Recently implemented in GJ, stricter subdivision infrastructure regulations have developers looking outside of city limits.
n Palisade proposal to reduce minimum lot sizes advances
5 Town officials discussed reducing minimum lot size requirements as part of a broader effort to focus on infill development.
n Morgan Mining expansion
GJEP announces Morgan Mining expansion to bring 893 high-paying jobs to Mesa County.
n PGRI to invest in Powderhorn
Now as a majority owner, PGRI is looking to Powderhorns future housing, lift enhancements and more. 8
n Green Valley Herbal moves
Harty.
Bullet-riddled bottom line?
Gun retailers fear passage of restrictive bill will severely reduce gun sales
olorado District 7 Sen. Janice Rich calls it a bad bill.
A couple of Grand Junction firearms retailers agree and say its passage could be disastrous to their stores’ bottom lines.
Democrat-sponsored SB25-003, which passed in the Colorado Senate last week and now is making its way through the Colorado House, wasn’t in its final iteration as of the printing of this edition. With the potential for changes between then and The Business Times’ publishing date, the simplistic summary of the bill from the Legislature’s website is: In Colorado it would prohibit “knowingly manufacturing, distributing, transferring, selling, or purchasing a specified semiautomatic firearm.”
And a specified semiautomatic firearm in the bill is defined as “a semiautomatic rifle or semiautomatic shotgun with a detachable magazine or a gas-operated semiautomatic handgun with a detachable magazine. The bill excludes from the definition certain types of firearms and specified models of firearms.”
Then, there are exemptions, most notably that “the prohibition does not apply to the transfer or sale of a specified semiautomatic firearm to, and receipt or purchase of a specified semiautomatic firearm by, a person who:
“Completed a hunter education course certified by the division of parks and wildlife and, within 5 years before making the purchase, completed a basic firearms safety course;
“Within 5 years before making the purchase, completed an extended firearms safety course; or
“Completed an extended firearms safety course more than 5 years before making the purchase and completed a basic firearms safety course within 5 years before making the purchase.”
That means the semiautomatic firearms that stand to be prohibited can still be sold and purchased in Colorado when those conditions are met.
And that amendment to the bill meant little to Rich, because gun buyers will have to pay for the education and safety courses that will be required. The courses can be as few as four hours for a person who is current on courses,
or as many as 12 hours for someone who doesn’t meet any course-work requirements.
“It’s still a bad bill,” she said. “I think it still infringes upon a Second Amendment right. And the whole purpose of this bill is to make it harder to purchase guns in Colorado.”
She added, “Even though you have a constitutional right to own a gun, now you’re going to have to pay for that right by having 12 more hours of schooling, I guess you can say, before you can purchase one of those guns that have a removable magazine.”
Chris Walker, store manager of Jerry’s Outdoor Sports, 2999 North Ave., said if the bill becomes law, “It’s gonna create a very problematic barrier for buyers, because now they have to go through and get a bunch of paperwork, get blessed by the state and beg the Crown’s permission to come in and buy a firearm, something that has been historically protected by constitutional rights or asserted by constitutional rights, I should say.”
See GUN on Page 6
Jerry’s Outdoor Sports carries this Smith & Wesson M&P Shield Plus Carry Comp 9mm handgun, which stands to be prohibited from being sold in Colorado if Democrat-sponsored Senate Bill 003 passes during the current legislative session. Photo by Tim Harty. STORY AND PHOTO
meet any infringes purpose of Colorado.” constitutional to pay for schooling, I guess those guns Outdoor becomes law, for buyers, bunch of Crown’s something that rights or on Page 6
Why Knowing Your Blood Pressure Matters for Your Health
Blood pressure might not be something you think about often, but it plays a huge role in your overall health. Known as the “silent killer,” high blood pressure (or hypertension) can sneak up on you, leading to serious issues like heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems. Understanding your blood pressure and keeping it in check is crucial for staying healthy.
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. It’s measured in two numbers:
• Systolic pressure (the top number) measures the force when your heart beats.
• Diastolic pressure (the bottom number) measures the force when your heart rests between beats.
A normal reading is typically around 120/80 mmHg. If your numbers are consistently higher, you might have hypertension. If they’re too low, it could be hypotension. Both can affect your health.
High blood pressure is one of the leading risk factors for heart disease, which remains the number one cause of death around the world. High blood pressure puts extra strain on your heart and arteries, making them work harder than they should.
Over time, this can lead to serious problems like:
• Heart Disease: Your heart can become overworked, leading to heart failure.
• Heart Attacks and Strokes: High blood pressure can cause arteries to harden and narrow, increasing the risk of these lifethreatening events.
Keeping your blood pressure in a healthy range helps your heart stay strong and reduces the risk of these problems.
High blood pressure doesn’t just affect your heart. It can impact other parts of your body too:
• Kidneys: It can damage the arteries in your kidneys, leading to kidney disease.
• Eyes: High blood pressure can cause vision problems and even blindness.
• Brain: There’s a link between hypertension and cognitive decline, including dementia.
Maintaining healthy blood pressure helps protect these vital organs and keeps you feeling your best.
Because high blood pressure often has no symptoms, regular checks are the only way to know if yours is too high. Adults should get their blood pressure checked at least once every two years if it’s normal, and more often if it’s elevated or if you have risk factors for hypertension.
You can check your blood pressure at home with an easy-to-use monitor, or many pharmacies and clinics also offer free or low-cost blood pressure checks. Knowingyour numbers allows you to take action early and avoid complications.
SIMPLE WAYS TO MANAGE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE
“If you are diagnosed with high blood pressure, several lifestyle changes can help manage and reduce it. These include maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular physical activity, managing stress, limiting alcohol consumption and avoiding tobacco use,” advised Dr. Basmadjian.
If your blood pressure is high, consider these lifestyle adjustments:
• Eat a Healthy Diet: Focus on fruits, veggies, and whole grains, and cut back on salt.
• Exercise Regularly: Aim for at least 30 minutes of activity most days.
• Manage Stress: Find healthy ways to relax, like meditation or deep breathing.
• Limit Alcohol and Avoid Tobacco: Both can raise your blood pressure.
Sometimes, medication is needed to help control blood pressure. Always follow your doctor’s advice and take medications as prescribed.
Knowing your blood pressure and keeping it in a healthy range is key to preventing serious health problems. By staying informed and making small lifestyle changes, you can protect your heart, brain, and overall health.
To learn more about your numbers and the Heart & Vascular program at St Mary’s go to intermountainhealth.org\heart.
Developers eye Whitewater to build more-affordable, single-family housing
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
WHITEWATER — After Grand Junction recently implemented stricter subdivision infrastructure regulations and began a study recommending significant increases in impact fees, developers have increasingly indicated development will shift to areas outside the city limits.
That includes building in areas served by the Clifton Sanitation District and Whitewater Public Improvement District to provide more attainable single-family housing for Mesa County residents.
Home builder Ron Abeloe of Chaparral West Inc., who has begun establishing Whitewater Village, the area’s first urban subdivision, has seen success. Despite initial market uncertainties, the development has exceeded his expectations, with homes selling at reasonable prices.
“This was an untested market,” Abeloe said. “It was kind of a roll of the dice, but so far, things have gone better than expected.”
Abeloe said he has been able to build new single-family homes in Whitewater Village for at least $40,000 less than he can in Grand Junction’s city limits. The most recent sale was a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom, 1,451-square-foot home with a two-car garage on a 4,356-square-foot lot, listed for $354,900.
With construction under way on new streets within the subdivision, Abeloe said more homes will be started in the next four to six weeks as the first batch of more than 20 homes already sold out.
