Should the Motor Vehicle Division change its hours?

Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Sheila Reiner is asking community members for their input on the hours of the Motor Vehicle Division.

Currently, Reiner staggers staff members with early and late shifts. At times, customers wait longer in the Motor Vehicle lobbies between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. because employees working the early shift have gone off duty.

Community members are urged to provide feedback via an online survey through March 20. Find the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/576L56L 

For more information, call Sheila Reiner at (970) 244-1714 or Jackie Campbell at (970) 244-1691.

Mesa County Road and Bridge crews celebrated at breakfast

Mesa County officials hosted a breakfast for the county's Road and Bridge crews this morning.

An estimated 60 employees were treated to biscuits and gravy, bacon, eggs and hash browns.

The breakfast is held several times a year to show appreciation for Mesa County Road and Bridge staff members, who spend their days working outside on Mesa County roads.

Some other members of the Public Works staff also were treated to the breakfast, as were Mesa County Commissioners Rose Pugliese, John Justman and Scott McInnis.

Mesa County Commissioners meet with Congressman Scott Tipton

U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton met with Mesa County Commissioners this morning at the Commissioners’ offices in Grand Junction. Congressman Tipton is the U.S. House Representative from Colorado’s 3^rd Congressional District.

The Commissioners talked with Tipton about several issues important to Mesa County. Among them:

• Full funding of PILT, or Payments In Lieu of Taxes. Because 76 percent of Mesa County’s land is federal, the county cannot collect property taxes on that land. PILT are federal payments to local governments that help offset that loss of tax money and help local governments carry out such services as firefighting and road construction. Currently, the federal government must vote to extend PILT each year. Both the Commissioners and Congressman Tipton would like to see it fully, permanently funded.
• Stormwater runoff from federal lands. Stormwater runoff is water from rain or snow that does not absorb into the ground but flows over land. To meet Environmental Protection Agency guidelines, most stormwater runoff needs to be treated for pollutants or debris to maintain good water quality. Currently, stormwater runoff on federal lands in Mesa County is considered agricultural water. But EPA regulations could soon come into play. If that happens, the Commissioners will seek financial support from the federal government to treat the stormwater.  
• Endangered species legislation. On Monday, the Commissioners signed a Notice of Intent to Sue the federal government over its designation of the Gunnison sage grouse as a threatened species. Endangered species legislation could be a threat to economic development in the West, said Congressman Tipton, who serves as the vice-chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, a group of U.S. House members who promote Western and rural interests in Congress.
• Grand Junction Airport. The Commissioners told Congressman Tipton about the current issues surrounding the Grand Junction Regional Airport including the uncompleted Administration Building and the status of future federal grants. Congressman Tipton suggested the Commissioners draft a Letter of Inquiry.

Grand Valley Transit named 'Best of the Best'

Among the more than 130 national and international divisions operated by MV Transportation, Grand Valley Transit (GVT) has been named 2014 “Best of the Best” in the small division category. 

From 2013 to 2014, GVT had a:

• 17 percent improvement in Total Accident Frequency Rate
• 61 percent reduction in Preventable Accident Frequency Rate
• 72.5 percent improvement in preventable claims
• 72 percent improvement in Injury Frequency Rate

“This award is a great accomplishment for GVT but more importantly for our drivers and staff,” said Todd Hollenbeck, Mesa County Regional Transportation Planning Director.  “Without their continuous dedication, improvement and commitment to safety, we would not have the great transit system that we have.”

MV Transportation officials will be in Grand Junction this week to celebrate with GVT.

What: Celebration of GVT’s outstanding safety performance in 2014

When: Wednesday, March 11, from 9 a.m. – noon

Where: GVT Downtown Transfer Station MV offices, 525 S. 6^th St., first floor

Who: Senior MV Transportation officials and local GVT supervisors and drivers

GVT provides approximately 3,000 passenger trips each day, which adds up to nearly 1 million passenger trips each year. This is the 15th year GVT has provided transportation to residents and visitors of the Grand Valley.

GVT is governed by the Grand Valley Regional Transportation Committee. Operations have been provided under contract by MV Transportation since 2012. 

For more information on GVT, go here. 

March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month

Doug Sorter of STRiVE, left, shakes  hands with Mesa County Commissioner John Justman. The Commissioners this morning proclaimed March Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month.

The  Mesa County Commissioners this morning proclaimed March 2015 Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and recognized that communities are stronger when everyone participates.

The Commissioners wrote: "We encourage the citizens of Mesa County to observe this month by participating in activities increasing public awareness of developmental disabilities and to take the time to get to know someone with a disability."

Doug Sorter of STRiVE thanked the Commissioners for their support. He spoke on behalf of a handful of STRiVE board members and other supporters in the hearing room.

Commissioner Rose Pugliese said,  "STRiVE is such an incredible organization, and you really take the burden off the county by providing so many valuable services."

For more information on STRiVE, go here.

See the proclamation below:

Mesa County will continue to provide building inspection services for cities/towns

Mesa County will continue offering building inspection services to residents and contractors in Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade, Collbran and DeBeque, thanks to contracts the Mesa County Commissioners renewed this morning.

The contracts between the county and the cities/towns are up for renewal every two years. With their renewal, the county will continue issuing building permits and conducting inspections for new construction and remodels. Each city/town has its own Planning Department, but the county handles all permits and inspections.

“It makes it a one-stop shop for developers and others doing construction or remodels,” said Mesa County Public Works Director Pete Baier.

Mesa County began doing building permits and inspections in the City of Grand Junction in 1988. The other municipalities were added over the next four years. 

Mesa County’s building inspection services team can also do electrical and plumbing inspections. Staff members include electricians, plumbers and carpenters.

“We want the consistency,” said Darrell Bay, Mesa County’s chief building official. “It’s a service provided to the community.”