Task force targets GJ market-rate housing affordability
Brandon Leuallen The Business Times
Anew City of Grand Junction task force is taking a closer look at how the community can produce lower-priced, market-rate homes and increase housing inventory.
During its first two meetings, the Housing Affordability Task Force defined its roles, elected a chair and vice chair, and began identifying top priorities. The group, made up of industry professionals and nonprofit representatives with city staff listening and available for communication, met for the first time Sept. 4 in the training room at City Hall. It reconvened Sept. 18 and met again Oct. 2.
City Manager Mike Bennett opened the inaugural meeting by stressing how seriously the city is taking the committee’s work.
“I just wanted to make it clear, I mean this is a city priority,” Bennett said. “This is fully supported by the city council, fully supported by myself as a city manager, our deputy city manager Kimberly Bullen. And it’s also supported all the way into our development department.
“This is an opportunity for us to hopefully look forward and find productive ways to make process improvements, constructive feedback from the experts in the room, and make those changes as necessary.”
Bennett also framed the committee as a chance for a “reset” between city staff and the development community.
See story Page 5
Monitoring methane starts in Mesa County
Marc Fiot, research and development manager at Grand Valley Instrumentation, installs a component on a Meerkat monitoring unit at the Mesa County Landfill. The device automatically samples gas and adjusts wellhead pressure in real time.
Photo by Tim Harty.
Meerkat System brings real-time monitoring to Mesa County Landfill
The Mesa County Landfill has become the first site in Colorado to test a new technology that automatically monitors and adjusts landfill methane gas wellheads.
Developed by Grand Valley Instrumentation of Grand Junction, the Meerkat Monitoring System takes hourly samples, balances wellfield pressure in real time and promises to boost gas capture while reducing emissions.
The system is about to undergo a certification study with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in order to eventually be deployed across the state.
The technology is the brainchild of Grand Valley Instrumentation, a company run by three partners: Marc Fiot, Rikki Cook and Christian Fiot.
Cook oversees administration and sales, drawing on her background in business administration and fine arts from Colorado Mesa University.
Marc Fiot serves as research and development manager, bringing expertise as a software engineer, IoT developer and mechanical designer.
Christian Fiot, who has been developing gas-detection instrumentation since the 1980s, contributes decades of engineering experience, according to the company’s website.
From Manual Checks to Automated Adjustments
According to Cook, the Mesa County Landfill wellheads have historically been manually monitored once a month by County Regulatory Compliance Manager Dylan Brown, who measures gas composition and adjusts pressure. That left long stretches of time where wells could operate suboptimally, allowing methane and other gases to escape as well as costing extra time during checkups.
The Meerkat system changes that. Each unit is mounted directly on a wellhead and takes hourly samples of methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen, temperature, pressure and flow, using a built-in actuator. According to Marc Fiot, it also adjusts vacuum pressure in real time, keeping the wellfield balanced despite fluctuations in barometric pressure, moisture or temperature
The system communicates wirelessly, as Fiot said, “The units communicate with LTE by having their own Verizon card.” He said the models also can be supported with a wifi mesh network for sites with poor connectivity.
“Instead of a snapshot once a month, we’re providing hundreds of times more data,” Cook said. “That lets operators respond to problems before they get out of control.”
Local innovation, broader impacts
Grand Valley Instrumentation began developing the Meerkat about a year-and-ahalf ago after touring the landfill with Brown, who highlighted challenges monitoring the wells, including the looming regulatory changes that may require more frequent monitoring.
See MEERKAT
Brandon Leuallen
The Business Times
ABOVE — Marc Fiot, research and development manager, and Rikki Cook, administrative and sales manager at Grand Valley Instrumentation, stand beside a solar-powered Meerkat monitoring system at the Mesa County Landfill. The system provides hourly data on methane, oxygen, pressure and flow. Photo by Tim Harty.
BELOW — The Mesa County Landfill’s flare system burns off collected methane as part of its gas control system. Photo courtesy of Robert Marcos Studios.
Better things in store
After weathering adversity, Twisted B’s
Tim Harty The Business Times
This spring brought the high of getting a food trailer and what it would allow Twisted B’s Soda and Teas owner Beth Dobyns to do with her new business.
Two-and-a-half weeks later, an accident totaled the trailer and blew up her business plan. Dobyns was forced to adapt, and that meant operating her business from a pop-up canopy at events and farmers markets throughout the spring and summer.
And now that farmers markets and warm-weather festivals are waning with summer in the rear-view mirror, she’s about to embark on the next evolution, opening her business in a store.
Dobyns is leasing space inside Pinspiration Arts & Crafts Studio, 2650 North Ave., Unit 117, in the Red Cliff Pointe shopping center, where she will do business as Pinspiration Selling Twisted B’s Soda and Teas.
“With winter coming I was kind of scrambling around trying to figure out how to keep the business going through the winter months,” Dobyns said. “It’s kind of not feasible to do with the canopy out in the open in Colorado in the winter.”
The opportunity materialized after she met Kristine Novinskie, who owns Pinspiration Arts & Crafts Studio, which has a bar area that Dobyns is leasing.
“They are corporately owned, so she had to get permission for her franchise to be able to allow me to set up in there, and so this will be Pinspiration Selling Twisted B’s Sodas and Teas,” Dobyns said.
Her current circumstances aren’t what Dobyns envisioned when she started her business.
Soda & Teas soon will operate inside Pinspiration store
Instead, they are the culmination of adversity that caused her to question whether she should continue, then revealed her character: Dobyns isn’t a quitter. Instead of being defeated, she was defiant.
The story she tells goes like this:
Dobyns said she decided after 20-plus years in bartending and bar management, traveling all over Texas opening bar locations, she wanted to try her hand at owning a business when she left Texas and came to Grand Junction.
“I kind of worked for myself even though I worked for a company doing it,” she said. “And I was kind of my own boss, so when I got here I did not want to go back into working for somebody else.”
