Photo: The old Archuleta County Courthouse, sold by the Archuleta Board of County Commissioners in 2022 for $550,000, and soon to be replaced by a new multi-million-dollar facility in a different location. The building, which once accommodate nearly all County offices and its detention center, was mostly abandoned by the County as practically worthless. Rumors are circulating that it’s once again for sale, at a much higher price.
It’s not atypical for political discussions — among the citizens, and on governing boards — to occasionally become passionate, and perhaps personal.
They may even, sometimes, become emotional.
When Archuleta County Commissioner Warren Brown proposed to his fellow commissioners — Board Chair Veronica Medina and newly-seated Commissioner John Ranson — that the BOCC adopt a policy of purposefully rotating the Chair position on an annual basis, he was presumably coming from a somewhat defensive position, considering that he is beginning his fifth year on the BOCC without ever having been elected to serve as Board Chair by his fellow commissioners.
The BOCC chooses its Chair at a January meeting each year, and I believe that vote will take place at their January 21 meeting.
Past BOCCs have sometimes chosen to rotate the Chair position annually, but not always. It’s a politically powerful position, and when political differences are evident among the three commissioners, it can be tempting to leave one of the commissioners standing outside on the sidewalk, so to speak.
This is not to suggest that our other local government boards make a practice of rotating the Chair position. Quite the contrary. It’s more typical to see a Board President or Chair hold that position for four, five, six years… or longer.
Upon hearing Commissioner Brown’s suggestion that the Chair be assigned on a rotating basis, current Chair Veronica Medina asked Commissioner Ranson for his thoughts on the idea.
Commissioner Ranson:
“I’m really excited about the diversity of this Board, with the different levels of experience that Commissioner Brown has, particularly in the Sheriff’s Department and safety, and Commissioner Medina’s vast background in human resources, and getting things done. Yesterday [at the swearing-in ceremony] was a great example of something I would not be capable of, as a Chair. That was well done…”
Commissioner Medina:
“With thank yous to staff…”
Commissioner Ranson:
“Yes. But I’m really excited about the three of us. I’m excited about [County Manager Jack Harper II] and [County Attorney Todd Weaver] with all their different backgrounds and experience. I think we have a really good team.
“I like the idea of an alternating Chair. I think it would be a good thing, and I talked with both of you about it [previously]. I’ve felt, over the past month, that was going to be one of my biggest decisions. I couldn’t figure out where to go with this…
“In the coming year, for what it’s worth, I would lean towards Veronica continuing. Just for continuity. Especially being the new guy. That being said, I didn’t realize he hasn’t had a Chair in four years, and I think he’s due…”
Commissioner Ranson claimed he would prefer to be “be out there talking to the people” rather than serve as Chair.
“So just thinking out loud, I like the idea. I would lean towards Veronica this year, if she desires it? She may not desire it. I think you earned it in Year One, the year you had… you went through some stuff last year that people shouldn’t have to go through…”
He was referring, here, to the recall effort of last summer, when a group of activists circulated a petition accusing Commission Chair Medina of violating certain Colorado conflict of interest laws.
“But I would be totally comfortable with either of you as Chair first year, and then whomever doesn’t chair the first year goes in Year Two.”
He asked Commissioner Medina for her thoughts.
She said she had reached out to other Colorado BOCC members for their perspective, and referred to the CCI (Colorado Counties Inc.) handbook. She didn’t find a clear consensus, but she admitted that the position can, at times, be very political.
“I’me very comfortable either way, because I know that all the work that I do, I can do from any seat. I don’t need to be the Chair in order to do what I do every day.
“So if the position is more about confidence and trust, and that’s what the other commissioners in other counties said, they vote on it and make an [intentional] decision because there are times when a commissioner may not be able, or want, to be the Chair.
“So I don’t know that I’m comfortable saying, ‘Every year we will rotate it’. I think it really should be up to the commissioners who are there, to decide who is going to be Chair. Whatever decision we make this year, commissioners in the future will change it…
“And when I talk about confidence and trust, I’ve been approached by many of our constituents, a lot of my constituents on my District, have urged me to continue to be Chair. And I say to them, I can do the work I do from any seat…”
She pointed out that, as Chair, she had changed the layout of the work session furniture, to have all three commissioners facing the audience. “Because it’s about all three of us, and the three of us being united on any decision…”
It was obvious at this point, however, that the three were not united on the question of rotating the Chair position annually.
Commissioner Medina:
“So it’s not about the ‘title’ for me. It’s about the confidence and trust that I have, or don’t have, in my fellow commissioners.”
She mentioned the Monday swearing-in ceremony, and stated that she had heard from certain (unidentified) constituents.
“And it bothered me, because I knew that there had been conversations held with them; things that were said negatively about this Board. About me, particularly.
“Trust and confidence have to be there, because the Chair is ‘the CEO’ of the County…”
Read Part Three, on Monday…