Copp hands over reins, receives accolades

Having served the citizens of Salida for seven months, acting City Adminstrator Mike Copp will turn over the reins to his successor, Jack Lewis, this week.

Copp, who lives with his family in Centennial and has been commuting in order to fill the role, said he enjoyed his time in Salida and if the timing had been different he might have been tempted to stay on permanently. He joked that he told Lewis: “If I had known how much fun I’d have, I wouldn’t have brought [you] on.”

When asked about highlights of his tenure, Copp mentioned the employee pay plan, the establishment of a municipal complex in the old hospital building and the passage of recent taxes which will improve both streets and opportunities for recreation.

• The employee pay plan brings compensation for city employees closer to the median pay for employees in similar positions, Copp said. He explained the improved pay plan has had a postive impact on employee morale and lessened somewhat the likelihood of losing qualified staff to higher-paying jobs elsewhere. Copp made it clear, however, that Salida still does not pay even the median rate for most positions, leaving the city at a disadvantage in attracting and retaining qualified personnel.
• Copp said moving city offices into the old hospital building will allow greater efficiencies in communication between departments and improve public-facing facilities like the council chambers.
• The passage of 2A provides for street improvements, a consistent theme among complaints by residents. A contract to a local company, PMS, for street sealcoat and overlay was approved at Tuesday’s council meeting. Copp emphasized that keeping work local and working with local companies was important to him.
• Money from the occupational lodging tax will help repair the hot springs pool and fund local trail improvements. According to Copp, substantial progress has already been made in improving the hot springs pool, another frequent target of complaints. The city has obtained a grant which will pay for a new hot water line from the hot springs in Poncha, which will save money in heating costs and allow the pool to live up to its billing as using hot spring water. Plans are in place which will utilize 2B money to fix the locker rooms and shower areas which have long been in disrepair.
• Revenues from 2B are also slated to pay for other recreational and cultural amenities including trails. Salida’s relatively mild climate makes mountain biking, hiking and trail running possible even at times of year when most other mountain towns are dealing with mud and snow. Copp acknowledged that communities such as Fruita, Colorado and Gallup, New Mexico have shown that well-constructed trail systems can contribute to economic development via increased tourism and relocation. In partnership with Absolute Bikes and Salida Mountain Trails, the city has purchased a trail-building machine which will allow volunteers to work more efficiently. The goal, Copp said, is to “get people here and give them more opportunities to stay and recreate.”

The new City Administrator, Jack Lewis, faces a number of challenges, according to Copp. Given the current economic outlook, “Jack, Jan and the city council will have to be vigilant” and will need to revisit the budget during the first quarter. The “remarketing” of Vandaveer and the proposed development of the hot springs property in Poncha Springs are two other issues which Copp expects to be front-and-center on Lewis’ desk.

Copp paid compliments to the city council and department heads, saying that everyone works very hard for the best interest of the city. “I hope they’ve learned as much from me as I have from them.” At Tuesday’s council meeting, Copp thanked the council and the citizens of Salida for the opportunity to be City Administrator. “I think that the citizens will greatly benefit from improved roads and improved recreational opportunities…. You should be proud of your accomplishments.”

Mayor Pro-tem Hugh Young acknowledged Copp’s professionalism, saying: “you came at a time when we really needed some expertise and some leadership here in the community and you’ve provided that above and beyond the call of duty…you’ve done a wonderful job.” Other members of the Council echoed Young’s praise.

Having conducted a similar search in Glenwood Springs, Copp said he has some experience in the niche of helping cities through interim periods, but didn’t have firm plans for the next month. With a characteristic smile, Copp said he was looking forward to a bit of time off.