County chips away at diversity and inclusion plan

Employee survey meant to capture where the county stands now

Abby Harrison Times Staff Writer

For the first time in Gunnison County’s history, a diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) statement will be included in its strategic plan.

When Gunnison County Commissioners update that plan in 2024, the board will include the new statement, along with a more detailed plan to increase belonging across departments at both ends of the valley. At a regular meeting on July 11, commissioners reviewed the most recent draft of the statement. (See text box.)

The last update to the county’s strategic plan in 2022 called for a number of DEIB-related goals, primarily through action plans added to the 2024 update, inclusion of a values statement and partnering with the City of Gunnison’s Rural Welcoming Initiative to expand it countywide.

In order to decide what the action plan will look like, the county must first gauge how employees feel now, said Assistant County Manager for Health and Human Services Joni Reynolds. The team will send a survey out at the end of July to all county employees to capture their perception of where the county stands with DEIB efforts. The results of the survey will help draft an action plan for next year.

County Commissioner Laura Puckett Daniels said while she agrees with the internal-first approach, public communica- tion is paramount. She added the values drafted into the strategic plan should bleed into county-appointed boards and commissions who make influential, public-facing decisions every month.

“Some of them are in charge of executing the policy of the county, but also representing the people of the county and representing the diverse interests of the county, so that people feel like they have a voice in their government,” she said.

(Abby Harrison can be contacted at 970.641.1414 or abby@ gunnisontimes.com.)

“Gunnison County values a welcoming, equitable, diverse, and inclusive workplace that will allow the effective delivery of services and set standards that reflect our collective values.

Gunnison County endeavors to create a culture where all employees, community partners, and present and future generations feel a sense of belonging, value, and respect whatever their status or identity.

We welcome the diverse voices of Gunnison County as we strive to preserve and promote the well-being and quality of life for all community members.

As an employer, the County is committed to nondiscriminatory practices and providing equitable opportunities for employment and advancement in all of our departments, programs, services, and worksites.”

Save the wet meadows

Protestors stood outside of Gunnison’s City Hall during a regular council meeting on Tuesday, July 25. According to one of the protesters, Philip Handmaker, the residents who gathered were not against the construction of a surface water treatment plant, but hoped it would be built with minimal impact to the nearby wetlands and wildlife habitat present on the VanTuyl Ranch property. That evening, council gave its final anonymous approval of a major change to the planned unit development standards for VanTuyl by adding specific language that permits the construction of a water treatment plant. The city plans to place it within Parker Pasture’s ranch headquarters along the north side of County Road 14.