We’d heard occasional criticisms from Archuleta County Commissioner Michael Whiting, in the past, concerning the proposed ‘Archuleta County Justice Center’ — back when the price tag, with interest payments, would have been $35 million or so. Even as recently as the 2017 sales tax election to fund an $18 million jail and Sheriff’s office — $27 million with the interest included — Commissioner Whiting had opposed putting the issue on the ballot at that price.
Mr. Whiting will not have any further chances to vote on the jail facility, however, because he’s term limited. This week’s December 18 Board of County Commissioners meeting marked Mr. Whiting’s final meeting before his seat is assumed by newly-elected Commissioner Alvin Schaaf.
At the conclusion of the December 18 meeting, BOCC chair Steve Wadley invited his fellow commissioners to offer comments.
Commissioner Whiting probably could have expressed considerable outrage at some of the decisions made by various County officials over the past four years, since the start of serious discussions about a new County Courthouse. During those four years, the BOCC has seen the County Sheriff and Sixth Judicial District abandon the existing Courthouse — each making claims of poor air quality and other facility issues, and each now operating in seemingly less suitable quarters than the ones they left behind in the Courthouse.
The Sheriff and his deputies have been transporting jail inmates back and forth to La Plata County for almost four years now. I’m sure it seems like forever.
But the County is in fine financial shape. Or so it would seem.
Commissioner Whiting made reference to some public comments delivered by local activist Mark Weiler earlier at the same meeting (and shared in Part One of this editorial series):
“We’ve been at this process — trying to solve this jail puzzle — for three years?”
(Actually, it’s been four years.)
“And we’ve argued. Respected each other’s opinions. Drilled down into the details. Looked at it from a high level. I always felt that we would respectfully disagree, and then move on and try to get the work done. For the past three years.
“When Mark said that you started at $36 million, and now have it down to $13 million, that’s a testament to the process.”
Commissioner Whiting then made some comments about how remarkably transparent the jail planning process has been. (As an outside observer, I have a rather different opinion about that particular issue.)
“I will not be a commissioner when the final decision gets made, about what to do next. I don’t envy my fellow commissioners — or the person who is going to be sitting in this seat, which is Alvin — their choices in the matter. And if I thought what I am about to say was going to make it harder for them to make choices, I wouldn’t be saying it.
“I’m actually quite relieved that I’m not going to be here when this decision gets made, given the direction it’s headed. I would suggest a couple of things. I’m hearing from people out in the community that the decisions, that are going to be made, are because we have no choices in the matter. I disagree. That’s not an accurate statement.
“I gave my word at the very beginning of this process that I would not indebt the taxpayers without their express permission at the polls. And it would be breaking my word to do otherwise.
“We’ve seen this before, with Dry Gulch. And I think it’s inherently undemocratic to use a loophole in TABOR to indebt the county.”
For any of our readers not familiar with ‘Dry Gulch,’ you can read a history of that shameful process — where an elected Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) board put its water customers $10 million in debt to begin the Dry Gulch Reservoir project, after the voters had rejected the project funding at the polls. You can read more here.
The “loophole in TABOR” refers to the use, by Colorado governments, of ‘Certificates of Participation’ to establish long-term debt without voter permission.
Commissioner Whiting:
“We have options, including going back to voters. It took the School District three tries to get funding for the high school. As my good friend Ross Aragon will tell you, it took a decade to get the Community Center built.
“I feel like we have options. And I don’t envy you guys, going forward. I just wanted to make it clear where I stand on this, as I leave office.
“And I wish you guys the best of luck.”
Commissioner Wadley then offered a few words of praise for Pagosa Springs SUN reporter Avery Martinez, who was covering his last meeting for the newspaper before moving back to his hometown of Salida.
Then Commissioner Ronnie Maez offered a concise response to Michael Whiting’s commentary.
“I think, in a case like this… I’m going to let Michael go out, nice and easy.”
The meeting was adjourned, and some of us headed home to continue preparing for an upcoming Christmas celebration.
I haven’t actually asked Santa for any particular gift this year. (I’m not sure if Santa really exists, even though the SUN featured eleven pages of ‘Letters to Santa’ in this week’s Preview section.) But I’d like to see some smart decisions coming out of the Archuleta County Administration building during 2019.
Or else, a midnight-blue BMW 3 Series.