Dobyns said she “did a bunch of research” to see if she could open a mobile bar and learned Colorado is not an ideal state for such a venture. But the beverage idea had potential by going a different route.
“I went into dirty sodas and iced teas and things of
that nature, which I’ve never really done before,” she said. “But I figured: How hard could it be, bartending for as long as I had? So, I went all in and purchased a vintage camper that had been turned into a soda machine from a lady who used it for the same thing in Utah.
“And we did all of the permitting and business licensing and all the things we needed to do and got up and going. And 2 1/2 weeks in, we lost an axle on the freeway, and the trailer went on its side.”
The trailer’s damage was beyond salvaging. It was a crippling blow for the business, but Dobyns realized she could still crawl. So, she did.
Dobyns talked with her husband, Nick Hinshaw, about whether she should continue the business sans trailer, and the answer revealed her resolve.
“We switched gears pretty quick after being pretty devastated,” Dobyns said. “You know, I had a large amount of money invested into that, and I lost all of my supplies, the trailer, everything had to be replaced. I had to start over from scratch, so it took us a minute to get some supplies together, and I did have to go through the process of reapplying for health permits and things of that nature.”
Dobyns said it took about three weeks to recover and resume her business, and during that time she had to cancel some events that she had already booked.
Going forward without the trailer was a challenge.
“Not everybody wants a tent pop-up,” Dobyns said of her search for venues to operate. “You know, part of the appeal (of the business) was the vintage trailer. What year was she, 1960 model, 1950 model trailer? So, she was a cute little old vintage canned-ham style camper that had been converted. She had a little charm to her, you know? It’s a little different than a big yellow canopy.”
Dobyns cobbled together enough events, though, that Twisted B’s Soda and Teas survived the summer.
She thinks she and Hinshaw did a pretty good job of “just kind of going with the flow of what we had to do” after they had “a really good talk” about whether Dobyns wanted to keep Twisted B’s going or let it go.
See TWISTED B’S on Page 10
Twisted B’s Soda and Teas owner Beth Dobyns, left, and her husband, Nick Hinshaw, stand inside their pop-up canopy before opening at the final Market on Main of the season on Sept. 25. Dobyns said Twisted B’s specializes in dirty sodas, stingers, flavored teas, flavored lemonades and snacks such as apple nachos. Photo by Tim Harty.
GJ task force targets market-rate housing affordability
Continued from Page 1
“We have to be able to evolve and adapt. No code is perfect as it starts. So this is a great opportunity to reset,” he told the group.
Members of the task force include developers, builders, nonprofit housing leaders and city staff available in a support role. They introduced themselves during the first meeting, sharing backgrounds ranging from construction to land-use consulting. Emily Powell from Housing Resources of Western Colorado, commercial real estate broker Mike Foster with Coldwell Banker, City Council member Jason Nguyen, Kelly Maves of Maves Construction and Mark Austin of Austin Civil Group were among those at the table.
The Sept. 4 meeting was mostly organizational. Members discussed how often to meet, ultimately deciding on every two weeks with flexibility to skip meetings if staff or committee members needed more time to research topics. The committee agreed to elect a chair at its first session and begin outlining priorities for discussion at the second. The chair is Kelly Maves, and the vice chair is Kevin Bray, development director at Bray Real Estate.
By the second meeting Sept. 18, the conversation shifted from committee process to starting to formulate the top priorities recognized by the voices in the room.
Building a culture shift
Maves reminded the group to stay on task and be respectful, saying, “We work really closely with the staff, and we want to make sure that we’re addressing issues not people.”
Members discussed culture, particularly how to turn what some described as a “no culture” in city planning into a “yes culture” to help projects meet the code and get through the approval process. Bray recognized the relationship and culture goes both ways, saying, “We also have ownership in that, and we can work on it as a group.”
Cottage courts and density
Cottage courts, a type of missing middle housing, were part of the discussion. Sandra Weckerly highlighted current challenges with cottage court developments, saying, “I can get more density, with a house and adding ADUs than with a cottage court.” She suggested minimum lot-width requirements, set at 30 feet for detached units, are part of the issue.
Communication and code updates
Grand Junction Planning Commission member Keith Ehlers asked if the committee could receive an update from city staff on current code status, so the group doesn’t end up spending time on updates that are already complete.
Ehlers later said an improved communication process between the city and the development community as codes are updated will benefit everyone involved.
“There could be code update communication in real time, so developers aren’t working with outdated code and having to resubmit,” he said.
Ehlers then pointed to recently updated fire-code provisions that aren’t yet in use.
“The fire code is updated, but the land
use isn’t, and the fire chief doesn’t have them yet, so it’s kind of a goose hunt,” Ehlers said.
Austin noted Community Development Director Tamara Allan’s department produces a quarterly code update that is helpful to him.
TEDS and bike parking
Issues with the 2024 Transportation Engineering Design Standards (TEDS) update were a major topic. Long-term bike parking requirements drew scrutiny.
“We have to build bike parking in the middle of a commercial building, and it doesn’t make sense,” said Mike Foster, suggesting long-term bike parking should be optional. “If a tenant for an industrial building wants to install bike parking for their employees, let them.”
Maves agreed, saying bike parking should be “market-driven rather than required.”
Committee member Christi Reece echoed that sentiment, saying, “If the developer wants to put bike parking in, great, that’s an amenity. If not, then don’t make it required that way.”
Planning time
Mark Austin of Austin Civil Group brought up how much longer it takes to get through approval.
“I’ve been doing this in Grand Junction for 25 years, and site-plan approval used to take three to four months maximum to get approval, and we are lucky to get one done in six to nine months. A subdivision that used to take, at max, six months is now easily a year-and-a-half to two years.”
Organizing the work
Bray suggested dividing the committee’s concerns into four categories: code; policy; process; and outside factors such as infrastructure, where the city might partner with developers even though it isn’t directly under the city’s control, like utilities or power. He also called for a “Top 10” list of items to tackle within 60 days.