Abeloe added Whitewater offers larger lots and a more rural setting, appealing to some buyers.
“It’s a nice compromise,” he said. “Actually, this location is great for people who enjoy the outdoors. SpanishTrail isn’t too far away, and there’s a boat launch along the river where you can put in a raft or a boat.”
Rising Costs in Grand Junction
The cost of building in Grand Junction has risen more than in the county because of new standards that, according to Abeloe, also contribute to delays in the planning department process.
“Applications are down 70 percent, and they still can’t keep up,” Abeloe said, adding he currently has a permit overdue in town.
Abeloe said the process involves a significant amount of review, which isn’t necessarily the fault of those conducting the review, but rather the extensive requirements they must check. He believes some of these requirements are unnecessarily redundant and burdensome.
For example, Abelo said mandating six-foot sidewalks in low-foot-traffic areas adds unnecessary costs to each home. He believes sidewalks should be widened only if there is clear evidence of high pedestrian traffic, adding, “I have no problem with that.”
Whitewater Plans
The Mesa County Geographic Information System (GIS) map shows the sewer line in the Whitewater Improvement District runs from the Clifton Sanitation Department, traveling up 32 Road and under U.S. 50. It continues to Coffman Road, heading south toward the Gunnison River. The line runs along Coffman Road, adjacent to the river, before bending south to the 141 (Gateway) exit off U.S. 50, ultimately extending past Whitewater Village and across Colorado 141.
Mesa County Community Development Director Greg Moberg said that while Whitewater Village is seeing some success, expanding the infrastructure and extending it across U.S. 50
will be challenging. He added the area’s buildout will be difficult because of Clifton Water’s inability to provide sufficient water beyond the Whitewater Village subdivision. Upgrades to several water lines are necessary.
While the development timeline is uncertain, the area is identified as a potential site for future growth in the county’s recently updated master plan.
With the start of new growth and despite these challenges, Whitewater Village has sparked interest from gas stations.
“We’ve had several calls from different convenience stores looking at the area,” Moberg said, adding no formal applications have been submitted.
A Growing Community Savannah Foster, a recent homebuyer in Whitewater, cited the financial benefits as a primary reason for her move.
“They’re a lot more affordable out here,” she said. “To be able to buy a brand-new house and pick out all the colors, I would have never been able to pay in-town prices.”
She also qualified for a rural development loan because the house is in Whitewater, which allowed her to purchase with no money down. She noted living in the county also means she pays less in property taxes.
Although the development’s location may seem distant to some, the commute is manageable.
“The drive isn’t too bad,” Foster said. “It’s all highway driving. I work at St. Mary’s (Hospital), and it’s so quick in the morning.”
Julie Lovato, another Whitewater resident, was drawn to the area’s tranquility and its potential for future growth. Having lived in Delta and commuting to her job at School District 51 in Grand Junction, she was already familiar with the area.
“Housing expanding out that way was really neat to me,” Lovato said, adding she hopes for more amenities, such as a gas station, in the future.
Catherine Patton, shared her positive experience with the area’s new housing development. Originally from Colorado Springs, Patton who now works in Grand Junction and was drawn to the Whitewater village for its affordability and well-designed homes.
“The price point is excellent, and the product is very well-built,” she said.
Patton, who works in insurance and is familiar with the housing market, purchased her home in April 2024. She expressed satisfaction with her decision, noting the development meets a strong need in the area.
“It’s quiet, and the builders have done a really good job,” she added.
With her background in the insurance industry, Patton also pointed out that insurance rates in the area are favorable.
She echoed the sentiment that the drive isn’t as far as some may perceive.
“It takes me 12 minutes to get to downtown and park. That’s not far at all,” she said.
Patton compared it to her previous commute in Colorado Springs, which took 25 minutes on a good day. Additionally, she said when she moved to the area, she found the drive from Fruita to Whitewater to be a shorter route.
As the neighborhood continues to grow, Patton remains optimistic about its future.
“I’m willing to wait for the neighborhood to establish its legs,” she said, expressing hope it can eventually become a vibrant community.
ABOVE: Home-builder Ron Abeloe, president of Chaparral West Inc., stands outside homes he has built in Whitewater Village. BELOW: Abeloe stands inside a home that is under construction at Whitewater Village. Photos by Tim Harty.
Palisade Planning Commission advances proposal to reduce minimum sizes of lots
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
The Palisade Planning Commission has taken a step closer to allowing developers to build on smaller lots in order to increase the availability of housing in residential areas while also preserving agricultural land.
During a Feb. 18 meeting, town officials discussed reducing minimum lot size requirements as part of a broader effort to focus on infill development.
Reducing Lot Sizes
Devan Aziz, Palisade’s community development director, said reducing lot sizes by 30 percent will help achieve Palisade’s goal of more efficient land use. Under the current code, a one-acre site could physically fit six single-family homes, but zoning limits it to only 4.5 homes per acre. By reducing lot size, the town could better utilize infrastructure, ease the housing burden and still maintain its small-town charm.
The proposed changes reduce the minimum lot size for single-family homes in residentially zoned areas from 7,500 square feet to 5,000 square feet, and lots for multi-family homes decrease from 5,000 square feet to 3,500 square feet.
“We’ve already reduced height requirements, and now we’re looking at further changes to accommodate more housing,” Aziz said.
According to Town Manager Janet Hawkinson, the maximum height requirements differ between commercial and residential uses and help the code to align with the community master plan and preserve the character of the town.
Support From Commission
Members of the planning commission expressed strong support for the proposed changes.
“I’m supportive of anything we can do to encourage more infill and avoid impacting agricultural land,” Ed Seymour said.
Lisamarie Pinder added, “Not everyone wants a large single-family home. Smaller lots will allow more people to downsize and open up housing options for others.”
Brandon Burke voiced his approval, saying, “I think the dimensional standards could help us create a lot more housing per acre.”
Other members, including Amy Gekas and David Hull, agreed, saying if the lots are conducive to the change, they saw no reason not to move forward.
Concerns and Amendments
During the discussion, Aziz proposed updating the town’s code to allow a singlefamily home to be divided into a duplex. However, Planning Commissioner Don Bosch brought up concerns about the idea of splitting a home into a duplex, arguing it could mean the city was then automatically granting the property owners the ability to add an Accessory Dwelling Unit as well.
The commission did support the addition of language to the ordinance allowing for greater flexibility in housing design with the understanding that ADU permitting is approved on a case-by-case basis.
Some residents voiced concerns about the ongoing struggles of Palisade businesses to attract workers because of a lack of affordable housing options.
Some speakers in favor of the proposed changes described the new plan as “a genius idea,” particularly in the context of maintaining a balance between development and the preservation of agricultural land.
Next Steps
Aziz was tasked to draft the ordinance to further update the land-use code to align with the master plan that was completed in 2024.
Gun
He said it also sets the precedent for having to have some kind of licensure to exercise fundamental rights.
When it comes to operating a business that sells guns, Walker echoed Rich’s comment about the bill making it harder to purchase guns in Colorado.
“Now, we have another layer of record keeping and policing that we have to do,” he said. “We have to ensure that everybody has the proper paperwork.”
Walker said it will undoubtedly harm firearms sales, as anything that’s inconvenient can be a deterrent to a potential gun buyer.
“Unfortunately, we live in a convenience-driven society, right? And we have a lot of people who, if it’s inconvenient for them, they just won’t do it,” he said. “How many of them are just going to say, ‘Screw it, I don’t care any more. I’m not going to even try.’”
If the bill becomes law, Walker fears it could be devastating, because gun sales are such a large part of Jerry’s Outdoor Sports’ business.
