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Board debates ex‑parte disclosures and perceived conflicts after Outside Magazine visit
Summary
Advisory board members disclosed interactions with visiting journalists and vendors; several members objected to the optics of two advisory members and local businesses appearing in a paid editorial campaign, and the county attorney recommended broad disclosure procedures and recusal where appropriate.
The board paused other business to address item 13: Outside Magazine’s "Road Less Eating" visit and related ethics concerns. Multiple advisory board members disclosed that they had contact with or hosted visiting editorial staff for the coverage. Some board members said the planned editorial series will feature two local businesses whose owners also sit on the advisory board, which prompted concerns about an appearance of preferential treatment.
County Attorney Steven Stocks gave a legal overview of the county’s disclosure and ethics rules (Grand County ordinance 5‑93 and state code) and said the simplest and most protective approach is thorough disclosure. "When in doubt, disclose," Stocks advised, describing the county’s annual disclosure form and the utility of oral disclosures recorded in meeting minutes. He explained that disclosure, followed by recusal when appropriate, is the clearest way to avoid later claims of improper benefit.
Several board members said they had repeatedly requested written guidance and a checklist from staff and the county legal team so FAM (familiarization) visits and vendor selections are handled consistently. One board member described earlier instances where the county avoided optics issues by leaving a trade booth vacant to prevent the perception a board member personally benefited.
The board did not reverse the editorial arrangement at the meeting. Instead, members agreed to a recorded set of disclosures to appear in the public record and requested staff and legal counsel draft a clear checklist and process for handling future FAM trips and influencer/press visits so committee members can either decline participation or disclose and recuse as needed.
What happens next: staff will circulate disclosure forms and the county attorney offered to provide guidance; the board moved the Outside Magazine item forward for fuller discussion and documentation at the next meeting.
