numbers. The cases are among County year-round residents, visitors and part-time residents. The Delta variant is spreading in Gunnison County, the western Slope, Colorado and nationally. The Delta variant is now the predominant variant in Colorado. The Delta variant is more contagious than previous variants and spreads more readily from person to person. The exposure risks for the recent local cases are varied including unvaccinated individuals, recent travel, recent attendance at a large gathering, household or close contact and other risk factors. Some individuals have been admitted to Gunnison Valley Health and other hospitals due to their illness and are being treated.
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July 28, 2021: Gunnison County Adopts Inaugural Popular Financial Report (PDF)
On July 20, 2021, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners adopted the County’s first-ever Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR). The 12-page report, assembled by the County’s Finance and Human Resources Department, is an easy-to-read version of the County’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, which is published on an annual basis. “In an effort to continually improve our communication with our residents, provide them with relevant professionally prepared information, and be transparent concerning our fiscal position, we are proud of this new report and we hope this provides our residents with information that they find useful.” Said Gunnison County Chief Financial Officer Juan Guerra.
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May 18, 2021: Gunnison County Issues Proposed User Fees for Shady Island River Park (PDF)
The Shady Island River Park, located on the banks of the Gunnison River, is anticipated to open in early summer 2021. The River Park is owned and operated by Gunnison County, and was purchased with the intent of providing a new river access area that will better support the current and growing recreational use. The River Park will provide river access for boats, shoreline fishing, walk-in tent camping, a nature-play obstacle course and playground, and picnicking and gathering areas.
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May 5, 2021: Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport Terminal Groundbreaking (PDF)
On Friday, April 30, 2021, Gunnison County leaders and project representatives celebrated the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport Terminal Renovation project with a groundbreaking ceremony. “We are thrilled to begin construction on this long-awaited project! The renovated terminal support growing air service to Gunnison County for years to come and will be a beautiful and efficient building the community can be proud of. We are grateful for the support and funding we’ve received from our partners at the FAA and for the strong team we have with our architect, Gensler, and Contractor, Shaw Construction,” said Sustainable Operations Director John Cattles.
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March 23, 2021: Gunnison County Hires Chief Financial Officer (PDF)
Gunnison County has hired Juan Guerra (pictured on right) to serve as the new Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Guerra previously held the position of Gunnison County Interim Finance Director from January-March 2021. As Director for the Finance and Human Resources Department, Mr. Guerra will oversee the Finance and Human Resources Programs, and he will report directly to County Manager Matthew Birnie. “We are excited to welcome Juan to our executive team at the County. It is exciting to add a professional of Juan’s caliber and experience to our talented leadership team, and we look forward to his leadership in the financial and human resources arenas,” said County Manager Matthew Birnie.
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October 29, 2020: Gunnison County Commissioners & Staff Tour Paintbrush Affordable Housing De (PDF)
Gunnison County Commissioners and staff recently toured the Paintbrush (formerly known as Lot 22) affordable housing development, located in Gunnison, CO adjacent to the Rock Creek development. Paintbrush is comprised of 76 rental units that will be restricted to people with income ranges of 80-120% Area Median Income (AMI) and an additional eight unrestricted units. The development includes a mixture of one-bedroom efficiency units and three-bedroom homes and apartments within three apartment buildings, seven townhome buildings, and six detached single-family homes in order to serve and integrate a variety of family sizes and income ranges. Units will be available for rent by Spring 2021.
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October 6, 2020: Gunnison County Recognized for Performance Management Leadership (PDF)
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) officially recognized Gunnison County, Colorado for its commitment to data-driven government management and reporting with a Certificate of Excellence in Performance Management during the ICMA’s digital event, UNITE, held September 23-26, 2020. “I am so proud of our team at Gunnison County for the hard work, commitment to our customers, focus on results, and personal and organizational accountability that this recognition represents. It is striking that of the five counties nationwide that achieved this distinction, the next smallest has a population of 270,000 and all of the others have over one million residents. When it comes to concentrating on performance and delivering excellence, Gunnison County punches well above its weight!” said Gunnison County Manager Matthew Birnie. Gunnison County has received this award annually since 2018.
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June 2, 2020: Shady Island River Park Project Receives $45,000 Award from Met Rec District (PDF)
The Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District recently awarded $45,000 to Gunnison County for construction of the Shady Island Park. Total secured grant awards are close to $450,000, and construction is slated to begin summer 2020 after flows on the Gunnison River peak. Hedda Peterson, District Manager for the Gunnison County Metropolitan Recreation District stated, “In 2018, Met Rec recognized the project’s ability to address several outdoor recreation needs, from camping to safe river access and bathroom infrastructure. Since then, the County has successfully secured additional funding from several local and state funding sources. Given the project’s strong alignment with Met Rec’s nascent Recreation Strategic Plan, we were thrilled to provide an additional $45,000 in funding this year.” Gunnison County Community Development Director, Cathie Pagano added, “We are so pleased to receive additional funding the Gunnison Met Rec District for the development of Shady Island River Park. The River Park will be a great community amenity and we appreciate all of the community support.”