“From the business side of things we’ll probably have to figure out some new business strategies,” he said. “Like we’re going to adapt as best as we can. The store’s been
These rifles for sale at Jerry’s Outdoor Sports, top to bottom, are: an Inland Manufacturing M1 Carbine .30 Carbine; a Ruger Mini 14 .223; and a FN 49 7x57 7mm Mauser. Jerry’s Outdoor Sports store manager Chris Walker said the M1 Carbine would not be prohibited from sale or purchase in the current iteration of Colorado Senate Bill 003, because it is explicitly named in the bill that it won’t be prohibited. The other two would be prohibited because both are semiautomatic, gas powered and have detachable magazines.
Top Shot Guns owner Dwight Cleland hasn’t ruled out the possibility he’ll have to close his store at 2454 U.S. 6&50, Unit 107. He bought the store in October 2024 after managing it since January 2015.
The amendment requiring safety education does make a difference to Cleland, because he teaches concealedcarry classes, and he expects he will teach some of the classes the bill requires if it becomes law.
“We will modify when we see it, but more than likely, if there’s semiautomatic gun bans, we will probably likely be required to close the retail side and just maintain a training presence,” he said.
Without that amendment, Cleland said he would’ve taken entirely different measures.
“If it went all the way through as originally planned, I would have bought everything I could possibly get, that I could clear out before the drop-dead date, and I would have a piss-off-a-politician special,” he said. “I would sell them just at $25 over cost, just to get as many out in safe public hands, through legal background checks, to make sure that people were able to take care of things.”
In a similar vein, even with the amended version of the bill,
whatever guns that you want, support your local firearm dealer, and when you can afford them, purchase whatever guns you can and stock up on whatever magazines you can. And then, after September of 2025, if this bill passes and the governor signs it, know your quickest route to your Second Amendment-friendly states to purchase your ammunition from there.”
That Cleland even has to deal with another gun bill has grown tiresome. Cleland thinks politicians are approaching guns the wrong way because they don’t understand guns.
“They don’t know what it is. They don’t know how it works. They don’t know why it works. They don’t know what it’s for,” he said. “They’re just afraid of it, because they’re ignorant of its ability, of what it’s designed to do and how it’s designed to help people.
“Instead of legislating, if they would just educate.” Cleland gave the example of Click It or Ticket, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s seatbelt-safety-awareness campaign.
“I mean, Click It or Ticket was all over the United States for a while,” he said. “When’s it gonna say: Lock up your guns and keep them away from your unauthorized users?”
The Mauser has an additional feature that makes it prohibited: a threaded barrel. Photo by Tim Harty.
“Purchase firearm dealer, guns you can then, after governor signs it, Amendment-friendly
gun bill has approaching understand guns. know how it don’t know because designed to do educate.”
Ticket, the Administration’s seat-
United States Lock up your users?”
GJEP lands biggest fish yet
Morgan Mining’s expansion to bring 893 high-paying jobs to Mesa County
Tim Harty The Business Times
As wins for the Grand Junction Economic Partnership go, this one was “seismic.”
That was GJEP Executive Director
Curtis Englehart’s word for what it meant to land Morgan Mining, a Tennessee-based company that chose to expand its business in Grand Junction instead of in its home state.
And that means up to 893 jobs will be created over the next eight years, and those will be jobs with an average annual wage of $92,447. In Mesa County, the average annual wage is $56,524.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT), GJEP and Morgan Mining made the announcement Feb. 20.
Morgan Mining received approval for Colorado’s Job Growth Tax Incentive, valued at up to $10,890,875 in eligible tax credits, contingent on job creation and salary requirements.
To put his “seismic” characterization in perspective, Englehart offered: “It’s just a really big win for our community, and honestly, it’s the largest one we’ve had in the history of our organization.”
It’s the kind of success he thinks will breed more success.
“I would say historically, really going back to 2016, GJEP has really relied heavily on the Rural Jumpstart Program, which is a great, performance-based incentive tool to help us level up and compete a little bit more with metro areas,” Englehart said. “But as we continue to grow as a county and have really incredible resources for businesses, we’re able to really start competing against these larger communities like in Knoxville, Tennessee, or a Boise, Idaho, or Reno, Nevada, where we haven’t been able to that in the past.
“And so to me, this win is a great example of showcasing just the business resources and just how we’re able to really level up when it comes to competing with
other states and other communities. So, we’re really pleased to see the utilization of the job growth incentive tax credit.”
Headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee, and started in 1989, Morgan Mining is an interdisciplinary construction, mining, engineering and management firm and is part of the Morgan family of companies.
As the company identified the need to expand its operations, particularly its mining services, the company faced the decision of either expanding its headquarters in Knoxville or its facility in Mesa County.
Morgan Mining President Justin Morgan explained his decision by saying: “We decided that creating a mining-focused hub in Mesa County provided the best economic and growth opportunities for Morgan. From the outset of this expansion project, OEDIT and GJEP were very actively engaged with us and ultimately provided the support needed to tip the scales in favor of Mesa County.”
Morgan Mining is already in Mesa County, having made its way there via Delta when it acquired Phoenix Mining at the beginning of 2024. Morgan Mining outgrew Phoenix Mining’s offices in Delta, where it created more than 150 new jobs in the region, and moved to Grand Junction later in the year.
Englehart said Morgan Mining is acquiring extra square footage in one of the buildings at the former Halliburton Industrial Park, 365 32 Road, which is now called Grand Mesa Industrial Park.
Englehart added the majority of the workers that Morgan Mining will be hiring will be based at that facility, and there it also plans to develop additional miningequipment maintenance and parts inventory, and provide education and training programs.
Englehart said one of the draws to Grand Junction for Morgan Mining was the workforce it encountered in the area.
“When we started working with them, they already had a Western Slope presence, and they are really pleased with the workforce that we have here in Mesa County and on the Western Slope,” Englehart said.
The workforce won’t come solely from Western Colorado, though, and bringing new people to Grand Junction is another boon to the Grand Junction economy, he said.
MORE INFORMATION
WANT A JOB WITH MORGAN MINING?
People interested in working for Morgan Mining are encouraged to apply at www.morgan1.com/careers. Current job openings are for those with prior mining experience, but new positions for those looking to transition into a career in the mining industry will be posted as this expansion moves forward.
WHAT IS THE JOB GROWTH TAX INCENTIVE?
Approved by the Colorado Economic Development Commission, the Job Growth Tax Incentive is an eight-year job creation incentive to support competitive, multi-state or county relocation and expansion projects.
The tax credit gives businesses a Colorado state income tax credit equal to 50 percent of Federal Insurance Contributions Act tax paid by the company per net new job for each calendar year in the credit period.
The tax credit is performance-based, and the tax incentive is only paid out when new job creation is realized by the business.To count toward the incentive, companies must pay new employees at least 100 percent of the average annual wage in the county in which they will be located.
Curtis Englehart
As majority owner, PGRI is set to invest in Powderhorn
Tim Harty The Business Times
It’s like the difference between renting a home and owning it, Powderhorn Mountain Resort General Manager Ryan Schramm said of the reason Pacific Group Resorts Inc. acquired majority ownership of the resort from The Gart Companies earlier this month.
Renters don’t usually make improvements to homes, because they don’t see a dime from the home value’s appreciation if the owner sells the home.
PGRI entered a long-term lease in fall 2018 to serve as Powderhorn Mountain Resorts’ operator, but expectations it will invest in improvements to the property aren’t going to happen without a return on investment. Now, as majority owner, the incentive is there to go forward with significant investments.
“For us, that’s really what it kind of comes down to,” Schramm said. “We’re able to invest in something that we own the majority of.
“I think that was part of some of the original negotiations, when we were talking about taking over operations for them all those years ago. It’s always been part of the conversation. PGRI would want (an ownership stake in) the resort at the right time.”
