Commissioners consider lifting term limits for treasurer, clerk and assessor; assign county comparisons for a blight resolution

At the workshop the board continued discussion of potential ballot language to remove term limits for selected county offices and began work on a blight resolution.

Unidentified Speaker 4 said, "My thoughts are definitely with the the treasurer, the clerk, and the assessor to take those term limits off," arguing those offices do not make policy and are governed largely by statute. Commissioners debated whether the district attorney or sheriff positions could be affected; speakers noted those offices are governed by separate statutory or district rules and may be inconsistent with proposed changes.

Commissioners agreed they need verified ballot language and asked staff to prepare and review language by June. "We do have to have language verified here by... June," Unidentified Speaker 1 said; the board agreed to give direction even if a member is absent at the next meeting.

On blight, Unidentified Speaker 1 called the issue "the hard one" and asked each commissioner to research model language from comparable counties. Assignments included Delta, Mesa, Montrose, La Plata, Archuleta, Gunnison and Teller; commissioners will return next week with findings to shape the county’s blight-resolution draft.

No formal motions were filed or votes taken on term-limit changes or the blight resolution at the workshop; commissioners directed staff to draft language and perform comparative research.