With the city of Grand Junction set to receive $11.7 million through the American Rescue Plan Act, a City Council member is proposing community input to help prioritize where that money is spent.
Council Member Rick Taggart said at Wednesdayâs City Council meeting that he would like the city to form a committee that includes community members and people that represent interest groups from economic development to parks and recreation.
âIâd like to deviate significantly from our normal approach,â Taggart said. âI would very much like to see us put a committee together of folks from the economic development side, folks from the homeless side, nonprofits, public safety.â
Pot rules, rink deals lie ahead for next council gjsentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gjsentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Grand Junction City Council discussed an implementation matrix to help it prioritize projects identified in the One Grand Junction Comprehensive Plan at its Monday workshop.
The comprehensive plan calls for the city to develop the matrix to prioritize short- to long-term projects and strategies for implementing the plan.
Council Member Phyllis Norris, whose term on the council will soon end, said she felt the incoming council should have a say in the matrix.
Norris noted that the council, which will be elected on April 6, will also be developing the cityâs strategic plan for the next two years, which may draw on the implementation matrix. Council Member Chuck McDaniel said he agreed with Norris and said the strategic planning process is a good way for new Council members to learn about the issues facing the city.
After meeting with Greg Haitz and Dennis Simpson, the Sentinelâs editorial board could not reach a consensus on whom to endorse in the Grand Junction City Council District D race.
Both candidates are well-qualified, knowledgeable and have the relevant experience to hit the ground running. But thatâs not to say voters canât get this one wrong. Some on the board fear Simpsonâs presence on the council could be a major disruption, while others appreciate his reason for running â which is to try to reshape how the city government operates.
Haitz, meanwhile is a local chiropractor who runs his own business, the Rimrock Wellness Center, and seems most concerned about the councilâs relationship with the business community. In the immediate term, that means helping small businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. But Haitz repeatedly referenced the need to reexamine impact fees, giving some hint about where his priorities lie.
City Hall to reopen next week gjsentinel.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from gjsentinel.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.