And Gart Capital Partners understands that, which is why it accepted a smaller ownership stake.
“They still had some obligations to invest in the property, and it made more sense to them to make those types of investments along our side if they are equity owners, so that they can benefit in those investments beyond just normal property management, compensation essentially,” Gart Properties Executive Vice President Evan Gart said. “So, it incentivizes them to make much more significant infrastructure upgrades to the property, so
that they can benefit from that appreciation, equity value.”
Both owners will benefit from a more vibrant Powderhorn Mountain Resort.
In turn both can play to their strong suits.
For Gart Capital Partners, that’s developing real-estate. And it is focused on building more starter homes or tiny homes in a price range of $150,000 to $200,000. It has built six, and Evan Gart said plans call for another 50-plus.
“It’s just a great match between the recreational offerings and residential offerings that really no other resort can offer,” Gart said. “Real estate is extraordinarily expensive at a resort, and to get a purchase price as low as a hundred-thousand to two-hundred-thousand dollars is a real differentiator and will only put Powderhorn on the map more.
“When you can cut their entry-level costs by 75 percent, you’re giving them a pretty great reason to skip those other resorts and come to our resort.”
For PGRI, its strong suit is growing and enhancing the resort that it operates.
“We certainly want to take a look at some larger capital projects that would not have been possible in the old ownership structure,” Schramm said. “Obviously the first one that everybody talks about is the West End lift. That was installed in 1972. It’s time for us to discuss a possible replacement for that. We’ve been working on that a little bit with the Forest Service and with engineering and local partners.”
PGRI also will look to expand snow-making
capability, something it brought to Powderhorn in 2020, and add it to more runs.
Beyond that, Schramm said, “We want to take a look at sustainable growth and facilities. Do we need to look at parking, additional parking? There’s bathrooms. There’s food and beverage. Determine where are the true needs and go from there as to where it grows. It’s grown exponentially over the last few years, and it’s been a wonderful dream.”
Speaking of dreams, Schramm addressed PGRI’s long-term goals and said everything will be guided by its Mission Affordable mantra.
“I think that Powderhorn can be a fantastic ski area. I think it can be a fantastic regional destination,” Schramm said. “I don’t think that Powderhorn wishes to compete with the Aspens and Vails of the world.
That’s not our’s not our plan. That’ not our mission.
“We want to be the locals’ choice for everyone in the Grand Valley to come and enjoy, to have that as a resource and stick around a long time. There are a lot of invested people that live here. We’ll leave our focus there.
”We want to be a really, really great ski area. I don’t necessarily think that anyone wants Powderhorn to become the next Aspen or Snowmass. I don’t think that’s something in the cards, right? That’s not what it’s there for. That’s not what its culture really is all about.”
Even with the development of small homes at the resort, Schramm thinks Powderhorn will always be accessible to the local clientele it has always drawn to the slopes.
Schramm said of the tiny homes,“I think it’s probably a little bit more inclusive and accessible than, you know, trying to buy property at just about any other ski resort in Colorado, right? It is designed to be different. It’s designed to be a little bit more locally oriented and local focused.” F
Evan Gart
The Palisade Winter Rewards Program: Happening Now!
The Palisade Winter Rewards Program, made possible by Alpine Bank, officially began February 1! Shoppers can now start collecting receipts and earning rewards just for supporting their favorite local businesses. Whether you’re dining at a beloved restaurant, shopping at a local retail store, or booking a cozy getaway in town, your purchases can add up to fantastic rewards.
HOW IT CAME TO LIFE
The idea for the Palisade Winter Rewards Program was born from a desire to support local businesses during the quieter winter months. The program encourages residents and visitors to shop at local businesses and also has a direct benefit to both the business and the consumer.
With the support of Alpine Bank, the program was brought to life as a way to boost economic activity and create some much-needed support for local businesses. By offering incentives, the Palisade Chamber of Commerce hopes to create a cycle of support where businesses see increased sales, shoppers enjoy meaningful rewards, and local businesses are able to sustain through the winter months.
HOW TO PARTICIPATE
Participating is easy! Simply shop at eligible food and beverage businesses, retail stores, personal services, accommodations, and attractions in
Palisade. Keep your receipts, take a photo of each one, and submit them through the online form once you’ve spent $250, $400, or $650. The first 60 approved participants will receive a gift card of their choice from the list of eligible businesses.
“We hope to make this a yearly program that can run during the winter months to help boost economic activity and support our favorite local businesses during a traditionally slower time of year.”
— Jessica Burford, President & CEO of the Palisade Chamber of Commerce
For full details, the list of eligible businesses, and participation rules, visit Palisadecoc.com
Monument Health tabs Tuthill as new executive director
Grand Junctionbased Monument Health, a clinically integrated healthcare network, has promoted Marguerite Tuthill to the position of executive director.
Tuthill joined the organization in May 2022, previously serving as chief operating officer and most recently as interim executive director, following the departure of Ashley Thurow in 2024.
Tuthill brings experience and commitment to improving patient outcomes while lowering healthcare costs by working directly with providers, insurance companies and employer groups to create effective healthcare solutions.
Dr. Michael Pramenko, board chair of Monument Health and chief medical officer of Monument Health and Primary Care Partners, praised the promotion.
“With her knowledge of the Western Slope, education and leadership skills, I am excited for Monument Health and our ongoing efforts to improve both the quality and cost of healthcare here in Western Colorado,” Pramenko said.
Before joining Monument Health, Tuthill served as the director of business development at HopeWest and was the director of value-based payer contracting and data at the Western Healthcare Alliance.
She has a master’s degree in public health from the
ABOUT MONUMENT HEALTH
Monument Health is a joint venture capitalized in 2015 and owned by Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center and Primary Care Partners. Monument Health facilitates the largest and most comprehensive clinically integrated network (CIN) on Colorado’s Western Slope and delivers high-impact population health services.
University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and is experienced in the healthcare landscape in the Grand Valley. She serves as vice chair of the Mesa County Board of Health.
Monument Health’s network of providers and facilities partner with multiple insurance companies and insurance types to ensure the 100,000-plus members served by these plans have access to the care they need, when they need it. The self-funded employers who utilize the Monument Health network see increased connection to primary care, increased preventive screens and controlled costs.
“We all know healthcare is complicated,” Tuthill said. “Monument is a local service that assists members in accessing the care they need at an affordable price and from high-quality providers and facilities located where the members live.
“I’m honored to lead this organization. Monument Health was developed to improve the healthcare experience for those we serve, achieving this through a combination of high-quality services, cost containment and patient-navigation assistance. We are seeing the fruits of these labors and have a great team dedicated to further innovations.”
The City of Grand Junction’s 2025 summer-camp-enrollment process is open and available online. Enrolling early is important for parents or guardians to compile all necessary documents and prepare for summer camps before registration opens March 4.
Limited spaces are available, and families are strongly encouraged to enroll early, as some locations reached capacity in less than a week in 2024. To ensure a smooth registration process, visit the Summer Camp webpage for a step-by-step guide.
The 2025 summer camp programs will be hosted at the following locations: n Little Sunshine Camp – Tope Elementary School and Pomona Elementary.
n STARS Camp – Tope Elementary School, Pomona Elementary, and Bookcliff Activity Center/Middle School. n SCORE Camp – Chipeta Elementary. n Tween Camp – Grand River Academy.
For questions regarding summer camps, call Grand Junction Parks and Recreation at 970-254-3866 or email summercamp@ gjcity.org. Parks and Recreation also offers a wide variety of recreational programming for all ages and abilities.
