Disclosure: I currently serve on the Board of Directors for Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) but I’m not speaking for the Board here, but sharing only my own opinions.
At the September 14 meeting of the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District (PAWSD) Board of Directors… following some critical comments shared by San Juan Water Conservancy District (SJWCD) Board member Candace Jones… SJWCD Board President Al Pfister engaged in a short, but somewhat heated, discussion with PAWSD Board President Jim Smith about why SJWCD is concerned about PAWSD decision-making processes, and whether SJWCD is competently fulfilling its mission to get a reservoir built in the Dry Gulch valley, 15 years after the 2008 purchase of the Running Iron Ranch.
We then heard from PAWSD board member Glenn Walsh — one of PAWSD’s longest-serving board members — reacting to Ms. Jones’ letter (which you can download here).
“Let me respond to this letter, because I found it, in a number of places, to be really condescending — or at least, inaccurate. You wrote, ‘The PAWSD Board, pressed with other matters, could not make time to consider the proposed lease…’ Well, I certainly took the time to consider it. When I received the proposed lease from the County in an email, I read it three or four times, and gave it a lot of thought.
“To the degree you can give thought to a lease that is full of ‘placeholders’ and blanks…”
“I was very clear [at our previous meeting]. I didn’t say I didn’t have time to consider this. I said, I don’t want to go into a partnership with the County.
“The County does not have a parks department. The County doesn’t have a recreation department. They don’t have any personnel [to manage parks]. They don’t have a budget line item for parks. How are they going to effect this park?
“What are the outlines of this project? Is it simply going to be used by outfitters, to extend their season? That actually is a very targeted project, that could be done in a very intelligent way. But this lease is for a County park. Who is going to police that park? I don’t know. Is it going to be created the same way the County decided to create a public health department, by blowing up the previous district with no plan about how to replace it?
“Or the way they’ve gone about their road projects this year? Have they found the million dollars that they accidentally spent? Have they stopped ripping up the pavement they put down, with no engineering this year?
“I’m sorry. I was very clear, at the last meeting. The County is not a credible partner for developing a park. The Town of Pagosa Springs certainly could be. But not the County…
“… But the bigger issue is this. And I think it’s kind of ironic, that you’re accusing us of not focusing on the actual operations of our organization… because trying to recruit and retain personnel, and trying to find decent places for our people to live, and decent places for contractors — and trying to avoid paying contractors $200 per diem for employees, so they can rent houses and displace local workers? That is very much part of the management of our business at PAWSD.
“I don’t see where running a river access with the County has anything to do with what SJWCD promised to do eight years ago, which was to find partners to help build a reservoir, and relieve PAWSD customers of a $10 million burden.
“That 20 acres has nothing to do with a future reservoir…”
Mr. Walsh noted that, back in 2007, SJWCD received a $1 million grant to help purchase the Running Iron Ranch, which was specified to be repaid, with accrued interest, if the reservoir were not under construction by a certain date. In 2015, PAWSD assumed responsibility for this grant obligation, provided SJWCD would take the lead on getting the reservoir project built.
“SJWCD received a $1 million grant, which was your actual stake in this project. PAWSD took it over, in exchange for a promise that you would go out and find partners…
“Your financial responsibility is zero… And you start slinging around terms like ‘tenants in common’ and threatening to lease property without our approval? On a piece of property which has nothing to do with your reservoir…
“I just don’t understand it. It seems like a complete lack of focus.”
Ms. Jones — attending via Zoom — then thanked Mr. Walsh and PAWSD Board President Jim Smith for their comments, and said she looks forward to PAWSD and SJWCD sitting down together to have a conversation about the Running Iron Ranch, to discuss the issues brought up by the PAWSD Board.
But that was not the end of the matter at the September 14 meeting. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Walsh noted that PAWSD has been, for several years, collecting ‘Affordable Housing Surcharge’ fees to address the current housing crisis in Archuleta County.
“As laudable as workforce housing is, I actually want us to do it. It’s just been ‘laudable’ for too long… we need to get ten units of employee housing going. And that’s a beautiful, flat, buildable spot…”
Mr. Smith agreed. “That’s right. We’ve been talking about it for years… Here’s what I would suggest. Let’s dedicate that 21 acres just for that, so people will quit trying to take it away from us?…
“I’m going to make that a motion. I move that dedicate that 21 acres for our PAWSD employees, for housing… and we’re taking that off the market, unless somebody comes to us and buys it…”
The Board approved the motion unanimously.