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Planning commission forwards recommendation for Ellie Swanson after two candidate interviews
Summary
After interviewing two applicants to fill a planning commission vacancy, the Grand County Planning Commission voted to forward its recommendation to the County Commission for Ellie Swanson. Commissioners discussed housing, water and transparency during interviews and unanimously agreed to send the recommendation on.
The Grand County Planning Commission on Jan. 13 interviewed two applicants for an open seat and voted to forward its recommendation to the County Commission for Ellie Swanson.
Ellie Swanson, who introduced herself as a Moab resident and volunteer with local nonprofits, told commissioners she represents a demographic she described as underrepresented. "I fall below the low income line. I would love to be able to afford a house someday," Swanson said while explaining her interest in serving and in pursuing housing solutions that help lower-income residents remain in town.
Mae Anne Schafer (identified in the meeting earlier in the packet as Megan Schafer) also spoke to the commission about local ties and a commitment to transparency. Schafer said she learned zoning through a self-help housing program and emphasized public communication as essential to building trust: "I firmly believe that transparency is huge, and it's a way for our citizens to gain trust from our local government and to build trust with them too."
Commissioners asked each applicant identical questions about familiarity with the land-use code, potential conflicts of interest and priorities for the upcoming land-use code revision. Both candidates said they had read parts of the land-use code and were willing to recuse themselves from decisions where a material conflict exists. Staff described the process for voting and noted that votes are recorded and read into the public record.
The commission recorded two votes in favor of Schafer and three in favor of Swanson, with one member declining to cast a vote. After discussion, members moved to forward the commission's recommendation to the County Commission; the motion to forward the recommendation passed unanimously. The County Commission will make the final appointment.
The planning commission's packet notes that staff will prepare the formal recommendation and transmit it to the county agenda for the next County Commission meeting. No final appointment was made at the Jan. 13 meeting.