Marguerite Tuthill
Health and is Grand Valley. of Health. facilities insurance by these they need Monument primary care, costs. complicated,” Tuthill members price and located where Monument healthcare through a containment the fruits to further
enrollment
camps
Junction’s 2025 process is open Enrolling early guardians documents camps before available, and to enroll capacity in a smooth Summer Camp programs will locations: Elementary School. Elementary. Academy. summer camps, Recreation summercamp@ also offers programming
Smith acquires HRL Compliance Solutions, opens new Rifle office
After more than two decades at the helm of Grand Junction-based HRL Compliance Solutions Inc., Herman Lucero sold the company to employee Matt Smith.
Under Lucero’s ownership, HRL Compliance Solutions, 2385 F 1/2 Road in Grand Junction, grew into a trusted and reputable environmental firm working with a variety of industries, recognized for its expertise in regulatory compliance, environmental solutions and innovative industry practices.
Smith, an industry veteran with more than 12 years of experience in the oil and gas and environmental sectors, an HRL employee for six of those years, and a Colorado Mesa University alum, now leads the company into its next phase.
“Our team remains committed to providing industry-leading regulatory and environmental compliance solutions while embracing innovation to meet the evolving needs of our clients,” said Smith, who has a background in regulatory compliance, environmental management and industry best practices.
The acquisition signifies a period of transformation for HRL as Smith aims to build upon the company’s foundation and expand its capabilities in an ever-changing regulatory and environmental landscape.
To that end, Smith brought on Dustin Held as HRL’s environmental division manager. With more than 15 years of hands-on experience in environmental compliance and an environmental geology degree from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Held brings expertise and strong industry relationships to his new role.
Held often describes his work as being an “earth janitor,” focusing on cleaning up and managing environmental challenges across various industries.
Held is based in the newly-opened HRL field office in Rifle and will guide HRL’s efforts in industries such as oil and gas and governmental compliance, while helping expand the company’s network and workforce.
The new Rifle office is located at 762 Buckhorn Drive and will act as a division office to better support environmental services within Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
Seeking
Matt Smith Dustin Held
decades at Junction-based HRL Herman Lucero Matt Smith.
Seeking visibility
Green Valley Herbal moved next to busy coffee shop, hopes to draw in more customers
Tim Harty The Business Times
Making regular trips to Copeka Coffee, because it was literally right across Fifth Street from her store, Green Valley Herbal owner Patricia Nizalowski saw how busy the coffee shop was on a regular basis.
As in: It’s really busy.
ownership, HRL 1/2 Road trusted and working recognized compliance, innovative with more the oil and an HRL years, and a alum, now phase. committed to regulatory and solutions while evolving who has compliance, industry period of Smith aims to foundation and ever-changing landscape. on Dustin division years of environmental geology College in and strong role. as being cleaning up challenges newly-opened will guide as oil and compliance, while network located at 762 division environmental Utah, and
“They have community there at Copeka,” Nizalowski said. “You know, people go there. I see regular people going all the time. I see mothers groups hanging out there with their kids. I mean, people doing art. … They have music at night. Last night they were setting up for something, they had all the lights on. It’s pretty cool.”
Now, Nizalowski doesn’t have to cross the street to go there. She just needs to go one door down, because she moved her business into two small units in the Menagerie Square commercial building where Copeka resides. And she opened the doors to business there on Jan. 18.
It may have been the easiest business decision Nizalowski ever had to make.
Green Valley Herbal was at 1001 N. Fifth St., where there wasn’t much foot traffic next to it. Moving across the street to 1006 N. Fifth St. puts her store in clear view of the considerable Copeka clientele.
And that’s how she noticed the space was available to lease. During a stop at Copeka, she saw a note on the door where Lifespan Psychiatry had resided.
“It was a little typed up thing that said the place was available,” Nizalowski said. “Yeah, I called immediately.”
Now, when asked how to find her store, she uses Copeka as a point of reference, because many people know where it is.
Then, they find out what’s in Green Valley Herbal, and it’s a lot of items that she makes herself, and a partial list includes: medicinal herbal teas; lotions; body wash; after-shower oil; aromatherapy mists; and essential-oil blends. She emphasizes blends when she says essential-oil blends, because she wants to avoid customer confusion.
“Some people think I sell the bottle of essential oils, and I don’t,” she said.
She also makes and sells facial serums, foot balms and massage oil.
Nizalowski knows a thing or two about massage oil, because it relates to the other half of her business.
The retail business is only half of what she does, and uses half of her store’s 600 square feet. The other half contains her office and the tools of the trade she uses as a massage therapist, which she has done for 38 years.
Nizalowski bought Green Valley
Patricia Nizalowski stands next to a shelf holding body lotions, after-shower oils, body washes, moisturizers, aromatherapy mists, recycled bags and more of the items she sells as owner of Green Valley Herbal, 1006 N. Fifth St. in Menagerie Square at the corner of Fifth Street and Belford Avenue. Nizalowski is also a massage therapist and health coach, but she wants to transition more into the tiny retail store. She proudly sells bags that are 80 percent recycled water bottles, and she said they “have cool messages on them.” One of the bags hanging on the shelf says, “Spread Kindness Like Wildflowers.” Photo by Tim Harty.
Herbal six years ago, because she was extremely familiar with it after being a customer of the Cedaredge-based business since the late-1990s, and she primarily operated it online until she got the space at 1001 N. Fifth St.
Moving to 1006 N. Fifth St. left her with half as much room, but more eyes seeing her store, a tradeoff she says is worth it. Now, she’s open for massage therapy Monday-Wednesday, then opens the retail store Thursday-Saturday.
Nizalowski’s plan is to grow the retail side of the business and be open more days for it. She’s 66 years old, and she sees making and selling Green Valley Herbal’s lotions and oils and aromatherapy mists as something she can continue to do into old age.
Nizalowski also sees her store as a way to help people take better care of themselves.
“I can share these great products with people, because I know that they work with bodies, because I’ve been using them since the late ‘90s,” she said. “And I think the message is so valuable now, and it’s: Love your body. Love yourself. Take care of yourself. “You know, it’s just so important. People are so stressed out right now. So what I do is I offer a way for people, encourage them to take better care of themselves, and I have the means.”
F
Defying county’s declining birth rate, baby deliveries increase at Community Hospital’s The Birth Place
Birth rates are steadily declining in Mesa County, but Community Hospital continues to deliver a record number of babies as more expecting parents are choosing to deliver at The Birth Place at Community Hospital.
Overall, birth rates in Mesa County have decreased more than 30 percent since 2016, whereas Community Hospital has seen an increase of more than 25 percent, the hospital said in a news release.
While a significant decrease in births has impacted the county, Community Hospital welcomed more than 600 babies in 2024, the highest number of babies delivered at The Birth Place since opening in 2016.
“Our staff takes pride in offering a more personal approach to labor and delivery, and that has really resonated with our patients,” said Ami Hanson, interim director of The Birth Place at Community Hospital. “Parents are very much a part of the health care team at The Birth Place and feel empowered to make decisions throughout the birthing experience in a safe and comforting environment, which helps explain why our unit consistently ranks in the top 5 percent of all birth centers in the country.”
The Birth Place offers several birthing options for laboring mothers, including hydrotherapy, water births, nitrous oxide, medicated and natural pain relief methods
and more. Its team tailors each patient’s birth to be a safe, meaningful and individualized experience.
The Birth Place staff is trained to care for low and high-risk pregnancies, including twin births and obstetric complications or emergencies. A neonatal transfer team is also available in the rare event a baby needs to be moved to a higher acuity unit.