Among the top issues committee members marked down for code review were landscaping and trees, TEDS sidewalk and street standards, drive-through restrictions, pre-application processes, survey and legal requirements, detention ponds, and the length of review time between comments. Bray noted that many of the issues unnecessarily added to the price of the home by the end of the process for the purchaser.
ADA Rejections
Toward the end of the Sept. 18 meeting, the group had a longer discussion around issues with automatic rejections due to ADA noncompliance.
Developer Ron Abelo of Chaparral West Inc. said many applications are initially completely rejected even if they have already run their plans through ADAcompliance software, costing time and money to resubmit.
Ehlers clarified it could be as simple as not rejecting the application, but just adding comments as part of the next step of the process.
“What’s coming into question is the rejection rather than getting comments and moving the process forward,” Ehlers said.
Food to make you happy
Hawaii Street Food brings its trailer to GJ – to stay
Tim Harty The Business Times
Cue Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere” to play in the background before you ask Dante Tripi, a chef who is French classically trained, to list the cities where he has worked in fine-dining restaurants during the past 20-25 years.
Johnny has the longer list, but Tripi’s is formidable with multiple stops in states such as Hawaii, Florida and Colorado. The latter is where he started his food trailer last year, first setting up in Breckenridge/Summit County, then Alamosa and finally this summer settling in Grand Junction.
Since the end of August, the parking lot of the The Historic Lowell School Building, 310 N. Seventh St. in downtown Grand Junction, is where his Hawaii Street Food trailer has been most days. The deviations are for occasional events or private bookings that require a brief relocation.
Tripi is active on social media, so follow Hawaii Street Food on Facebook and Instagram or go online to hawaiistreetfood.biz to see the schedule and menu.
The 44-year-old Tripi acknowledges all of his work in the food industry prior to Hawaii Street Food was in fine-dining restaurants, which begs the question: Why do a food trailer?
The answer is simple: The food he’s serving now makes him happy, and it’s hard to find around here.
“It’s food that I grew up eating and just really missed,” Tripi said. “You can’t really find it here … so I wanted to bring something that had that memory
for me, that nostalgia to me.”
He figured a change might serve him and his family well, too.
“I’ve spent the last 20 years building fine-dining restaurants and from one location into multiple locations and definitely more on the intricate-plating side of things, things that take three months to make one dish, that kind of stuff,” Tripi said. “This (food trailer) just comes more from my heart, you know, and is more of what I wanted and what makes me happy.
“You know, I’ve never been unhappy eating a plate lunch from Hawaii, so it is kind of more close to home for me.
“And then I left the restaurant, brick-and-mortar style, because I wanted more time with my family, and I wanted something that was more meaningful and a direct representation of me. And so that’s kind of where this is whole little food-truck thing came about.”
Tripi said he is looking to expand his menu, particularly fish options, but for now he said customers will find traditional Hawaiian food.
“It’s everything from katsu chicken, which is Japanese-style, or Korean-style short ribs to Loco Moco, which is a Hawaiian classic dish,” he said.
There’s also another name for the food and approach.
“It’s called plate lunch – is what the original name for it is – or Hawaiian barbecue,” Tripi said.
When it comes to beef, Tripi is getting it locally, as he made a point to mention Hawaii Street Food has partnered with Van Winkle Ranch to use its beef, and it gets short ribs from Quality Meat Co., 340 North Ave. See FOOD on Page 11
Hawaii Street Food owner Dante Tripi shows off a plate of shrimp tempura that he made in his food trailer, which is parked in the lot at The Historic Lowell School Building, 310 N. Seventh St. in downtown Grand Junction. Photo by Tim Harty.
Meerkat
Continued from Page 2
The Mesa County Landfill, the largest in Western Colorado and the ninth largest open municipal landfill in the state, first installed a voluntary flare system in 2012 to burn off methane, according to a Grand Junction Daily Sentinel article “Garbage and Greenhouse Gas: Landfills brace for new limits on methane emissions,” published September 2023.
That flare operated until 2021, when the county shut it down due to costly maintenance and low methane volumes. The county in 2023 installed a new flare, sized for its actual methane output, which has been running successfully since.
The Meerkat Monitoring System, developed by Grand Valley Instrumentation, provides landfill operators with real-time data on gas composition, wellhead pressure, and atmospheric conditions through a cloud-based dashboard. Graphic courtesy of Grand Valley Instrumentation.
Marc Fiot said some of the landfill’s wells reach depths of about 60 feet, while others extend down to around 150 feet.
Operators can log in to see live wellfield status, review historical trends, export compliance data and receive alerts if oxygen intrudes or methane levels drop.
In the field, the devices are designed for quick installation and yearly swap-outs for recalibration. Once installed, swapping out a unit “takes less than two minutes” using two straps, Marc Fiot said.
Safety and other benefits
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, landfills account for about 14 percent of methane emissions in the United States.
In a Grand Junction Chamber of Commerce 2025 Energy Summit Presentation, Cook showed that by dynamically adjusting pressure, the Meerkat aims to increase gas capture by as much as 20 percent.
The presentation also showed that at Mesa County Landfill, even a conservative 10 percent improvement could mean an additional $56,000 in biogas sales and $42,000 in carbon credits each year.
Cook and Fiot said the system occasionally faces practical challenges. Cook described how crows at the landfill have tugged at tubing and tried to carry off shiny parts, forcing design tweaks that mitigate the potential issues. Fiot said dust and bird droppings can
slightly obscure the solar panels, though the devices have held up well in the field. What else they do and what comes next
While the Meerkat is designed for landfill methane wells, Grand Valley Instrumentation also builds monitoring systems for other industries.
According to the company’s website, it developed a workplace safety alarm at Grand Junction’s Persigo wastewater plant that detects toxic and explosive gases. The system can also be deployed at mining operations, oil and gas sites, and manufacturing plants, and it can be configured to detect hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, methane, oxygen, carbon dioxide and other gases.
