Scott Riba and Rick Dunlap are running for the Montrose County Board of Commissioners District 3 seat, currently held by Roger Rash. Over the weekend, the Forum asked both Riba and Dunlap about their abilities to relate to and engage with the West End.
Riba has been a longtime rancher. He and his wife, Linda, have been active in farming and ranching for 40 years. In the past, they’ve raised and finished Angus cows and Rambouillet sheep. They’ve always had horses. Their main business is hay farming, more than 100 acres, and in the past they've grown field corn and seed for sweet corn.
They also provide ag services to property owners. Riba said he’s the only commissioner candidate that has water rights, something he said is important in understanding agriculture.
“Until you lose your water after the crop is planted, a person has no idea of the importance of water rights in Western Colorado,” he said.
Dunlap’s focus has been law enforcement. He joined the U.S. Army at 17 years old and spent 21 years in the military. He spent time in Vietnam and Germany.
“After rotating out of Vietnam, I was assigned to 704th Helicopter Maintenance Battalion in Fort Carson, Colorado, where I served until November 1972. It was here I met my wife Karen,” he told the Forum.
He was a field artillery instructor at Fort Sill in Oklahoma. He left the army in 1981 when he and his wife had kids. He wanted to avoid moving them frequently. Still, he was on active duty with Colorado Army National Guard first as a training NCO, then as a recruiter, until 1990.
Dunlap also served as Montrose County Sheriff for three terms, and worked in law enforcement for 28 years. He was formerly the president of the County Sheriffs of Colorado.
Q: What do you think the biggest issues of the West End are, and how will you help tackle those?
Riba: Housing: There was a time when Montrose County waived or lowered permit and development fees to encourage more homebuilding. Jobs: Attracting business to the West End with those well-paying jobs is the start. The West End Sustainability Plan and continuing to work with and support the great work of WEEDC will be a priority. … If a county job can be done remotely either from home or a county office, why not give a West End resident an opportunity to work for Montrose-based county offices? … Government overreach: The proposed national monument is the perfect example. … Locking up the mining, grazing and recreation for the future without a comprehensive dialogue with the residents of the area is not an option. Government is in place to serve the people with the consent of the people.
Dunlap: From my perspective, the biggest issues facing the West End (outside of the national monument) are the economy and sustainability. As the commissioner for District 3, I believe I can assist the West End by supporting and promoting the West End Economic Development Corporation to seek out and attract businesses that may be considering expanding or relocating operations. Further, the Basin Clinic is vital to the residents of the West End. As District 3 Commissioner and representative of the citizens that depend on the clinic for medical care, and especially emergency care, I will work to continue the funding, and if possible, devote more funding in the future.
Q: How will you engage with the people of the West End, if you are elected as commissioner?
Riba: It starts by being on the West End, in person, hearing the concerns and actually listening. I have already committed that I will set office hours for the West End, Olathe and Mahre. The schedule for a commissioner is complex with many conflicts, but I will never stop listening to and working for the West End. Commissioner meetings will be held on the West End at times when people can attend. Having more West End residents serve on county-wide boards will provide more engagement for the West End. Having county department heads meeting with the residents and understanding West End issues allows for that first-hand engagement as well.
Dunlap: Having a board of county commissioner presence (BOCC) in the West End is important. The people of the West End are a vital part to county government and, as the BOCC, we have to ensure those folks are included and being heard. As a commissioner, I will begin rotating BOCC meeting venues to include Maher, Nucla and Naturita. The meeting times will also be held in the evening, so the folks that work during the day also have the opportunity to attend. Additionally, I will have a regular schedule for being present in the West End. The schedule will be posted in both Naturita and Nucla Town Halls and published in the San Miguel Basin Forum with dates, times and locations. I will arrange my scheduled days in the West End to coincide with town board meetings, so that I can attend those meetings in person.