“It’s rare babies need to be moved to a different hospital, but we are prepared to safely transfer those patients as needed,” Hanson said, adding less than 5 percent of patients needed to be transferred to a higher level of care in 2024. “If a baby is transferred, we make every effort to discharge the mother as soon as it is safe to do so in order for her to be with her baby.”
The Birth Place provides support to expecting parents before, during and after the birthing experience. Its team offers childbirth education classes, breastfeeding classes and support groups as well as lactation consultations.
The labor and delivery unit at Community Hospital features eight labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum (LDRP) suites, each with a private jetted tub and one cesarean section operating room.
Expectant parents also get private parking and a private entrance with an elevator that takes them directly to the labor and delivery unit. Each family enjoys a special celebratory dinner prior to leaving the hospital or has the option to take home a beautiful gift basket to enjoy at a later date to celebrate their new bundle of joy.
To learn more about the comprehensive labor and delivery services offered at The Birth Place at Community Hospital, or to schedule a tour of the unit, visit YourCommunityHospital.com.
One of the labor and delivery rooms available for expecting parents at The Birth Place at Community Hospital. Photo courtesy of Community Hospital.
be a safe, high-risk complications available in acuity unit. different transfer those less than 5 a higher we make is safe to expecting parents Its team breastfeeding classes consultations. Hospital postpartum and one parking and a them directly a special or has the enjoy at a comprehensive labor Place at unit, visit
Employers: Know your wage and hour requirements
While other employment/human resources laws certainly dominate the headlines (e.g., union bills, DEI Orders, etc.), it’s generally wage-and-hour issues where Colorado employers must be constantly diligent to ensure compliance or face nearcertain claims from employees, administrative agencies or through litigations.
So, you may ask, what wage-and-hour issues are those? Well, here’s just a few: Make sure you comply with Colorado’s new wage requirements and correctly classify employees regarding entitlement to overtime.
To classify an employee as exempt under Colorado law (i.e., not required to keep track of the employee’s time or to ensure the employee receives overtime pay), the organization must show that the employee (a) receives, at least, the minimum salary basis amount (currently $56,485 for private employers in Colorado) and (b) meets one of the duty-basis tests (e.g., administrative, executive/supervisor or professional). An employer that only meets one of the tests is not complying with the law and could face claims of unpaid overtime.
Make sure employees aren’t working off the clock. If an hourly employee is working, the hourly employee must be “clocked in.” No ifs, ands or buts.
Where some employers run afoul of this requirement concerns supervisors communicating with employees after hours.
Take, for example, Supervisor Stan. He’s sitting around the house one night watching the Colorado Avalanche dominate another opponent, when he suddenly thinks, “Hmm, I wonder what ever happened today with Employee Ed’s meeting with our biggest client.” So, Stan decides to text Ed, and the two engage in a 20-minute discussion regarding the meeting. Because Ed is working, Ed must be punched in to ensure that he is compensated for this time.
So, companies should instruct their supervisors not to contact employees after hours or when the employee is off the clock.
Make sure every hourly employee is authorized and permitted to take at least a 10-minute rest period every four hours.
Colorado law (i.e., the Colorado Overtime and Minimum Pay Standards) requires that every hourly employee is “authorized and permitted” to receive that break time. While many believe that COMPS requires the employee to “take” the rest break, that requirement is not actually in the order. Instead, the order requires employers to “authorize and permit” a required 10-minute rest period. So, how does an employer “authorize and permit” a rest break.
Well, here are a few ideas:
• Have language in the handbook that stresses every non-exempt employee is “authorized and permitted” to take the identified rest breaks.
• Put the language in the handbook sign-off sheet and have the employee initial it and sign the sign-off sheet that non-exempt employees are authorized and permitted to take the required rest breaks.
• Have all non-exempt employees sign the COMPS order.
• Have supervisors end employee meetings by saying, “Don’t forget you are authorized and permitted to take a 10-minute rest break every four hours. If you don’t think you’re authorized and permitted to take one, come see me.”
• Get company coffee mugs that say, “All non-exempt employees are authorized and permitted to take a 10-minute rest period every four hours.”
Use-it-or-lose-it vacation policies are not lawful.
Within the last few years, the Colorado Supreme Court issued an opinion wherein it determined that policies that “took away” an employee’s vacation time or failed to pay an employee their accrued vacation upon termination were unlawful. In short, once an employee earns vacation, it is theirs to keep, use or receive compensation for.
An example of a policy that violates this law would be where the organization identifies, “Employees are only permitted to carry over 80 hours into the next calendar year. So, if an employee has more than this amount at the end of the year, the company will take away leave to get the employee under that 80-hour cap.” This would violate the law because it’s taking away an employee’s leave without paying the employee for it.
Now, an employer could develop a policy where employees may not accrue more than, for example, 80 hours and when the employee reaches this cap, the employee stops accruing. This policy, unlike the previous one, is lawful, because the employer isn’t taking away any leave. Instead, the employer is simply stopping the employee from accruing additional leave beyond the cap.
As mentioned above, while other laws may draw a lot of the big headlines, it’s the day-to-day wage-and-hour requirements that companies need to be constantly diligent to comply with.
F Michael Santo is co-founder and managing attorney of the Bechtel & Santo law firm in Grand Junction. His practice focuses on defending companies in employment litigation, including discrimination lawsuits, wrongful discharge and wage-and-hour matters. He also represents employers in claims of tradesecret misappropriation, unfair competition and employee raiding. Santo is a member of the Western Colorado Human Resource Association. Visit www.wchra.org.
Kickstart your 2025 with our 6-Week Goal Accelerator & Accountability Program (GAAP)
Designed for entrepreneurs and creators, GAAP helps you overcome distractions and transform your dreams into reality. It keeps you focused and motivated as you scale your business, launch projects, or push personal limits. For just $25 a week, you will get:
Crystal-clear, actionable goals that resonate with your vision and values.
Weekly check-ins to ensure accountability and gain immediate insights.
Support from fellow entrepreneurs and creators who truly understand your journey.
Empowering coaching and a high-octane program designed to shatter barriers and propel your progress.
Michael Santo
The Leadership Divide: Are you a leader or a boss?
If you’re like most people, you’ve worked for a variety of business owners and managers throughout your lifetime. Some of them likely stand out in your mind as individuals you enjoyed working for, while others created an unpleasant work environment.
It’s also likely that you have a clear preference for the type of person you would prefer to work for. The same holds true for your team members.
There is a vast difference between being a leader and being a boss. A leader influences, collaborates, guides, inspires, mentors and supports others to foster movement in a desired direction.
Conversely, a boss is someone who exerts control over others, often in a domineering and demeaning manner, utilizing fear and intimidation to extract more effort from those they oversee. Leaders are service-oriented and see themselves as part of the team. With this mindset, there is no need for blame, only a collaborative effort toward a shared mission.
Bosses, on the other hand, tend to be self-centered and power-hungry. They believe they are special, standing above everyone else, and because there is no team concept, they resort to playing the blame game.
Leaders give credit where it’s due and readily accept responsibility as part of the team. They work with their people for solutions and inspire others through their positive example of personal accountability and teamwork.
Bosses love to take all the credit for things that go well and none of the accountability for things that don’t. They believe that to maintain their authority and control, they can never be at fault.
Leaders recognize that when a person receives quality instruction and training, understanding and efficiency are created. They know that sharing their time and knowledge helps their people become more competent and, therefore, confident.
Conversely, bosses prefer to tell others how to do things, rather than get involved and demonstrate the process. They are more interested in power and control versus teaching others how and why something should be done.
Leaders rely on the intelligence of their team members, understanding that no one person knows it all. They seek out and welcome the ideas of their teammates, knowing this will only contribute to the team’s overall success.
