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, for both its citizens, its large tourist ecanomy and #he college that has <br />1 a big and popular outdoor recreation program. We believe that this <br />water right can coexist with the other issues that need to be <br />considered here, which is wha.t is going to happen with upstream <br />development, what kinds of changes mio we see in the firture, and <br />recognizing that -it's our position t.hat you have to have something to <br />go on and not just an idea. We think even so, there's enoxlgh water . <br />left on the table for projects that we don't evenlaiow yet to have _ <br />water rights available. And to be denied a water right siuaply on the <br />basis that something we haven't thought of get might impact it is simply not the wag to go on this, particulazly when this is a water <br />righx that's of considerable benefit and valueto t.he community who <br />is seeldng it. . <br />. So I think that, ra.ther than going 'khrough alI the criteria, we'll just go <br />. ahead and get started. And our first witness wffi be John DeVore, <br />Couirty Manager. . <br />John DeVore: Good morning. How are you? - Good moining. I'm 7olzn. DeVore, <br />Gunn3san CountyMiin-ger, been employe3 bp Gunmson County <br />since 1996. On hehaif of ttve Board of Corurty Commissioners,.we <br />wouid h3ce #o welcome you to our commnmity. we hope you enjQy <br />your stay here. . <br />Gunnison County is unique in a lot of respects. I'm sure you hear <br />, that from a variety of communities, TJnique in the fact that we are <br />worldng together to achieve connnon goals and ta take control of our <br />,. destiny. As Cindy pointed out, our economic bose has been _agriaulture and the coilege and now recreafioiL The reasoji why I <br />say "and now recreation" is over t'sme, recreation - recreation atid <br />tourismhas becom critical to ouz local'economy, both wmter and <br />summer. In tbat regard the community - when I say "lhe <br />r,ommunity'_it is at both ends afthe alley-Mount Crested Butte, <br />Creste,d Butte, Czty of Cmumisan and Gvnnisoa Coiuxty have come <br />together to work o.n a.variety of programs to achieve economi.c stabflity ancl to regain, our Fnarket sbare of the tourism business. <br />In that regatd, this year we worked together to create a rural <br />transportation authority. And an agreement bas been signed by all <br />the entities to pl,ace m isszxe on the ballot to ask the voters to <br />consider an increasi? in the sales tax to sapport the air program for <br />Gunnison beeavse we see that as criticai to bo#h the tourist economy <br />and to Western State CoIlege to be able to have hi,gh quality, . <br />cninpetitive air servi'to serve the needs af our community. We <br />also recognize that marketing is ccritical to our economy and in that <br />regard, we've worked tagetker to p}ace a'marketing disbrict on the <br />Colarado Wate= Conservation Board <br />September 10, 2002 Hearing Transcript <br />Page 14