These monitors integrate with supervisory control systems to automatically trigger ventilation when gases spike. The company has also developed a mass spectrometer, a turbo display controller, and it offers software for remote monitoring.
“Our specialty is custom instrumentation that can be deployed in tough environments, run on solar and communicate wirelessly,” Marc Fiot said. “We build everything here in the valley, and we tailor it to each client’s needs.”
Cook said the system is set to enter into the certification study with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Five units will be studied from midOctober through mid-January, with Colorado Mesa University providing statistical analysis of the results. If successful, the Meerkat could become an approved compliance reporting tool in Colorado and potentially nationwide.
The Meerkat Monitoring System. Photo by Tim Harty.
Instrumentation at Grand The system manufacturing plants, methane, oxygen, automatically trigger spectrometer, a environments, everything here in Colorado from midstatistical compliance
Twisted B’s
Continued from Page 4
“We just kind of decided that I had invested everything I had into getting it going, and it just wasn’t worth letting it go,” she said. “And we were gonna follow it through and kind of see where it took us. And it’s taken us to a storefront.”
Dobyns said she will focus on the storefront and indoor events this winter, and she hopes to emerge from the cold with another trailer.
“We are in the process of looking at one,” she said. “We are really hoping to have a trailer by market season when it starts back up again. That is our goal, and if not, we will continue to do markets with our tent pop-up next year.”
MORE ABOUT TWISTED B’S
Twisted B’s Soda and Teas will open soon inside Pinspiration Arts & Crafts Studio, 2650 North Ave., Unit 117, in the Red Cliff Pointe shopping center, which has access from 28 Road.
Find out more about the business and its offerings on Facebook and Instagram.
What’s on the menu?
For a rundown of some (trust us, there’s a whole lot more) of what Twisted B’s offers, owner Beth Dobyns said:
• Dirty sodas.
• Flavored iced teas.
• A Palisade peach tea that has a peach syrup and fresh peaches or frozen peaches, depending on the time of year.
• Unsweetened iced tea.
• A Bellini, which is a peach and raspberry.
• A blackberry bramble tea that comes with mint and blackberries in it.
• Flavored lemonades.
• “Dirty energy drinks and dirty sodas, so the dirty twisted part of that –twisted is the lime, dirty is the cream.”
• “You can do a dirty Dr. Pepper, so that would be a Dr. Pepper with some coconut syrup in it and some creamer and a twist the lime.”
• “The energy drinks are kind of the same. I do some Red Bull ones. Right now we’re doing a witches brew.”
• “I also have a plant-based, no-crash energy additive that could be put into anything that you want. It’s flavorless, so you can add it to any drink if you just want a little boost of energy.”
• “We also do some little snacks, but hopefully we are going to get to expand on them once we’re in an actual storefront. But currently we do apple nachos, which is just a sliced-up apple that you get to pick your toppings for. I have caramel, I have chocolate, crushed nuts, crushed Heath bar, Oreos, marshmallows, kind of whatever you could think of topping a caramel apple, but we put it in slices and give you a fork, so it’s easier to eat. We do some candy sticks and some popcorn balls and decorated Rice Krispy treats and little snacks like that as well.”
Don’t forget your landlord
Pinspiration Arts & Crafts Studio is leasing out the bar area to Pinspiration Selling Twisted B’s Soda and Teas.
Pinspiration says on social media it offers: “A unique and inspiring environment where you can unleash your inner artist. Whether you’re an experienced crafter or just looking to try something new, there’s something for everyone.”
And Pinspiration invites customers to bring “friends, family or just yourself and enjoy a relaxing and fun-filled experience. It’s a perfect way to unwind, bond and make lasting memories.”
Pinspiration says customers can look forward to:
• Wide Range of Projects: “From painting and woodworking to candle making and more, Pinspiration provides all the materials and guidance you need to create something amazing.”
• DIY Workshops: “Join one of our guided workshops and learn new skills while making beautiful, personalized items.”
• Private Events: “Host your next party, team-building event or celebration with us for a memorable and creative experience.”
• Splatter Room: “Feeling adventurous? Try our Splatter Room and create a one-of-a-kind masterpiece while having a blast!”
Twisted B’s Soda and Teas owner Beth Dobyns, right, and her husband, Nick Hinshaw, get their products set up for the final Market on Main of the season on Sept. 25. Photo by Tim Harty.
Hawaii Street er Dante the grill station in
Photo by
Continued from Page 6
“Anywhere we can, we try to use local stuff,” he said, “and I think that helps push those items a little bit more when people find out that they can get that stuff local.”
It remains to be determined if Grand Junction customers have a preferred menu item, but Tripi said Summit County leaned toward katsu chicken, and Alamosa had an affinity for teriyaki chicken. And Spam has been popular in each place.
Tripi also is aware Grand Junction has a fair Hawaii representation via Colorado Mesa University, and he hopes Hawaii Street Food will be a go-to dining option for them.
“We hope that the community, the Hawaiian community specifically, is here trying our food and being like, ‘Oh, we should tweak this a little bit or try that a little bit.’ Or, hey, there’s their favorite dishes that they’ve come up to us and asked us for, like chicken and long rice and things like that. We take those very seriously and then want to run with those on our menu. So, it’s more of a community-like collaborative effort.”
No need to be modest
For the record, Hawaii Street Food is the trade name for No Ka ‘Oi Foods LLC. And no ka ‘oi means “the best” in Hawaiian.
How did he end up here?
Hawaii Street Food owner and chef Dante Tripi said he was born in Florida and moved to Montrose when he was 12 or 13 years old. He attended Montrose High School, but got his GED at 17, so he could leave early and go to Vermont and attend the New England Culinary Institute for two years. After graduating from NECI, Tripi headed to Hawaii to work in fine-dining restaurants in the Aloha State. Trust us when we say this is a really simplified version of events, but you get the point.