Bosses, however, believe they know it all and are the only ones with the correct answers. They do not welcome the knowledge of their people, leaving employees uninspired and disheartened.
Leaders create goodwill and enthusiasm, generating an environment where their teammates want to give their best. They understand that they don’t have control over others and therefore endeavor to help their people gain more self-control and make better decisions, thereby becoming leaders, too.
Bosses rely on authority and fear to make individuals do more and more for as little as possible. They believe that when their people are intimidated and afraid, they are in control.
Leaders willingly assist in the empowerment of their team members and the entire company, leading everyone to increased happiness and success. Rather than simply bossing people around, leaders assist others in becoming their best. Bosses tend to disempower and demoralize individuals, making them and their company less than what they could be.
Leaders view their team members as human beings with their own hopes, dreams and desires. They coach their people in pursuing their goals and assist them in becoming more than they once were.
Bosses see people as objects in their pursuit of success, riches and power. They drive their people and use them up along the way.
Through their commitment to communication and mentoring, leaders foster the best in others, treating them as valuable human beings capable of achieving great things.
Conversely, bosses, through their lack of appreciation and dictatorial management style, lay the foundation for distrust, resentment, disloyalty, high turnover, absenteeism, lowered productivity and underperformance of the business.
The largest difference between these two management styles is that a leader works to empower their team members and inspire them to personal and professional greatness, while a boss disempowers their people for control over them. The best leaders believe in and value human beings, working diligently to help their team members become leaders in their own right. Bosses do not. F
Marcus Straub owns Life is Great Coaching in Grand Junction. His personalized coaching and consulting services help individuals, business owners, executives and companies build teams, organizations and lives filled with happiness and success. Straub is winner of the International Coach of the Year Award and author of “Is It Fun Being You?” He’s available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub at (970) 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.
Marcus Straub
Potential conflict of interest raised over HomewardBound Resource Center
A potential conflict of interest is raising concerns about the future of the HomewardBound of the Grand Valley Resource Center, as HomewardBound Board Chair William Wade and his wife, Karen Wade, are actively involved in multiple current Grand Junction City Council races.
They are backing candidates running against Council member Cody Kennedy and at-large candidate Ben Van Dyke. Kennedy has been a vocal critic of the resource center, while Van Dyke has cited the center as a key reason for his decision to run.
The Rocky Mountain Voice reported that the City of Grand Junction is considering purchasing a building on North Avenue as a permanent location for the resource center.
In the article Council member Scott Beilfuss was quoted, saying, “We have the $2 million set aside for housing that we could use for purchase, but then there’ll be remodel money and all that stuff, so that would come out of reserve funds possibly, you know, unless they have some other area. But we have some extra money in reserves for things like this.”
Beilfuss also noted grant funding may be available, though he was unaware of any current applications.
While Alexis Hitzeroth, Kennedy’s opponent for the District A seat, has not listed a registered agent or specified who is financing her campaign on her website. Hitzeroth’s New Committee Registration form, (I-45-108/C.R.S), shows that Karen Wade is the registered agent for Hitzeroth’s committee. Additionally, the petition for Hitzeroth’s candidacy was signed by Bill Wade and filed by Jordyn Madsen, the wife of current Grand Junction Mayor Abram Herman.
This suggests a potential political relationship between the Wades and the current mayor.
When asked about the potential conflict of interest, Wade told The Rocky Mountain Voice, “I am simply on the board of directors. There’s a difference between the position I occupy in the nonprofit world and someone who might be the executive director of an organization receiving city funding. I act only in an advisory capacity. But as I have done many times in my career, if there is a necessity for a discussion about whether my presence in a particular situation creates a conflict, I would recuse myself.”
The Business Times obtained an invitation showing Bill and Karen Wade, along with Chuck and Kendra McDaniel of Grand Junction, inviting community members to support Ken Scissors, a candidate running for the at-large seat against Van Dyke.
Wade played a key role in securing funding for the resource center while simultaneously working on then-Mayor Anna Stout’s bid for the state’s 3rd Congressional District. Wade was one of three presenters to the City Council at a workshop on Oct. 30, 2023, which led to the council approving the resolution to use $912,400 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the project.
At the time HomewardBound was awarded city funding, Wade was serving as treasurer and custodian of records for then-Mayor Stout’s primary campaign against Democrat Adam Frisch to challenge incumbent Rep. Lauren Boebert. The campaign, filed on July 26, 2023, ended on Jan. 31, 2024.
Minutes from the workshop presentation state, “The City received two formal proposals, one from Amos Supportive Housing Association and another one from HomewardBound in partnership with United Way of Mesa County.” The minutes show no indication that Wade or Stout disclosed their political relationship. Stout also did not recuse herself when voting in favor of approving the funding for the HomewardBound proposal.
In a Feb. 2 article in The Daily Sentinel, titled “Unhoused resource center passes one-year mark” Wade stated, “My overriding feeling – as the guy the city asked to do it, the guy who built it, and the guy who’s going to tear it down when we move it — “is that” we accomplished exactly what we wanted. We got people into a position where we’re getting them into services and getting them in line so we can get them out of homelessness and into housing.”
The Internal Revenue Service states, “While a charity is forbidden to participate or intervene in a political campaign, directors, officers, or other charity officials are not under the same restriction as long as they act in a private, not an official capacity. To avoid confusion, officials should make it clear that they are acting or speaking for themselves alone and not for the charity. Additionally, officials may not use the charity’s financial resources, facilities, or personnel in their efforts to support or oppose a candidate.”
While Bill Wade’s private involvement in current and past local campaigns involving city council members – along with soliciting city funds as acting board chair emeritus of HomewardBound – may not be illegal, the pattern raises ethical concerns. It points to a lack of transparency, the potential for quid pro quo, and creates the appearance of a conflict of interest, especially as the city looks to deepen its partnership with HomewardBound in the future.
It’s a partnership that now must be questioned, as evidenced by the city’s premature entrance into negotiations to purchase the building and land directly adjacent to HomewardBound’s current location for the new home for the resource center. City council did this without any public input regarding any new site locations, disclosure of the process of the city’s real estate search, and having no funds in its budget to acquire property. And it appears to have done this with the express purpose of buying a facility for HomewardBound’s mission, which includes its growing partnership with the city.
Given how the current city council has conducted business during its tenure, don’t bet your house, the farm or part and parcel of any property on getting many answers, unless that property is next door to one of city council’s pet projects.
You want inalienable rights? Fine. You just gotta pay and submit.
After all, it’s the Democrat way.
As this paper is being finalized and published, Colorado’s Senate Bill 003 may have already cleared the house and is sitting on Pontius Polis’ desk for his signature. And while the bill is unconstitutional on its face, I thought I’d try to take some leftist arguments to show those know-it-alls just how much they don’t know about the tyranny they are imposing on the citizens of our state.
No one denies inalienable rights like an elected Democrat – except some elected Republicans, that is.
Let’s begin with Democrats’ favorite, absolute right every United States’ citizen – now including apparently every citizen no matter what country –must partake in (Hint: every inalienable right should be exercised freely and often, but I digress), which is the right to vote. Democrats demand everyone inside our borders has the absolute right to vote. No questions asked, especially those involving citizenship. After all, it’s in the Constitution.
But did Democrats always think this way? Consider the poll tax. Pretty much an exclusive purview of Democrat strongholds, especially in the South. I wonder who Democrats exercised this lawfare against the most?
Regardless, and outside the obvious race issue involved, Democrats required literacy tests, property restrictions, payments and more – including violence and intimidation, one of their favorites to this day – for African Americans to vote. The fact is, they made the rules to where African Americans couldn’t afford to vote, didn’t have the means to get to the polls, and because no quality education was readily available due to “Separate but Equal” laws, those same folks would never be able to pass the test.
