HomeMy WebLinkAbout20251945.tiffHearing Certification
Docket No. 2025-52.A
Board of County Commissioners
Weld County, Colorado
Sitting as the Redistricting Commission
Public Hearing of the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado,
sitting as the Redistricting Commission, to receive input from the public regarding
changing the boundary lines of Commissioner Districts in Weld County, Colorado,
as proposed by the Weld County Redistricting Advisory Committee pursuant to
Colorado Revised Statutes §§ 30-10-306 et. seq.
A public hearing was conducted on July 9, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with the following present:
Commissioner Perry L. Buck, Chair
Commissioner Scott K. James, Pro-Tem
Commissioner Jason S. Maxey
Commissioner Lynette Peppier
Commissioner Kevin D. Ross — Excused
Also present:
Acting Clerk to the Board, Houstan Aragon
County Attorney, Bruce Barker
Assistant County Attorney, Matthew Conroy
The following business was transacted:
I hereby certify that pursuant to a Notice dated June 25, 2025, and duly published
June 27, 2025, in the Greeley Tribune, a Public Hearing of the Board of County
Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, sitting as the Redistricting Commission, was
conducted to receive input from the public regarding changing the boundary lines of
Commissioner Districts in Weld County, Colorado, as proposed by the Weld County
Redistricting Advisory Committee pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes §§ 30-10-306
et. seq.
Matthew Conroy, Assistant County Attorney, made this a matter of record and presented
a brief summary of the purpose of the meeting, location of the website, and online map
resources depicting current boundaries and proposed boundary options that were
presented before the Board of Weld County Commissioners on June 30, 2025.
Adam DeRito, introduced his background, read a statement he prepared for the record to
share his concerns regarding misinterpretation of House Bill 21-1047. He stated the
legislative record shows the bill targets gerrymandering with state legislative redistricting
and not at the county level governed by Home Rule Charter. Mr. DeRito offered several
supportive reasons for his opinion to not alter Weld County's voter district boundary lines
in any fashion.
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2025-1945
CR0036
Hearing Certification — Presentation of Redistricting Advisory Committee and Public Input
Page 2
Ann LaPlante, City of Greeley resident, introduced her background as an attorney, stated
her interpretation of the ruling by the State of Colorado Supreme Court governs the
process of how to adopt voter redistricting boundaries, and indicated her support for the
South Platte map. In response to Commissioner Maxey, Ms. LaPlante clarified her
understanding of what a "Community of Interest" is, and how that translates to voter
power. In response to Commissioner James, she defended her stance that Weld County
has been dominated by republican leadership and believes it is time for democratic
representation on the Board of Commissioners and the South Platte Plan map will offer
the best opportunity to accomplish that, in her opinion.
Trent Leisy, Town of Windsor resident and virtual attendant, shared his viewpoint on the
State of Colorado Supreme Court attacking Weld County for the Home Rule Charter. He
indicated this whole process is not about equality, but about power. Mr. Leisy expressed
his support for the Commissioners making the best decisions for those who reside in
Weld County, upholding local values, and he denounced the politics of the state working
to turn Greeley into a democratic district of the County. In response to
Commissioner James, Mr. Leisy shared he prefers the current voter district boundary
lines, as he believes it fairly represents Weld County values.
Mary Monahan, City of Greeley resident, reminded the Board, and others in attendance,
that the State of Colorado Supreme Court ruling was unanimous, acknowledged the
importance in following the rule of law, and indicated the work of the Redistricting
Committee needs to be honored. In response to Commissioner James, Ms. Monahan
confirmed she attended the Commission meetings. In response to Commissioner Maxey,
she stated the South Platte Map is her favored choice, as it gives better representation,
since how it currently stands each of the Commissioners only get a piece of the City of
Greeley so it is not viewed as a whole.
Lori Garcia-Saunder, Town of Eaton resident, expressed her appreciation for the work of
the Committee and further indicated Weld County, in addition to other conservative
counties, are being steamrolled at the state level and they do not feel heard. In response
to Commissioner James, she stated she does not have a favorite proposed map;
however, she does believe that having the entire Board with a vested interest in the City
of Greeley is important.
Brenda Hoff, City of Greeley resident, expressed her discontent with potentially being
forced into a different voting district if a new map is adopted. She further indicated the
State's overreach is another example of control being taken from the local government,
and there will be a fight from those who have county and rural roots and wish to remain
as it is. Ms. Hoff noted her preference is to keep the boundaries as they currently are. In
response to Commissioner Peppler, she stated she does not feel her voice is heard and
does not view herself as "step -child" and she does not care for urban sprawl.
2025-1945
CR0036
Hearing Certification — Presentation of Redistricting Advisory Committee and Public Input
Page 3
Claudia Milstead, City of Greeley resident, stated she attended a majority of the
Redistricting Committee meetings and expressed her appreciation for improvements
concerning the communities of interest along the I-25 and U.S. Highway 85 corridors and
learned those residents requested to preserve their collective interests. She stated the
connotation of keeping the boundaries as they currently exist is not an option, as the
County will be taken back to court. She further stated change is inevitable and will improve
the commonalities, and she urged the Board to have an open mind, embrace change and
adopt the proposed map they believe is the best for Weld County moving forward.
In response to Commissioner James, Ms. Milstead confirmed the anticipated growth was
mentioned often but the Committee was statutorily bound to base the maps on the latest
census data. In response to Commissioner Maxey, she provided her understanding of a
"Community of Interest" meaning that one is no more or less important than one another,
but it varies on how to view what a community is and what an individual has in common
with others surrounding them where they reside. Commissioner Peppier commented
there is going to be a line somewhere, and insisting that neighbors residing across the
street from each other should not be divided, is insinuating that their voting power is more
valuable than another, as it would be moved somewhere else for 'others' to deal with, and
as long as it's it not their direct problem then it's not a problem, and that can be construed
as bias, gerrymandering, and insulting.
There being no further discussion, the hearing was completed at 10:58 a.m.
The Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, approved the above
and foregoing Hearing Certification, on motion duly made and seconded, by the following
vote on the 23rd day of July, A.D., 2025:
Perry L. Buck, Chair: Aye
Scott K. James, Pro-Tem: Aye
Jason S. Maxey: Aye
Lynette Peppier: Aye
Kevin D. Ross: Aye
Attest:
Esther E. Gesick, Clerk to the Board
2025-1945
CR0036
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