He has worked in several fine-dining restaurants in Colorado over the years, and he’s in Grand Junction now with his food trailer and plans to stay put after short stints with the trailer in Summit County and Alamosa.
“As we get going into another winter, we were kind of like, ‘OK, where are we going to home-base this thing? Where are we going to kind of set up shop? What was best for our family and all that?’” Tripi said. “Grand Junction became that place. We were lucky enough to find the place that we’re at now with the Lowell School, and that kind of put everything into place for us.
“This is home base now. This is year-round.”
Also of note, his wife, Holly Tripi (nee Pettis), is from Montrose.
“I love Colorado,” Tripi added. “I feel like the two places that I love the most in my life are Hawaii and Colorado. They are two of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.”
Who better to learn from?
Tripi said one of the fine-dining restaurants where he worked was Roy’s in Tampa, Fla., part of a small chain of Roy’s Hawaiian-fusion restaurants that belong to Roy Yamaguchi.
That’s a big deal, as Tripi explained, “He’s mostly known as the father of Asian-fusion cuisine. Like, he’s the one who kind of brought it to the States and started it back in the ‘80s. He was my mentor for quite a while.”
Hawaii Street Food owner Dante Tripi works at the grill and deep-fryer station in his food trailer.
Photo by Tim Harty.
Airport awarded $38 million FAA grant for runway project
The Grand Junction Regional Airport was awarded a $38 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Improvement Program to fund the first phase of pavement construction for a new primary runway, the airport said in a news release.
With this grant, the airport has been awarded more than $53 million in AIP grant funding in 2025 to support the runway-replacement project.
“This $38 million grant is a major investment in Western Colorado’s future,” Third Congressional District Rep. Jeff Hurd said. “With $53 million in total federal Airport Improvement Program funding this year, we are modernizing the runway to improve safety, support wildfire response and drive long-term economic growth.
“As Colorado’s only member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I’m proud to work with the FAA to deliver the resources Grand Junction Airport needs to serve our region for decades to come.”
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado added, “The FAA investment is a big win for the region. It supports local jobs, strengthens the economy and keeps the runway project moving forward. We’re proud to partner with the FAA and local leaders to keep Colorado flying.”
The runway project replaces the aging primary runway with a new runway 600 feet north and 1,000 feet west of the existing runway. The geometry will stay the same at 10,500 feet long and 150 feet wide.
By building a new runway instead of replacing the runway in its current location, construction can be completed with minimal disruption to operations, and the new runway will have 1,000 feet of separation from the smaller, secondary runway, increasing capacity and enhancing safety.
The project broke ground in 2018 with a goal of opening the new runway in 2030.
The runway is on track to open a year ahead of schedule in 2029. Sub-base construction is ongoing, and paving is expected to start in 2026.
The airport has been awarded nearly $200 million in grants since 2018, mostly for the runway-replacement project.
“This grant award reflects the ongoing effort and collaboration between the airport’s project team and the FAA to ensure this project is planned and completed as efficiently as possible,” said Linde Marshall, chair of the Grand Junction Regional Airport Authority Board of Commissioners. “We are grateful to our FAA partners for helping us secure this funding and accelerate the project schedule, reducing costs and building momentum as the project approaches completion.”
AIP grants typically fund 90 percent of eligible project costs at airports such as Grand Junction Regional Airport. The 2024 FAA Reauthorization Act set AIP funding levels at 95 percent for grants awarded in 2025 and 2026 to non-hub airports like Grand Junction. With a match of only 5 percent instead of 10 percent on 2025 grants, the airport will save more than $2.5 million on this portion of the project.
“I’m amazed by the amount,” said Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis, who also is a Grand Junction Regional Airport commissioner. “What Angela and the team have accomplished over the past few years is nothing short of remarkable. Mesa County is grateful for the trust the FAA has placed in GJT.”
Grand Junction Mayor and Grand Junction Regional Airport Commissioner Cody Kennedy called the airport an economic pillar in the community and added, “The airport is an important partner in economic development efforts in Grand Junction and the broader region. The new runway will allow the airport to continue to serve the region’s aviation needs for the next 50 years.”
City hosts ‘Water Lights at Night’ at Butterfly Pond
The City of Grand Junction will host the fourth annual Water Lights at Night on Oct. 11 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Butterfly Pond at Las Colonias Park. Admission is free.
“Water lanterns have been used in many different cultures for thousands of years, and their meaning can be a very personal one,” City of Grand Junction Recreation Coordinator Trish Rothwell said. “Grand Junction Parks and Recreation is excited to host this event again this year and looks forward to celebrating this festival of lights in the company of neighbors, friends and family.”
Attendees can purchase lantern kits for $8 or a pack of six for $42 prior to the event. Lantern kits include an LED tea light and marker for personalizing. Attendees are encouraged to bring additional materials to decorate their lanterns. Lantern kits will be available to pick up during the evening of the event. Lanterns purchased the night of the event are $10. A portion of the proceeds will benefit GJ Plays Foundation.
Sunset is at 6:41 p.m. and the lantern launch will take place at 6:45 p.m. Only lanterns purchased through Grand Junction Parks and Recreation are allowed.
At the end of the event, city staff will retrieve the lanterns, and no materials will be left in the pond. Attendees are welcome to retrieve lanterns to take home if they can be located after they are launched. Food trucks will be onsite, and attendees are welcome to pack a picnic and bring chairs, blankets and additional activities for kids.
The Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of recreational programming for all ages and abilities. For further information, contact Parks and Recreation at 970254-3866, visit gjcity.org and click on parks and recreation, email gjparksandrec@gjcity. org, or visit the Parks and Recreation office at 1340 Gunnison Ave.
Hoffman chosen to be Mesa County’s treasurer
Treasurer technician Arna Hoffman is the new Mesa County treasurer after being appointed by the Board of Mesa County Commissioners to fill the vacant position, according to a Sept. 30 news release from the county.
Hoffman succeeds Sheila Reiner, who resigned as county treasurer and public trustee on Sept. 9 to serve as Mesa County’s acting finance director. Chief Deputy Treasurer Jackie Campbell served as acting treasurer until Hoffman was appointed.