End result? African Americans stopped voting. That is, until Democrats needed their votes.
Fast forward to today, and Democrats demand every person living in the United States is entitled to vote, proof of citizenship or not. Now, Democrats believe having to obtain an ID is either racist (it isn’t), or too expensive (they can be obtained for free), or folks just don’t have the overall means (myriad reasons) to get one. They should just be able to vote – early and often it also seems.
How does this relate to the new “Gun tax” being forced on us by Colorado Democrats after they found out the people aren’t going to stand for a ban on something that according to the Constitution of the United States “shall not be infringed?”
Naturally Democrats, with their never-ending need to infringe on rights, decided to make folks pay for “safety courses,” pass tests, petition their local sheriff and obtain a special permitting before they qualify to not so freely
and rarely exercise the inalienable right of keeping and bearing arms.
Sounds strangely like a poll tax to me. How about another Democrat, favorite right. The one that is acceptable as long as Democrats agree, or it’s popular at the moment: our freedom of speech?
And while our founders truly believe everyone has the right to state what they choose to state, they also believed in having to face the consequences of one’s actions related to that speech. Some of those consequences can be criminal, but most of them are civil in nature. For instance, you can discriminate with your business or property, but it’s not a good business or personal plan, and you probably won’t be around long or will end up alone.
But Democrats, in their infinite infringement mode, actually made discrimination legal with Jim Crow laws to the point the federal government had to step in. More specifically, the Republicans had to. Kinda like Republicans did back during that little (real) insurrection back in the 1860s.
So what do we have now? Government deciding what folks can do with their own property – outside the market teaching the real lesson – with Democrats creating rights for voting blocks along with lawsuit after lawsuit. But more to the point, if possessing guns is inalienable and there are serious criminal and civil consequences for the behavior of the possessor of said arms, why do we need another law? The consequences for one inalienable right seemingly work just fine (well, they don’t to Democrats, because they want to control speech as well) but somehow don’t for another?
This is what tyranny looks like, folks. And an added note, don’t look for the courts to get this right after this tyrannical bill is passed. After all, the Supreme Court of the United States at one time had the “opinion” slavery was legal, Jim Crow was A-OK, women had no right to vote, abortion is birth control, it’s OK for corporations to take your land for their headquarters (well, that’s still in effect) along with myriad unconstitutional, tyrannical, government laws and edicts.
Well, that was until we fixed legislatures, and in time the courts, through our votes. Speaking of which, just how many people on the planet have been slaughtered via elections and the ballot box versus our inalienable right to keep and bear arms? You know the answer, and it’s by light years.
Let’s bring back one tyrannical Democrat ideal. Let’s do separate but equal again – with guns. You live in your part of the world with no guns, and we’ll live in ours possessing them uninfringed. It’ll be better over here. Perfect? No. But certainly more perfect.
Just like it says in the Constitution of the United States. Second Amendment included. F Craig Hall is owner and publisher of the Business Times. Reach him at (970) 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com.
Craig Hall
n SPACEX NIXES SATELLITE STATION NEAR DE BEQUE
Space Exploration Technologies Corp, more commonly referred to as SpaceX, and Dewberry Engineers Inc. formally withdrew its application for a conditional-use permit to construct a satellite earth station near De Beque, Mesa County announced in a news release Feb. 19.
As a result, the Mesa County Commission canceled its scheduled Feb. 25 administrative public hearing, during which it was to consider the application. The application had requested approval for a facility that would have included 40 groundbased communication antennas on private land off 45 1/2 Road.
In a letter to Senior Planner Faye Hall and Mesa County’s Community Development Department, dated Feb. 19 and submitted on Wireless Policy Group LLC letterhead, SpaceX cited a shift in its long-term network plans as the reason for withdrawing its proposal. With the application withdrawn, Mesa County will not need to take further action regarding the proposal.
“Space Exploration Technologies Corp is constantly evaluating its network needs and priorities as it extends high-speed internet to even to the most remote locations in the country. This location no longer fits into their long-term plans,” said Ken Lyons, senior vice president of jurisdiction relations.
“We appreciate your assistance, and the professionalism and guidance of Mesa County staff throughout the permit process.”
n REALTY ONE GROUP HIRES ASHTON, BEHRENS, MCCLUNG
Realty ONE Group Western Slope continued the expansion of its brokerage with the addition of three real estate agents: Lynn Ashton; Becky Behrens; and Mabree McClung.
Realty ONE Group said in a news release: Behrens brings a strong background in real estate and client service; McClung brings her passion for real estate and dedication to the local community to the team; and Ashton is a new agent in the real estate sector.
“We are thrilled to welcome Lynn, Becky and Mabree to the Realty ONE Group Western Slope family,” said Tyler Harris, broker/owner of Realty ONE Group Western Slope. “Their diverse skill sets, enthusiasm, and dedication to delivering exceptional service align perfectly with our company values.”
n CANVAS CREDIT UNION, CMU LAUNCH PARTNERSHIP
Canvas Credit Union, Colorado’s third largest credit union, announced a new partnership with Colorado Mesa University earlier this month.
The collaboration aims to foster deeper connections with students, faculty, staff, alumni and community on the Western Slope, while providing resources to support financial literacy, local initiatives and shared opportunities for growth.
“Colorado Mesa University is a values-driven university, and we are thrilled to partner with an institution in higher education that is taking a unique approach to fulfilling their mission,” said Chad Shane, CEO of Canvas Credit Union.
The partnership is designed to empower students with a strong financial foundation and to support the university programs that bring the community together.
“Our goal as a Human Scale University is to be a model of the world we want to create; we are passionate about another partnership that helps us serve and support our students,” said Robin Brown, CMU’s vice president of development.
n
n ANB BANK PROMOTES SPERBER, MILLICAN
ANB Bank announced Kileigh Sperber and Nicole Millican have been promoted to vice president positions.
Sperber is now first vice president and banking officer V of ANB Bank’s downtown Grand Junction banking center. She brings more than 25 years of banking experience to her new role with a longstanding presence in the Colorado market.
“It is a well-deserved promotion to first vice president from where she started as a teller through positions in sales, branch management and treasury management,” Vance Wagner, ANB’s Western Colorado regional president, said of Sperber.
Millican is now first vice president and regional senior operations officer V of ANB Bank’s Western Colorado banking centers, including Grand Junction and Telluride. She has more than 18 years of banking experience and a wide range of knowledge that enables her to effectively monitor, maintain, and implement bank and financial audit operations.
“She is a true leader of our organization and keeps us headed in the right direction,” Wagner said of Millican.
DISPENSARY OPENING WITH MARCH 1 EVENT
KAI Dispensary, the final cannabis lottery winner to open in Grand Junction, will officially open with a grand opening and ribboncutting ceremony March 1, 10 a.m., at its 932 South Ave. location. Attendees must be 21 years old or older.
KAI Dispensary said in a news release it is the only cannabis retailer in Grand Junction to build from the ground up, and its architecture blends modern aesthetics with historic industrial elements, creating an inviting atmosphere that gives homage to Grand Junction’s historic downtown roots and reflects the evolving cannabis culture.
“We wanted to build more than a store. We wanted to create a landmark that shifts perceptions of the cannabis industry and contributes to the fabric of the city,” KAI Dispensary owner Joey Coleman said. “This collaboration between my brothers and I allowed us to craft a space that reflects our shared vision for a more engaging and inclusive cannabis experience and gives back to the city that we grew up in.”
Coleman said KAI Dispensary is a fully licensed retail-cannabis dispensary committed to offering high-quality products and exceptional service in inspiring spaces with a community-driven approach.
