Tributary January 22, 2020

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Volume 11, Issue 4

In This Issue:

January 22, 2020

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* Page 2 & 4 Weld Commissioner Resignation May Cause Revolving Door, cont.

Weld

Commissioner Resignation May Cause Revolving Door of Elected Offices

By Sherrie Peif GREELEY — Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway will be resigning from his seat effective Jan. 31, 2020 according to a letter sent to the Weld County Council dated Jan. 6, 2020. It’s a resignation that could have a domino effect on Weld County and Colorado politics. “Over the last year, my wife Rebecca has been experiencing several health challenges. The time has come to put her needs first,” the letter reads in part. Conway confirmed his intent to Complete Colorado, adding he is not going anywhere permanently, and he will speak more after his wife recovers. I am “going to be very involved in 2020 elections,” he said. Conway has celebrated a long career in politics. He was state director for former U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong and chief of staff for former Sean Conway U.S. Sen. Wayne Allard. He is in the final year of his third term on the Board of Weld County Commissioners, meaning he was term-limited prior to announcing his resignation. The past two years for Conway have been controversial, fighting with fellow board members at times and being removed from many of the boards and commissions he represented for Weld. He was also not assigned a coordinator position for any Weld departments the past two years. In his letter, Conway pointed to the Northern Colorado Crime Lab, Weld County Road 49, Adult Treatment Court, successful response to the floods of 2012 and the new addition to the county jail as some of the biggest accomplishments he was proud to have played a part in.“… with no short-term debt, long-term debt or sales tax,” he said. Cont. on Page 2, See Weld Commissioner

Comments to County Council 1/20/2020 Meeting 6 PM

Good evening. I would like to thank each of you for your service. This the first time I am not on any County COMMISSION FOR FIRST TIME IN ALMOST 15 YEARS. Too often people criticize but are unwilling to serve, so I thank you again. I am glad to see there was no issue about the County Councils authority to name the replacement for Commissioner Conway. I remind you the Commissioner Conway was an At Large Commissioner. The other at large and I have had discussions on what being an at large commissioner really means. I understand the replacement has to be a Republican, but I urge to select an At Large person, not solely a Greeley person. Greeley is a very important piece of the Weld County community. It has 1/3rd of the population but there are 2/3rds that are out there, that do not live in Greeley. The number of unaffiliated voters is now is the largest registered voter group in Weld County. 90% of our anticipated population growth is along the I-25 corridor from Erie to Windsor. As you know 90% or more of Colorado’s oil and gas production is generated from Weld County but have you noticed where that is in Weld County. It is overwhelmingly outside the Greeley area. It is encouraging to see that we have a diverse group of applicants who are running for the County Commissioners slots in 2020. We will see how that develops in the Weld County Republican nomination process between the caucuses and ultimately the Assembly process. Weld County is growing, and the old guard politicians need to understand that people are beginning to realize that the current process is broken. The status quo will not stay in place forever. Our CBOCC approved the 2020 budget, all 538 pages of it, which on page 3 identifies almost a 34% increase in assessed valuations or an increase almost $4 billion. Page 10 states, with pride, the fact that the mill levy is being held constant. The assessed value increase is attributed to about 45% oil and gas while 55% is either new or increased valuation values. Now it should not take a masters in math to figure out if the mill levy is constant and your assessed value is up you will see a tax increase in tax bill that you be receiving shortly. No one has been talking about that. You can thank your existing Commissioners for that. The High Plains Library Board, voted unanimously, to reduce its mill levy by 2.2% county wide within the library district. Was that discussion, other than by Commissioner Conway even meaningfully held? How much of a reserve dos the County really require? How many CR 29’s must all the people of Weld Country continue to fund. There should be robust debate, as that is healthy, but it should include fair representation of all the people, throughout the county. In your deliberations and evaluations of candidates I ask that you remember the At Large representative meaning and appoint a true at large representative to fill the commissioner vacancy until the people can elect the candidate of their choice in November. I remind you that over 70,000 folks voted for the now vacant position. It is a responsibility that now falls on the shoulders of 5 people. Yours. Thank you again for you service and God Bless America and our President.

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