“Arna Hoffman is well-qualified to serve as treasurer based upon her background, training, education and experience,” Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis said. “The board is grateful for such a seamless transition after Sheila’s resignation.”
Hoffman will serve the remainder of the current elected term, which runs through December 2026.
Seasonal closures of splash park, dog park begin
With cooler weather and transition into fall, the City of Grand Junction closed two popular outdoor amenities for the season: the Dos Rios Splash Park and portions of the grass, off-leash dog park at Las Colonias.
The Dos Rios Splash Park closed at the end of September after a busy summer that welcomed hundreds of families, the city said in a news release. The facility will now undergo routine winterization and maintenance to ensure it is ready to reopen for the 2026 season.
“We’re grateful so many came out to enjoy the increasingly popular destination of Dos Rios,” Parks and Recreation Director Ken Sherbenou said. “The project is a reflection of the positive trajectory of the riverfront being a treasured community asset.”
At Las Colonias Dog Park, the east and middle grass sections also closed and will reopen in June.
2026. This seasonal closure allows the grass and soil to recover during the cooler months, maintaining their quality and longevity. The west section of the dog park remains open year-round, providing continued space for dogs to run and play.
Community members are reminded that, within city limits, dogs are only permitted off-leash in designated dog parks, including the west side of the Las Colonias Dog Park and the dog park at Canyon View Park. Grand Junction Animal Control enforces leash laws throughout the city.
For more information about City of Grand Junction parks, recreation programs and facilities, call 970-254-3866, visit gjcity. org or email gjparksandrec@gjcity.org.
Arna Hoffman
Embracing change unlocks growth and possibility
Change is an inevitable force in business and life.
Marcus Straub
Whether we welcome it or not, it arrives – sometimes subtly, sometimes with a jolt. Markets shift, technologies evolve, team dynamics fluctuate and external conditions like weather or politics can reshape the landscape overnight.
Resisting change may feel safe, but it’s a false sense of security. When we habitually push back against change, we limit our potential and block access to new opportunities, growth and fulfillment.
One of the most common reasons people resist change is because it demands personal transformation. It’s not just the external shift that’s uncomfortable, it’s the internal recalibration that feels daunting.
We often fixate on how difficult the change will be, what might go wrong or the fear of stepping into the unknown. Even when our current situation isn’t serving us, we cling to it, because it’s familiar. Comfort, even when it’s unproductive or painful, can be a powerful anchor.
This tendency to focus on the perceived hardships of change blinds us to its benefits. We become so preoccupied with the downside that we fail to see the upside: the new possibilities; the fresh energy; the chance to realign with our goals and values. To thrive, both professionally and personally, we must cultivate a more balanced view of change. We must learn to see it not as a threat, but as a gateway.
The first step in this shift is honest self-appraisal. When we pause to examine our current reality – our feelings, results and patterns – we often discover that our resistance to change is costing us more than we realized. That discomfort, once acknowledged, can become a powerful motivator. Many people reach a breaking point where they say, “I can’t do this anymore.” But what if we didn’t wait until we were desperate? What if we got honest sooner and used that clarity to make proactive decisions?
If your self-reflection reveals dissatisfaction in your business, relationships, health or overall well-being, it’s time to reconsider your relationship with change. By shifting your perception – from fear to curiosity, from dread to hope – you empower yourself to take meaningful action. This mindset shift is not just philosophical; it’s practical. It positions you to make decisions that improve your circumstances and elevate your sense of purpose and joy.
In my coaching and consulting work, I help individuals and teams identify the thought and behavior patterns that are sabotaging their success. Often, people are unknowingly
working against themselves, holding onto beliefs or habits that conflict with their goals. Once we uncover these patterns, we replace them with new, empowering ones that support positive change. The process is rooted in clarity, intention and action.
Consider a common scenario in business: a team member who is technically skilled but emotionally toxic. Their attitude erodes morale, damages customer relationships and undermines the company culture. If you or others feel a sense of dread when interacting with this person, that’s a signal something needs to change. Yet, many leaders avoid addressing the issue. Why? Because it’s uncomfortable. It takes time, energy, and courage to hire and train someone new. There’s fear of confrontation, backlash or legal complications.
But here’s the truth: The longer you tolerate a damaging situation, the more it costs you in productivity, reputation and emotional bandwidth. When you shift your focus from the difficulty of the change to the benefits it will bring, the path forward becomes clearer. You begin to see the value of a healthier team dynamic, improved customer satisfaction and a more energized workplace. That vision fuels your courage and makes the effort feel worthwhile.
This principle applies beyond business. If your health is declining, your relationships feel stagnant, or your personal goals are slipping away, it’s time to face the reality that resistance to change is holding you back. Awareness is the first step. Action is the next. Seek support, make a plan and commit to the changes that will move you toward a more fulfilling life.
Change becomes easier when we choose to see it through a lens of possibility. Instead of viewing it as a disruption, we can see it as a recalibration, a chance to align more closely with our values, aspirations and potential. Human beings are remarkably resilient and capable. When we open our minds to new ideas and take decisive action, we unlock a level of creativity and strength that often surprises us.
Ultimately, thriving in business and life requires a willingness to evolve. It’s not about chasing change for its own sake, but about responding to it with clarity, courage and intention. When we embrace change, we don’t just survive. We grow, we lead and we inspire others to do the same.
FMarcus Straub owns Life is Great Coaching in Grand Junction. Straub is winner of the International Coach of the Year Award and author of “Is It Fun Being You?” He’s available for free consultations regarding coaching, speaking and trainings. Reach Straub at (970) 208-3150, marcus@ligcoaching.com or through the website located at www.ligcoaching.com.
The hidden value of preventive maintenance for commercial properties
When it comes to managing commercial real estate, every decision eventually ties back to one word: value.
