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The USFS Grand Mesa Visitor Center, located in Delta County and used largely by tourists and day trippers from elsewhere, will benefit from a $10,000 contribution from Delta County. The county helped fund construction of the building in 1991.

"At this point," said Connie Clementson, Grand Valley district ranger, "the GMUG's 2012 funding for the Visitor Center is zero dollars."

She was speaking to the Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 21. "We are hoping for more," she added.

The $10,000 level of support from the county continues a history of support dating back to the landmark log mansion's construction in 1991.

The commissioners made the decision to put the $10,000 support donation in the county's 2012 budget during Clementson's presentation at their Nov. 21 meeting. A public hearing on the county budget document is scheduled for Dec. 5.

The Visitor Center was on track for GMUG operations funding orphanhood last year also, Clementson said. But $40,000 was allocated for it at the 11th hour.

Without another 11th hour reprieve this year, the operations budget for the center will be carried by the Delta BoCC, by the for-profit lessee ANG Outfitters, and by the Rocky Mountain Nature Association which sells books and interpretative materials there.

Together, the three will contribute a total of $30,000 for the Welcome Center's 2012 operations. ANG, which stays open winters, also provides some maintenance services during those months, Clementson said. The Visitor Center received a $600,000 structural refurbishing two years ago from the Forest Service.

Bill Miller of Cedaredge, chairman of the Grand Mesa Scenic Byway Association, thanked the commissioners for their support. He added, "The county's support is essential to the Byway and to the Visitor Center."

County Administrator Susan Hansen said that the county's $10,000 contribution would come from federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) money. That money is paid to the county "in lieu of" property taxes that would otherwise be collected on public lands if they were in private ownership.

Clementson said that in fiscal year 2011, 46,175 people came through the Visitors Center, not counting the 300 people per day who are estimated to stop only for the available restroom facilities.