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June 2, 2020: Gunnison County & Gunnison County Library District Select CMGC (PDF)
Black Dragon Development of Crested Butte to Lead Library Construction Project - - The Gunnison County community worked hard to build a new vision for public library services and facilities. Under the leadership of the Board of County Commissioners, Gunnison County and the Gunnison County Library District continue to support the community’s vision.
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April 29, 2020: Gunnison County Announces “Pay It Forward” COVID-19 Business Emergency Loan (PDF)
Gunnison County, in partnership with Region 10, established its “Pay It Forward” COVID-19 Business Emergency Loan Fund to help assist businesses located in Gunnison County that have been impacted by the COVID-19 virus. Approved loan applications submitted by businesses and non-profits will be eligible to receive one-time loans of up to $7,500. The application process will open April 30, 2020.
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February 14, 2020: Gunnison Crested Butte Regional Airport's Total Economic Impact Rising (PDF)
Additional Jobs, Increased Revenues Lead to Nearly 24% Annual Escalation.
The recently released 2020 Colorado Aviation Economic Impact Study (CEIS) showed that the Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport’s (GUC) economic impact nearly 24% from the 2013 study, which is equivalent to an increase of $99.5M to $121.9M annually. “This result underscores the significance of our airport to both our local economy and national connectivity. A mile of road will take you precisely one mile down the road...a mile of runway will take you anywhere..!” said GUC Manager Rick Lamport.
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July 24, 2019: STOR Committee Receives Merit Award from the APA (PDF)
The Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (STOR) Committee has been selected by the Colorado Chapter of the American Planning Association to receive a 2019 APA Colorado Merit Award in the category of Innovative/Creative Partnerships and Collaborations. The awards ceremony will take place on 9/19/19, during the 2019 APA Colorado State Conference in Snowmass, CO. Gunnison County Community and Economic Development Director Cathie Pagano said, “The STOR Committee is a great example of multiple entities in the Gunnison Valley working collaboratively to accomplish goals. This is a unique group because of the diversity of partners and representation from various user groups. We are excited to continue improving the natural landscape and recreation experience in alignment with our community values in the Gunnison Valley.”
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June 18, 2019: Gunnison & Hinsdale Counties Receive 2018 C-Stat Distinguished Performance (PDF)
Today, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners recognized the Gunnison County Department of Health and Human Services for impressive CY 2018 performance achievements and the receipt of Distinguished Performance awards from the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Gunnison County received the C-Stat Distinguished Performance award for performance in 10 Economic Security and seven Safety and Well-Being services areas. Hinsdale County, which is serviced by the Gunnison County Department of Health and Human Services, received the C-Stat Distinguished Performance award for six Economic Security and one Safety and Well-Being service areas. “I'm so grateful to our HHS team staff for their exceptional work to meet the many and varied needs of our community members,” said Gunnison County Health and Human Services Director Joni Reynolds.
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June 7, 2019: Gunnison and Slate River Closures (PDF)
Effective June 7, 2019 and until further notice, the Gunnison River is CLOSED between Almont and the Gunnison Whitewater Park; and the Slate River is CLOSED between Gunsight Pass Bridge and the State Hwy 135 bridge at mile marker 25.5. By Order of the Gunnison County Sheriff (per authority of Colorado Revised Statute 33-13-111), these river portions are CLOSED to all water vessels. These closures are to protect public safety, and are due to dangerous river conditions, including very low clearances at bridges. For more information, contact the Gunnison County Sheriff’s Office 970-641-1113.
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October 17, 2018: Gunnison County Receives 2018 ICMA Certificate of Excellence (PDF)
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) recently recognized Gunnison County for its data-driven management and reporting efforts with a Certificate of Excellence in Performance Management. County Manager Matthew Birnie represented Gunnison County at the 104th Annual ICMA Conference in Baltimore, MD at the end of September where Gunnison County and other recipients were formally recognized. Award recipients were also recognized in the October 2018 issue of Public Management magazine.
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April 5, 2018: Moderate Fire Danger in Gunnison County (PDF)
The warm, dry and windy weather has increased the fire danger in Gunnison County. There are currently NO fire restrictions in place; however, residents and visitors are advised to exercise extreme caution with campfires, charcoal grills and agricultural burning.