Mike Urlacher
For property owners and investors, value is reflected in tenant satisfaction, asset appreciation, operational efficiency and long-term profitability. One of the most effective yet often overlooked ways to protect and enhance that value is through preventive maintenance.
Unlike reactive repairs, which wait until something breaks, preventive maintenance is proactive. It’s the steady, ongoing attention to building systems, exterior facades and infrastructure before small issues grow into costly problems. For commercial properties, this approach isn’t just about avoiding emergencies, it’s about safeguarding your bottom line and positioning your investment for long-term success.
Why Preventive Maintenance Matters
Commercial buildings face heavier use than residential properties. Daily foot traffic, vehicle activity and exposure to the elements put every component under stress. Postponing upkeep creates ripple effects that can quickly spiral into larger challenges.
The risks are clear:
• Higher repair costs: A small roof leak left unchecked may evolve into a major replacement.
• Tenant dissatisfaction: Outdated interiors, faulty HVAC systems or unsafe sidewalks can lead to complaints or even vacancies.
• Reduced property value: Investors and buyers
discount properties with significant deferred maintenance.
• Business disruption: Emergency repairs often mean downtime for tenants and inconvenience for customers.
Preventive maintenance flips the script. By scheduling regular inspections and timely upgrades, owners can keep costs predictable, extend the life of building systems and preserve the reputation of their property.
Key Areas of Focus
Preventive maintenance covers every corner of a property, but some areas deliver especially strong returns:
1. Building facades – A clean, structurally sound facade boosts curb appeal, communicates professionalism and protects the building envelope. Small cracks or leaks left unaddressed can cause water intrusion and costly interior damage.
2. Parking lots and sidewalks – These high-use areas often shape the first impression of a property. Regular resurfacing and crack repair extend their life span, reduce liability risks and cost far less than full replacement.
3. HVAC and mechanical systems – Commercial HVAC systems endure constant demand. Routine filter changes, coil cleanings and inspections keep them efficient, extend their lifespan and reduce emergency repair calls all while ensuring tenant comfort.
4. Roofing and drainage – Roofs represent one of the largest capital expenses for a commercial property. Proactive inspections can often double their lifespan by catching leaks, drainage problems or membrane issues early.
5. Interiors and compliance – Fresh paint, lighting upgrades, and safe flooring keep tenants satisfied and help ensure compliance with safety and accessibility codes. Preventive interior upkeep demonstrates a commitment to quality while reducing risks of fines or complaints.
The Financial Case
Preventive maintenance is sometimes dismissed as an expense, but in reality it is an investment in cash flow stability and asset longevity. Industry studies estimate that every $1 spent on preventive maintenance saves $4 to $5 in future repair costs.
The benefits don’t stop at cost savings:
• Fewer unplanned repairs help stabilize net operating income (NOI).
• Proactive care supports stronger property appraisals, benefiting refinancing or resale goals.
In short, preventive maintenance improves both dayto-day performance and long-term profitability.
Final Thoughts
Commercial real estate is more than four walls and a roof. It’s about performance, reputation and return on investment. Preventive maintenance is the hidden engine that keeps those factors aligned. By investing proactively in building facades, parking areas, roofing, systems and interiors, property owners not only reduce risk, but also create lasting value for tenants, customers and investors alike.
Viewed through this lens, preventive maintenance is not a cost to endure but a strategy to embrace, one that transforms property ownership from reactive problem solving to proactive value creation.
F
Mike Urlacher is president of Build Works Group by Bray, which specializes in crafting exceptional homes, high-end remodels and reliable property maintenance for the Western Slope. Find out more about it at buildworksgrp.com.
Can you feel the movement? I sure can.
I don’t mean our government, which is always moving but never moves to benefit the people, only itself. Yes, it’s sold “for the people” in every form it has taken over recorded history, but history always shows when government grows, the people suffer at its hands and in the end.
And if you can’t see this is the direction the United States is going, then you can’t see why it was so important for the Republicans to co-opt Charlie Kirk’s funeral.
Yes, this column is gonna be about Charlie. Again. Or is it?
As you read into it as I hope you do, you’ll see it really isn’t about Charlie. It’s about freedom. The ultimate freedom.
And ultimate freedom can’t come from man, especially man in government, no matter how much they tell you they believe in God and you and your ability to handle freedom. Let’s face it, if politicians really believed in God, you and freedom, they wouldn’t run for office telling you how to live, what to do and force their ideas.
Yet they all do. And the worst part is they have no problem co-opting God to do it. Hate to break it to them, you can’t co-opt God. He transcends no matter how much earthly power you gather in your “lording” over the masses.
So yes, I feel a movement at my humble abode in River City. It’s why I’m up earlier every day trying to get into the day sooner with my devotions and scripture before the world tries to once again take over my life, which all-too-often it does have some success at. But hey, I’m human and confess my shortcomings. But as long as I’m inching closer in faith, I’m moving in the right direction. The direction of peace and love and pure joy. I’m even smiling as I write this column, and you wouldn’t have to go far in our town to find a few folks who think I’m never joyful.
Then again, joy and happiness have little to do with one another where I’m going.
And that’s where Charlie was going. The problem for government is the fact that Charlie knew what he was doing didn’t require government. And the government hates that more than anything. After all, how can you as a politician be worshipped and adored if the people knew they didn’t need you to solve all the problems of the world? Very few politicians will tell you the truth when it comes to that. And the truth is, no one would worship them, and that’s on top of every solution our government comes up with only makes things worse.
That’s the difference between all secular, government movements and the Spirit movement of Charlie in a nutshell. Charlie went into the morass to talk to the people one on one. The government sends out edicts to force is latest solution onto the people.
Charlie’s way works person to person in changing their thinking, their hearts and their lives. Government simply forces its ideas through laws, regulations and bureaucratic mass onto the people to the point where it’s become so intrusive that literally every American who wakes up today could be tried as a felon.
Just ask Donald Trump if you don’t think government can do that to you.
