Daily Press Senior Writer
MONTROSE — It's in with the new for Montrose County, which on Tuesday formally swore in a slate of elected officials.
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"I've looked forward to it for a long time," newly minted Sheriff Rick Dunlap said Tuesday. "I'm looking forward to moving this department forward in a positive way."
Dunlap met with sheriff's office employees and their families at a luncheon Tuesday, where, he said, he reassured them of a smooth transition.
"It's just a matter of letting them know what my expectations are," Dunlap said, adding that he will lead by example.
"I'm not going to ask anybody to do anything that I'm not going to do myself."
Dunlap was one of five county officials to be sworn in Tuesday by District Judge Dennis Friedrich. Also sworn in were Montrose County Commissioner for District 2 Gary Ellis; Brad Hughes, assessor; Francine Tipton Long, clerk and recorder and registrar of titles; and Dr. Thomas Canfield, coroner.
Montrose County Treasurer Rosemary Murphy was sworn in Jan 2.
Several deputy coroners Canfield appointed also took an official oath of office Tuesday: Shaye Lynn Bromley, Howard Beardsley, Dr. Nicholas Radovich, Dr. Bob Brethouwer, Dr. Michael Benziger, Matthew Eilts, Jack Lee and Cameron Riley.
Ellis got down to business within two hours of being sworn in, when his fellow commissioners, Allan Belt and Bill Patterson, named him vice-chair of the BOCC. Belt was named chairman.
The commissioners then made several appointments, including a change to the Montrose County Planning Commission, which had seven applicants for only three open seats.
"I feel we need some continuity, but we also need some new ideas," Patterson said, suggesting the reappointment of Bruce Ray and Nick Copeland, plus the addition of new applicant Lana Kinsey.
Belt seconded Patterson's motion, but wanted recognition for outgoing planning board member's Nancy Moore's several years of service. "We're very grateful to her," he told the Daily Press.
Citizen appointments to the airport advisory board included Tom Long, Dennis Reece and Roger Brown, who was appointed to replace Ellis as a citizen representative. Ellis will now be the commissioner's representative for the airport board. Reappointed were Telluride representative Scott Stewart and West End representative John Reams.
The commissioners also decided on what boards each would serve.
Belt and Patterson divided several Colorado Counties Incorporated positions between themselves, with Ellis pledging to serve as an alternate when needed. Additionally, Ellis will serve on the sheriff's seizure committee, the weed commission, emergency food and shelter and the juvenile diversion executive committees. Ellis also agreed to represent the commissioners on the Mexican American Development Association board and to serve as fair board liaison.
Belt's board service includes: community corrections, Montrose County Economic Development Corp., Montrose Memorial Hospital, Public Lands Partnership, West End juvenile diversion and the San Miguel Basin Fair all-around board.
Patterson's board service for 2007 will include: Montrose County Housing Authority, Region 10 and the Mesa State College Advisory committee.
Kaitlyn Heichel wrote on Nov 3, 2009 2:01 PM:
Sarah Bond wrote on Jul 13, 2009 5:31 PM: