Paonia, Crawford still considering their commitment

When the Orton Family Foundation awarded a $100,000 grant for local planning and training in December, it came with a requirement for a $25,000 cash match and $75,000 of in-kind donations.

The Orton Foundation is more interested in having the local town governments in Paonia, Hotchkiss and Crawford be involved in the process then have a financial stake in the two-year project.

To that end, Elaine Brett has attended town council meetings in all three towns requesting the towns sign a partnership agreement. She has visited the councils several times over the grant application process and after the grant was awarded so that the governing bodies would be active, willing participants. The towns, chambers of commerce and Orton would be partners. They were looking for the towns to be supportive of the Heart and Soul Planning Process which will contribute to the individual town master plans.

At the Paonia Town Council in late January, Brett asked the town for in kind contributions and a few thousand dollars for matching funds.

"Each town would have a different take on how they are contributing," Brett said.

Jim Briscoe, town attorney, said the partnership agreement the town was given was a generic template. His first concern was how much flexibility there was for the town to determine its commitment. This is a one-for-one grant. "It is common for partners to commit themselves to different levels of contribution. It would be possible for the Town of Paonia to establish what they're willing to contribute and willing to participate," Briscoe said. Paonia's cash contribution and in kind contributions can be different from the other towns and the chambers of commerce.

The town could start with a bottom line amount and increase their contribution later if they want.

Brett said volunteer time and use of facilities are counted toward the in-kind donations. They are looking for shared commitments. They have the chambers of commerce and other non-profits participating.

A paid project coordinator is being hired and an advisory team will be overseeing the process and the accounting issues.

Brett said she has "a high level of confidence" in raising the $25,000. She has $19,000 now.

Barbara Peterson, town clerk, said they had budgeted $2,000 for this year plus offering office support in space, copying and minimal supplies. Paonia is not in a position to be the government pass through agency.

The Paonia Town Council decided to table the final decision until the next meeting, which was to be Feb. 14. That meeting has been canceled due to not having a quorum.

The Orton Foundation was hoping to have the signed partnership agreements by mid-February.

Next Brett, accompanied by Paonia Chamber of Commerce president Alexis Halbert, presented the partnership agreement to the Crawford Town Council on Feb. 1. Brett and Sally Kane had spoken to the council at a work session in January.

The language in the partnership agreement had been changed to say a cash contribution "up to $5,000." Crawford would, like the other towns, decide what amount they can contribute.

Delta County Economic Development is the fiscal sponsor for the project.

The partnership agreement states that the Orton Foundation "offers an innovative approach to community planning. . .that helps to identify local values, build a vision from them, and prioritize actions leading to goals, which in two years will: Strengthen the social network of the whole valley, improve communications within and between groups, have a shared understanding of the desired future, with the 'average' citizen able to articulate these community values clearly, develop the indicators for translating our values into measurable actions that affect our community and economic development, and establish a unified 'North Fork' identity."

The Crawford council was negative to the entire idea and decided to table any partnership agreement until after the April municipal election. Once new trustees and a new mayor are elected, Brett will come back and present the agreement to the new council in April.

Brett then visited the Hotchkiss Town Council on Feb. 9. Hotchkiss has a representative on the advisory team. He is trustee Dustyn Foster. He is also a representative for West Elk Mine.

There was initial resistance from trustees Marlin McCracken and Lindee Cantrell. Jim Briscoe, town attorney, said the revised partnership agreement was acceptable. The provision for a cash contribution up to $5,000 was an improvement, and his attorney fees could be counted toward in-kind donations.

Brett expanded upon the Delta County Economic Development board's decision to sign the partnership agreement and take on administrative and fiscal responsibilities for the project. The board felt it was a "perfect mix" with their economic development goals.

Cantrell wanted Mayor Wendell Koontz, who was absent, to be present before the council voted. Briscoe pointed out the mayor doesn't have a vote or a veto power. Sheila Maki, mayor pro tem, said the mayor had not expressed any concerns about the partnership agreement during the staff meeting.

McCracken said he wasn't for funds going toward planning.

The council approved on a split vote to enter into the partnership with the Orton Foundation. Foster, Jane Wills and Carrie Wingfield voted in favor. Cantrell and McCracken were against.