But the bigger problem is: You can’t avoid government largess, right? Ignoring government should be the easiest thing you can do. Whatever the government tells you to do, you (and it) should probably do the opposite. And no, I don’t mean to break criminal laws. After all, those laws didn’t come from government. They were coopted from Godly principles and are justifiably good. Yet in today’s America, most government is somehow promoted with “What would Jesus do?”
I’d argue, not that.
And few do it better than Donald Trump. And that doesn’t mean Trump isn’t doing some good things, freedom things. He is. But look at what else government’s doing while you bask in some small victories. Government sure hasn’t gotten any smaller under Trump’s rule.
I’ll make a couple of points closer to home.
I got to thinking about our carpetbagging congresswoman, Lauren Boebert, in the aftermath of Charlie’s martyrdom and in relation to this column. You know when Lauren lost me? I mean really lost me. It wasn’t the vaping, “feel-em-up” at the theater we all know about. That just solidified she wasn’t fit to serve. No, it was at an event where everything came to a stop, and it became an evangelical tent-meeting. Something didn’t sit right with me. There’s a difference between God is on my side and I’m on God’s side. The latter is the way to go.
I should have had the courage to write against it. I didn’t. I’m not calling out Lauren’s faith. I pray she (like all of us) has strong faith. I just don’t want the politician in her controlling it, as appears to be the case.
In Grand Junction its city council’s forays into homelessness and affordable housing, sold on Biblical principles of taking care of the poor and those struggling. But just what did our tented, downtown day spa and salon get us? That’s right, double the homelessness. So, what do you think the Salt Flats experiment will bring?
There’s a better way to do these things. Charlie knew that. And it is… .
In Truth and freedom.
F
Craig Hall is owner and publisher of The Business Times. Reach him at 424-5133 or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com
Craig Hall
n CASA honors volunteers with more than a decade of service
With a combined 51 years of service and 127 children served, three CASA volunteers are being recognized for their extraordinary dedication to children in foster care.
Dawn Dillon, Bonnie Allison and Dorothy Rinderle have each given more than a decade of their lives to ensure that children in foster care have a voice in court and the chance to grow up in safe, loving homes.
“Dawn, Bonnie and Dorothy embody what it means to be the voice for a child,” said Melinda Leon, executive director of CASA of Mesa County. “Their dedication over the years has created lasting change in the lives of the children they’ve served, and we are deeply grateful for their unwavering service.”
Dillon has been a CASA volunteer for 10 years, taking on four cases and advocating for five children. One of her cases spanned eight years, a testament to her unwavering commitment to stand by a child throughout their journey.
“Children are our future, and every child deserves a future,” she said.
Allison has served for 14 years, taking on 20 cases and advocating for 44 children. Her passion for children’s well-being has made her a steady and trusted presence for families and the courts.
“All children deserve a safe life,” Allison said. “I have always assisted any child that needed help by either someone to talk to or a place to feel safe.”
Rinderle has provided 27 years of service to CASA, handling 53 cases and advocating for 78 children. Her tireless dedication and compassion have touched multiple generations of children and families in Mesa County.
“All children deserve to grow up in a loving and safe environment,” Rinderle said. “It has been my role as an advocate for the ones who do not have this chance and give them a voice.”
CASA volunteers are community members who are trained to advocate for children in the foster care system, ensuring their voices are heard in court and their best interests are at the heart of every decision. For more information about becoming a CASA volunteer, go to www.CASAMC.org or call 970-242-4191.
n Burford lands on Mesa County workforce board
Jessica Burford, president and CEO of the Palisade Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed to the Mesa County Workforce Development Board, the chamber said in a Facebook post.
“I hope to bring the perspective of businesses outside of Grand Junction ... our orchards, vineyards, farms, small shops and tradesbased employers that are the backbone of rural Mesa County.”
For Burford, workforce development is all about connection.
“When it’s done well,” she said, “it creates a two-way bridge. Employers gain access to a stronger talent pipeline, and job seekers gain meaningful pathways to careers that let them stay and thrive here.”
On a personal note, she added, “This isn’t just a seat at the table. It’s a calling to serve my community, honor my roots and advocate for rural businesses who often don’t have the time to advocate for themselves.”
n Drone show coming to Palisade Peach Festival next year
The America 250 – Colorado 150 Commission has launched a new statewide drone show series, and the Palisade Peach Festival has been selected as one of the featured stops.
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This initiative commemorates both the 250th anniversary of American independence and the 150th anniversary of Colorado’s statehood with family-friendly celebrations across the state. Each show will feature hundreds of synchronized drones creating breathtaking animations, 10 minutes of statewide content and two minutes of custom content unique to Palisade.
The Palisade Peach Festival Drone Show will take place Aug. 21, 2026, at Riverbend Park, adding an unforgettable highlight to the annual celebration of Colorado’s worldfamous peaches.
The drone show schedule and all statewide events can be found on the commission’s official events calendar. The drone shows are one of 12 signature initiatives from the America 250 – Colorado 150 Commission, designed to inspire connection, foster community pride and celebrate the vibrant cultures that define Colorado.
n Jukebox statue unveiled as latest Art on the Corner piece
Triple Play Records partnered with local artist Trevor Hall to build a Jukebox Statue made of steel to be included as one of the Downtown Grand Junction Art on the Corner permanent installations.
The statue now displayed in front of Triple Play Records, 530 Main St., was unveiled Oct. 4 during the Downtown Art Festival presented by Southwest Home Innovations.
“We wanted to commission a music-themed sculpture for a permanent art installation downtown to express our gratitude for the community support we have received over the last 37-plus years,” said Rock Cesario, owner and operator of Triple Play Records. “Trevor Hall, a gifted musician and sculptor, as well as a good customer of Triple Play, was a natural. The sculpture is beautiful, and we can’t wait for the public to see it for many years to come.”
“I am very excited to have a permanent art piece included in the Downtown Grand Junction collection. In fact I will have two this year, one temporary,” Hall said.
