| OPINION: Delta dodges a bullet — Montrose may be about to misfire Everything can change with a phone call. It did Tuesday afternoon when I received a call from District 54 Rep. Matt Soper, stating that the state's Joint Budget Committee was going to hear recommendations from staff to close the state correctional facility located in Delta County. There were two actions I needed to take, one informing the editorial team. Delta County Independent Managing Editor broke the news within minutes. He was already aware of the situation. A couple hours later our best-in-the-business journalist Katharhynn Heidelberg wrote and published the full story for both the DCI and Montrose Daily Press websites. The instantaneous world of digital reporting was on full display. Word spread at fiber optic speed. My second course of action was as a community stakeholder. Group emails from others, such as Delta County Administrator Robbie Levalley, DMEA Chief Administrator Kent Blackwell, Delta County Economic Development Executive Director Greg Pope, among others, including the county commissioners and various municipal elected officials created a grassroots effort to contact the six members of the JBC to explain why the facility closing would have a negative impact on the community economy. Months earlier, we had already heard rumors that either one or both correctional facilities, the other being in Rifle, were on the chopping block. Thanks goes to Sen. Marc Catlin for working ahead and asking for data. Upon request of that data, Pope then contacted Dr. Nathan Perry at Colorado Mesa University. When the news came Tuesday that Delta was the one being considered, we were prepared. Long story short is that closing the Delta facility would have more than a $22 million effect on the region's economy. For Delta County — which is coming off the closing of two mines just twelve years ago — it is potentially devastating. The grassroots effort extended beyond the stakeholders and on to citizens of the community. The JBC's inbox filled up quickly. I've read some of the emails and it was impressive how the writers kept emotions out of their text and hit them with facts. Again, thanks to the advance work of Catlin, Pope and Dr. Perry. Soper was the bell cow of the campaign. Yesterday afternoon while participating in the One Delta County Economic executive committee meeting I received a text from Soper stating that the Delta facility would remain open. I disrupted the meeting with, "Hey everyone, I have breaking news. The facility will remain open." The cheers and the high fives were quite the moment. A lot of work was done in 48 hours. It was amazing. Meanwhile, in a comment on our story shared on Facebook there was District 58 Rep. Larry Don Suckla expressing frustration he was in the dark on this matter: "I wish somebody would've told me about this. I had to read it online." It's been discussed almost from the beginning of this legislative session. Perhaps Suckla was spending too much time fighting the dress code instead of building relationships. He campaigned on going to the hill and raising cane. He's in the minority — how much cane can he raise? At the very least he should be on the lookout for items that might affect his constituents. Just a reminder, Suckla beat his Republican opponent Mark Roeber by three votes. Remember when I wrote about the Montrose County Republican central committee favoring candidates. This was a great example. Suckla was their man. Keep your head on a swivel Larry Don, so you're not late to the next party. Meanwhile, in Montrose rumors persist that Montrose County Commissioner Scott Mijares still has a burr in his saddle about the former county commissioners hiring of Frank Rodriguez as county manager. Mijares was vocal prior to his taking office that the new commissioners should do the hiring, although timing was an issue. But rules don't rule over ego. To be fair, the other candidates for commissioner also came forward and urged the commissioners to wait. But Mijares carried on with his complaints. Now, trusted sources are telling me he's ready to act. If true, this makes no sense. Rodriguez is receiving glowing reviews inside the county government and amongst the voters. Making change because of a bruised ego isn't productive. It also seems the Mijares' influencers are from a past regime that should remain just that — in the past. I don't know who left the corral gate open, but someone needs to round up the unruly steers and get them back in the pen before they miraculously become bulls again. Bulls that haul their own china shop. I'll be at the next work session and commissioners' meeting. Apparently watching on video isn't giving us full context, including room temperature. I hope the rumors are just rumors, otherwise the path is looking disastrous. Elon Musk has created a phenomenon with his DOGE department and their take-a-chainsaw approach. That may work in the world of the federal government, but local government decisions take a more tempered approach. When I attended the state of the city event at the Montrose Pavilion last week a group of citizens were handing out a sheet of paper with a piece of candy attached. "What's this?" I asked. "We're with the city of Montrose DOGE." He replied. "Oh yeah, who's all in your group?" I responded. "It's a secret." He said. So you're a citizen action group who wants change, but not willing to put your names on your work. My brain is still humming on that one. Here's my advice. Don't let the vocal minority have all the attention. Go to meetings, but don't wait until you're pissed off. Those who are happy with what's going on tend to not want to drown out the consistent negativity from the same old, same old. The county work session is Monday morning at 9 a.m. at the public works meeting room on LaSalle, the board meeting is Wednesday morning at 9:30 a.m. at the same location. Hopefully, I'll see you there. Dennis Anderson is the publisher of the Montrose Daily Press and Delta County Independent. Everything can change with a phone call. It did Tuesday afternoon when I received a call from District 54 Rep. Matt Soper, stating that the state's Joint Budget Committee was going to hear recommendations from staff to close the state correctional facility located in Delta County.
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