A passenger train follows the Colorado River and Interstate 70 as it winds its way through Glenwood Canyon.

Beckley reappointed to the river district board

Commissioner Mike Samson reappointed to fourth term on the FMLD board

PRESS RELEASE
January 3, 2024

Garfield County has reappointed local businessman Steve Beckley as its representative to the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRD) Board for a three-year term.

Beckley continues his work for the river district, which represents 15 Western Slope counties to ensure the “protection, conservation, use, and development of the water resources of the Colorado River water basin,” according to its mission statement.

“We’re right in the middle of some really amazing stuff, so I want to continue to make sure it follows through,” Beckley told the Board of County Commissioners.

The reappointment was approved unanimously, 2-0, with Commissioner John Martin excused from the meeting.

“Thank you for your service,” added Commissioner Tom Jankovsky. “You’ve heard from us on moving forward on the Shoshone water rights and we’re happy that the governor came out in support of those.”

Samson reappointed to FMLD board

Garfield County Commissioner Mike Samson was also reappointed as a director on the Garfield County Federal Mineral Lease District (FMLD) Board for a three-year term running until January 5, 2027. He was first appointed to the role on June 20, 2011, and one of the members of the three-person FMLD board must be a Garfield County commissioner.

“I’ve been there since the beginning and FMLD has given out close to $35 million to help projects within Garfield County,” Samson said. “I started with FMLD in 2011, and I’m very proud that we’ve been able to help so many organizations in so many ways.”

Federal mineral lease payments are made to the Department of Local Affairs (DOLA), which distributes the funds to counties, municipalities, and federal mineral lease districts. The FMLD is an independent public body that allocates funding from natural resource development on Garfield County public lands to communities that are impacted by the process.

In his support for Samson’s reappointment, Commissioner Jankovsky added that it was a “legacy decision” to form FMLD. The reappointment was approved unanimously, 2-0.