The state of Weld County is strong.

This statement was backed up by many important messages that made an impact on the more than 180 attendees in the Welcome Center at Aims Community College on Tuesday, Oct. 22. The Welcome Center was filled with municipal leaders, nonprofit organizations and the general public for the first-time event.

As Commissioner Chair Kevin Ross addressed the crowd on behalf of the Weld County Commissioners, the audience listened with intent, many writing down various facts about Weld County’s growth or its commitment to transportation and quality of life through different public safety services.

The audience’s engaging reactions were evidence that the State of the County was having a desired effect: to show the ways Weld County Government positively impacts residents, often in ways they may not expect.

“For many residents, their only interaction with county government occurs when a property tax notice arrives in the mail, when their car registration is due, or when a ballot is received around election time,” Ross said in his speech. “While these moments may represent the most visible and common interactions with county government, the reality is the services we provide daily are numerous, varied, and impact the more than 345,000 residents who call Weld County home.”

The ”numerous and varied” services Ross spoke to reflected Weld County’s commitment and connection to the future, which served as the theme of the event. It’s a future that will see Weld County continue to grow. The county is the second fastest growing in the state and set to double in population by 2050, according to the state demographer. This growth, while welcomed, means finding ways to continue providing the best services to more people.

It's not as though growth has caught Weld County by surprise. The speech highlighted instances of collaboration; from meeting with municipalities to discuss growth goals to securing funding for north Interstate 25 improvements and assisting Morgan County with submitting a grant for improvements to Interstate 76.

“We understand that this type of communication and cooperation is essential as we look toward Weld County’s future,” Ross said, regarding collaborative planning efforts. That same level of importance was shown to transportation when Ross said the county’s efforts reflected a “commitment to make our roads safe and efficient not just for our own residents but for all who travel through Weld County and the northern Front Range.”

In the various accomplishments Ross highlighted throughout his speech that stretched just over 42 minutes, there were several moments of pride. After pausing to thank veterans in the audience, he mentioned the impact of the Veterans Service Office since relocating to the Weld County Department of Human Services earlier this year. The stellar work of the Weld County Department of Public Health and the county’s dispatch services was also mentioned.

While the services provided by county government may have surprised some in attendance, the way those services have been provided — with a long tradition of fiscal responsibility — drew cheers and applause.

"In 2023, Weld County surpassed a milestone that no other Colorado county government can claim: We reached the $1 billion mark of property taxes not collected by the county,” Ross said. “That’s $1 billion of taxpayer money that stayed with taxpayers, because in Weld County we are committed to running lean and just collecting what we need in order to provide the level of service our residents expect.”

Following Ross’ remarks, attendees expressed their appreciation for the information shared and the overall execution of the gathering.

“Great job.” “Well done.” These statements echoed through the Welcome Center, alongside comments like, “That was very informative!”

All welcome feedback and a fitting end to a first-ever event. The event not only reinforced the strength of the county's leadership but also fostered a sense of unity and purpose among its residents, paving the way for a collaborative future.

Weld County Government offers many benefits to residents, but chances are, there's a few that our readers may not know exist. We'll highlight several in the next edition of County Roots.