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February 5, 2018: Local CNG Fleet Program Recognized with Colorado Communities Award (PDF)
On 1/31/18, the State of Colorado and the Compact of Colorado Communities presented the Colorado Communities Award to the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fleet project, a collaborative effort between Gunnison County and the Gunnison Valley Rural Transportation Authority’s (RTA), during the Colorado Communities Symposium in Aurora, Colo. Gunnison County Sustainable Operations Director John Cattles and Gunnison County Commissioner John Messner were present to accept the award.
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October 24, 2017: Gunnison County Secures Property to Provide Riverside Boat Access (PDF)
Gunnison County recently secured property on the north side of Gunnison (see Figure 1), formerly known as the Shady Island Subdivision, that will serve to provide increased access and use of the Gunnison River for visitors and residents. The County plans to improve the property to create riverside boat access and recreational amenities, and it hopes to form a strong partnership of stakeholders that will share in the design, development and management of this amenity. “We look forward to working with the constituents and stakeholders throughout Gunnison County to create a community amenity that highlights and improves access to one of our most important regional assets,” said County Commissioner John Messner.
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March 7, 2017: Gunnison County Opposes Transfer of Federal Public Lands to State Ownership (PDF)
On 2/21/2017, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) was
added to the growing list of Colorado Counties that have formally opposed the transfer of federal public lands to state ownership. Over 80% of Gunnison County is comprised of public lands, and the BOCC views those lands as essential to the health of the County’s communities, as well as the protection of the County’s heritage, natural environment, wildlife habitats, and agricultural sector.
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August 7, 2015: County Hires New IT Director (PDF)
Gunnison County has hired John Felix to serve as the County’s new IT Director. John will be relocating to Gunnison County from Central Washington where he most recently served as the Director of Software Services for Tree Top, Inc. Prior to that, he was the IT Director for JBS Foods in Greeley, CO. “We are very pleased to add John to our executive team and believe he will be a great addition that will allow us to continue to improve as an organization. His extensive experience and strong desire to live here make him an excellent fit for Gunnison County,” Gunnison County Manager Matthew Birnie stated.
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May 15, 2015: Courthouse Celebration (PDF)
Gunnison County will be hosting a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house to celebrate the completion of the Gunnison County Courthouse construction project. The ribbon cutting will take place at 5:00 pm at the main entrance to the building, followed by light refreshments in the lobby. Attendees will be encouraged to peruse all of the publicly accessible portions of the building to learn more about the project and become familiar with the amenities and office locations.
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January 30, 2015: County Hires New DHHS Director (PDF)
Gunnison County has hired Joni Reynolds to serve as the County’s new Health and Human Services Department Director, effective 4/1/2015. She will replace Renee Brown who is retiring after 13 years with Gunnison County. Joni spent the past 15 years working for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and she spent the last five years as the CDPHE’s Public Health Programs Director where she was responsible for all state public health programs with responsibility for 500 employees and a $300 million budget. “We are incredibly excited to have Joni join our team at Gunnison County. She has a proven record of accomplishment and leadership at the county and state levels and will be a tremendous asset to the County and its people,” stated County Manager Matthew Birnie.
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September 30, 2014: County Earns Distinguished Budget Presentation Award from GFOA (PDF)
This month, 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 2014 budget. “The County is pleased to accept this award for the fourth straight year. Our budget document preparation is an important event in the year-long cycle of performance based management. The budgeting piece of that management system was implemented in 2011. We have changed our expectation from just receiving the award, to increasing the number of ‘Outstanding’ ratings from the three independent reviewers from year to year. This year we moved the needle from 12 to 26, with more ‘Outstanding’ ratings than any previous year. This is also the first year we received all ‘Proficient’ and ‘Outstanding’ ratings, the top two options on a four-step scale,” said Finance Director Linda Nienhueser.
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September 26, 2014: County Wins Two Voice of the People Awards (PDF)
Gunnison County, CO was presented the 2014 Voice of the People Award for Excellence in Mobility and the 2014 Voice of the People Award for Transformation in Built Environment at the 100th annual International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Conference in Charlotte, NC earlier this month. Based on responses from The National Citizen Survey™ (The NCS™), residents of Gunnison County reported the highest levels of satisfaction with mobility and the highest increase in satisfaction with built environment compared with responses from all other jurisdictions participating in The NCS™.
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May 27, 2014: Construction Kick-off Meetings Scheduled (PDF)
It is rapidly turning to summer in Gunnison County and with that comes long-anticipated plans to break ground on new projects, do an addition, start a remodel, or fix a septic system. We at the Gunnison County Community Development Department want to make your plans go from dreams to reality as seamlessly as possible. Since last summer, we added some new faces and modified some positions on our experienced team, which is comprised of members that have deep roots in Gunnison County. Also we have some new proposed regulations related to ISDS/On Site Waste Water Treatment Systems, marijuana facilities, and Reclamation Permits that will be considered this summer.
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November 30, 2011: County Manager Named Administrator of the Year (PDF)
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.
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