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Show THE ZEPHYR APRIL 1993 PAGE 8 The Zephyr Interview Charlie Peterson Grand County Council Chairman On March 22, Jim Stiles interviewed Grand Count Council Chatman Charlie Peterson. The interview was edited far clarity and length, including all but one anecdote. Zephyr. You and the Council have been on the job for about three weeks now. What ia your assessment of die job and the state of the county? Charlie: My assessment of the job is that it's bigger than I thought it was going to be. And I thought it was going to be big and difficult, but it's very difficult, particularly from an administrative standpoint. It's not difficult from a policy or legislative standpoint because we haven't had any time to do any of that stuff. Zephyr. How do you think the citizens would feel if you now pushed to hire an administrator for the county, because it sounds to me like that's what you think you need. Charlie: If the citizens understood how poorly we run the county, how poorly we spend money in this county, they would demand that we hire an administrator. Zephyr You think that by hiring an administrator, you could actually save the county money? Charlie: Oh absolutely, There's no question about it. We would save many times what the cost of an administrator might be. Zephyr Can you give me an example of a day recently where you wish you'd had an administrator? Charlie Right now, the courthouse project is my biggest personal burden. I have the intention of trying to understand the details of all of die courthouse contracts, and there are literally e to dozens of individual contracts that have been let Even though I could devote e So I it to to devote costs have of don't the it the and courthouse, watching controlling so well courthouse costs of the doesn't get done. I try every day to learn a little more about the be sure we don't run out of money before the project is done. That may not be die best answer to your question, because the courthouse is not the typical project that will be with us forever. Generally, budgeting and cost control are the kinds of tilings that need the attention of an administrator. Purchasing is another good example of an area that needs administrative help. It's not being handled consistently by the various finish the building and $100100 bonus if they bring the building in six months early. Knight Bro. has taken the position that May 31 is the date of foil bonus and that it diminishes incrementally after that date. We do not agree with that date because it seems to be a rather arbitrary determination. So Knight Bro. has agreed to go bade and justify every day of delay from last summer and negotiate those delays with the architect. They will then determine an appropriate bonus date. Charlie Peterson, Chairman of the Grand County Council full-tim- full-tim- day-to-d- ay departments. The Courthouse Zephyr What is the state of the courthouse? Charlie: It's under construction. Zephyr. Besides the obvious, Mr. Chairman, What is the status of construction and is it what you expected? Charlie: I think we're going to wind up with a courthouse that is good value for the money we spent. I think the problem is that the prior commission did not have the support of the people to do the project the way it really needed to be done. There was an original design for a larger and more expensive facility, and I think we probably needed it But the people voted down the bond election and the commission started to reduce the scope of the project. Now we have a project that doesn't address future expansion very well. Zephyr What is an example of something that was cut that you would have preferred to have left in? Charlie: The overall plan would have provided more space for the county to grow into. More specifically, for instanoe, they dropped original plans to use a boiler heating system with a mechanical system that was supposed to save $200,000. The truth is, we have now had to make so many changes to adapt to the new system, that the savings are illusory. Also, the cheaper system will be more expensive to operate. Zephyr. Could we have afforded a more expensive courthouse? Charlie: We are paying for this through a bond issue. We lease space in the courthouse. There are potential lessees out there that have expressed an interest in being in the courthouse. And I just worry that we are going to have a facility that will require more expansion in the future. Zephyr Are you satisfied with the construction? Charlie: I think Knight Brothers is doing a good job of helping us get the courthouse done as quickly as possible. We entered into an agreement with them that I think was hastily conceived. We are in the process of modifying that agreement right now. There are sections of that contract that are ambiguous. I met with Roger Knight last week and we both came away determined to modify the contract in a way that would satisfy both of us. Zephyr Will they finish on time to qualify for the $100,000 bonus? Charlie: What's on time? 1 don't know if anyone will ever understand the entire chronological sequence of the courthouse job. The original contract said that construction was not to begin later than July 15. 1 don't know what the start date is.Jt's one of the points of dispute right now with Knight Bra They got the notice to proceed by the architects in August, there were further modifications to the plans that delayed the project into the fall The start date became September, then October, then November. The agreement with Knight Bro. is that they get 12 months to COME The Book Cliffs Highway Zephyr: Is the Book Cliffs Highway dead? Charlie: Yes. It is dead as far as Grand County is concerned. Zephyr And what is the status of the Road Board now? Charlie: We have asked for their resignations and there has been no response as of this time (March 22). Zephyn What is your next step? Charlie: We haven't had a definite plan since we took office to go step by step to resolving this problem. I think we've taken action in every meeting we've held. We first restricted further activities on the Book Cliffs road, the second meeting we revoked their administrative authority. That wasn't completely successful so now we have asked for voluntary resignations. So it's a serial kind of thing. We have determined that the project is halted and that we're going to keep it halted. The roads board thinks otherwise, and I think the problem is we're dealing with people who genuinely fed they're right. They think the Book Cliffs Highway is a good project, is a good thing for Grand County to pursue. We don't believe that the people agree with that philosophy and we don't agree with it ourselves. Zephyn If no one voluntarily resigns, what happens next? Charlie: As I read the law, we have to provide them with a hearing at a public meeting. They get a chance to respond to whatever cause we give for removal Following that, they can be removed for cause. I would defer to the county attorney to determine what the definition of cause is. Zephyn The road board has continued to insist that your actions are jeopardizing die mineral lease monies that go to the district In researching this issue, are you concerned that they may be right? Charlie: No. We have a three man committee that has talked to virtually everyone that has any control over, or information on these funds. John Hartley spent the better part of a day talking to people on the phone, and we are convinced that we are not jeopardizing these funds. I'm also convinced, to get back to the first question, that this is the kind of thing that needs administrative expertise. The Landfill k the Keystone Pit Zephyr: I've heard it suggested that some of the mineral lease funds may go to establish a solid waste management district Charlie: We are in file process of establishing that district At this point I don't think the council SEE EVE&S CAST WE GOT &EM COME IN AND CHECK OUT 0UI? NEW BIKES FI?0M CANN0NDALE 497 N-- A DIAM0NDBACK A MAIN MA(?1N A Z59A788Z A 800A635AT79Z RENTALS SALES SERVICE & NICHOLS EXPEDITIONS |