As we begin the new year, we sat down with Weld County Commissioner Chair Kevin Ross to ask him a few questions about what the board of commissioners is focusing on in 2024.

Q: If there is one word to describe the county’s focus for 2024, what would that word be?

A: From the board’s perspective, I think that word is growth.

Weld County has been experiencing a rapid increase in growth — we’ve been one of the fastest growing counties in the state for several years — and with growth comes an increase in the need to provide services. As county government, we as a board need to make sure we are preparing and responding to that growth proactively and thoughtfully. From our budget to our buildings, we need to not only plan for next year but also for five, 10 and 20 years down the road.

Q: Can you talk more about how growth impacts county government and why it’s important for residents to understand?

A: Sure. Most of the population of Weld County lives in municipalities, so they are most familiar with their municipal government — their local fire and police agencies, their local public works crews who maintain their roads, their mayors and city or town councils who pass ordinances and approve projects. We hear from a lot of people, actually, who don’t really know what county government does.

But think about this. When you need emergency assistance, you call 911. Weld County Government runs the 911 call center. When a disaster, like a tornado, comes through Weld County, our Office of Emergency Management assists with resources and recovery. If you like to stay off the highways as you travel from one town to another, you’re likely on a county-maintained road. Do you like driving on Weld County Road 49? That’s county built and maintained. Do you feel safer when law enforcement can get dangerous people off of the street? The county runs the jail.

From elections and motor vehicles, to health clinics, to law enforcement patrols, to road maintenance and snow plowing, to land-use, to human services programs and so much more, county government works quietly in the background to make sure those things happen as efficiently as possible.

More people moving into our county means more people on our roads, more houses in both the incorporated and unincorporated areas, more individuals needing some form of help — be that emergency services or human services. It’s important to plan proactively for all of this.

Q: Why is Weld County experiencing so much growth compared to other areas of the state?

A: There’s no one answer to this, but if there was, I think it would be cost of living. Weld County has a long and proud tradition of being fiscally responsible, as have many of our municipalities. It just costs less to live here. And we have room — room for growth; especially compared to other counties along the Front Range.

I also think, though, the values Weld County holds and demonstrates are representative of who we are as a community, and that resonates with a lot of people right now. Personal responsibility, private property rights, limited government — residents have that here, and I think others are coming here because they are drawn to that as well.

Q: So, what are the challenges for the county in preparing for this population growth?

A: The board of commissioners wants to make sure we are planning for growth in a way that remains true to Weld County’s philosophy of government: to provide great service to our residents and not grow government for the sake of growing government. That said, with more people needing more services, the board wants to make sure county departments are able to maintain that level of service, so some growth within county government will be needed. We are already looking at how that process looks moving forward. Can we utilize technology in ways we haven’t that will allow us to provide and even improve our services? Can we think of innovative ways to handle an increase of service needs without necessarily adding FTEs [full-time employees]? These are all questions we are asking our departments to work through now.

Q: Is this growth bad?

A: Absolutely not. Growth means we are doing things right — our county and our municipalities. People want to be here, and that’s awesome! We just need to make sure that we handle the challenges and opportunities that growth presents in a way that makes sense for Weld County. We don’t want to lose who we are as a county because we didn’t plan appropriately.

Q: What does that mean — “lose who we are as a county?”

A: We are an agriculture and energy producing county. That is our economic backbone and our heritage. That’s who we are and who we want to be, so planning on how those two industries, which often are paired with our Western heritage and rural lifestyle, remain vital is imperative to the future of Weld County. 

A new Weld County public health program aimed at helping prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes has had a positive impact on Weld County employees. 

As the program prepares to open to the public, be sure to read the next issue of County Roots to learn about this beneficial program and how to register for an upcoming class.