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This past week, District 3 Summit County Commissioner Josh Blanchard announced his resignation from the Board of County Commissioners effective Sep. 1 to accept a state job. It is widely rumored there will be another resignation from the board in the coming months, which would enable the Summit County Democrats to appoint two new county commissioners who will then be able to stand for election as incumbents in November 2024, and the pre-election time served does not count against their term limits. In Summit County, having a “D” after your name on the ballot is pretty much a guaranty on Election Day, so who is appointed by the Democrat party has a real impact on you and your business.
Generally speaking, the modern Democrat Party favors more active and involved government, which often results in higher taxes and more rules and regulations. The initiatives are bundled with good intentions even if the policy outcomes are costly, unworkable and even detrimental. Regardless, it is likely the newly minted commissioner(s) will be in lockstep with the status quo. Since the Summit County status quo is affirmed at the ballot box, there is little need to challenge assumptions and approaches to key local issues, but here are some thoughts for our, yet-to-be-named, new commissioner(s) to consider.
Work with the marketplace, not against it. There is no better local example of unnecessary government involvement than regulating the size of your garbage can, except outlawing natural gas appliances and mandating more expensive electric heat and hot water systems and automobiles that many consumers don’t want. The marketplace already offered flexible trash collection options for those who produce less waste on a weekly basis. The county is moving this direction. Please don’t! All this unnecessary law is going to do is increase costs for families and surreptitious dumping of excess trash in unlocked commercial dumpsters, or other illegal dumping, with a larger stream of recycling that is too contaminated to be recycled; therefore, it will end up in the landfill anyway. If the concern is about the life and capacity of the landfill, repeal flow-control that mandates trash be dumped in the Summit County landfill, at higher costs, and allow trash to be exported to the Front Range.
Try some bold ideas to address workforce housing. There has been a focus on rental housing lately, which is positive. Model The Pad hostel in Silverthorne for flexible rental options that do not consume renters’ entire paycheck for housing. Partnering with food court vendors, like a modern university residence hall, could also offset operating costs.
If we are going to use public money to build for-sale housing, let’s leverage private money and accelerate public-private partnerships. Partnering directly with local employers, who will then own the housing, is a win for both businesses and employees. Tying housing to employment will help recruiting, reduce turnover and create an asset for the business. Should a business no longer want or need the housing, the unit(s) could be sold directly to another local qualifying business.
Some towns have experimented with incentives to build accessory dwelling units, better known as “lock-off” apartments, which should be a win-win for both homeowners who are struggling to remain in Summit County and for renters looking for a quieter affordable place to live. Unfortunately, tying accessory dwelling unit incentives to full or partial deed restrictions is a non-starter because it does not work in the marketplace. If homeowners were offered water and sewer tap fee relief, in return for a long-term workforce rental commitment, and the public investment was protected through a defined term lien on the property, the program would work. There would be penalties for extinguishing the lien early, but if a homeowner needed to sell due to unforeseen issues before the lien has expired, there is a way to sell and finance the property. There are also subdivisions in unincorporated Summit County that are zoned for duplexes. Why not apply the same incentives to construction of duplexes?
The public has no say about who the Summit County Democrat Party will appoint to fill the vacant seat. Let’s hope they choose somebody who is willing to apply common sense and try some bold market-oriented ideas.
Bruce Butler’s column “Common Sense Conversations” publishes biweekly on Tuesdays in the Summit Daily News. Butler is a former mayor and council member in Silverthorne, where he has lived for 20 years. Contact him at butlerincolorado@gmail.com.
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