Dear Editor:
This is an open letter to residents of Rio Blanco County.
I would like to ask the residents of Rio Blanco County to allow me to serve one more term as county commissioner.
I am proud to serve with Commissioner Shawn Bolton and Commissioner Jon Hill, and, as a board, we have taken on a tremendous number of challenges. I would like to see those challenges come to fruition.
Rio Blanco County is a leader in many arenas in the State of Colorado and the nation. We are the leaders in rural communications, which includes broadband development, emergency communications and cellular distribution countywide.
We have effected positive policy changes that better serve our constituents by re-writing the county’s land-use policies, and Rio Blanco County is a driving force in rural economic development initiatives.
We are leaders in cultural heritage and tourism by celebrating preservation of historical rural schools, development of a new Cultural Heritage Center and collaborating on historical dedication of the Milk Creek Battlefield site.
We have revamped building and planning into a very successful, easy-to-navigate department for residents and businesses alike.
In an effort to leverage taxpayer dollars, we have successfully acquired tens of millions of additional dollars (grants, etc) for the county coffers to offset expenses on multitudes of infrastructure projects. We have instituted common methods, tools and processes in project management both for large fiscal savings as well as more efficient use of cunty resources. The county has an unprecedented presence at the state and federal levels.
I am chairman of AGNC (Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado), which represents Routt, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa and Delta counties.
Commissioner Hill is chairman of the Yampa/White/Green Roundtable pertaining to statewide water issues.
Commissioner Bolton is former chairman of the CCI, a statewide county organization.
Working together, we have developed tremendous networks with fellow commissioners and state and federal representatives, fighting issues that have direct net effect on the constituents of Rio Blanco County.
Throughout my current term as commissioner, I have worked hard for the constituents of my great county.
I am humbled and very proud to represent my county and would like to seek re-election for this office in 2016.
Jeff Eskelson
County Commissioner
Meeker
