SUMMIT COUNTY

County manager Gary Martinez announces retirement

Summit County manager Gary Martinez announced on Thursday, Jan. 28, that he plans to retire in June. Martinez, 68, has been at his current job since October 2007. However, he’s been a civil servant in Summit County for decades.

“I feel exceptionally lucky to have had the opportunity to serve the citizens of Summit County in a number of capacities for nearly four decades,” he said.

Before becoming county mananger, he took a job in 1978 at Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, an association of county and municipal governments that currently works on behalf of 26 member jurisdictions, including Summit County. He took over as the group’s executive director in 1982, helping to lead the legal effort to secure Western Slope water rights in the face of increasing trans-mountain diversions by Front Range water interests.

In 1985, the Breckenridge Town Council hired him to serve as Breckenridge town manager, a position he held till 2000.

From 2000 to 2007, he spent a stint in the private sector, as a managing partner for a development company in Eagle County.

In 2007, he returned to Summit County to succeed Ron Holliday as Summit County manager. He took the reins at a fiscally challenging time, tasked with navigating the organization through the Great Recession, which necessitated major organizational restructuring, staff reductions and program cuts.

“That was one of the toughest challenges of my entire professional career,” Martinez said.

To start the process of replacing him, commissioners will invite select staff members inside the organization to apply for the position. The board has determined that it does not need to conduct an external search.

The board plans to name his successor by mid-March.

Editor’s note: Look for an in-depth story on the impressive legacy Gary Martinez will leave behind in a future edition of the Summit Daily News.

BRECKENRIDGE

Tourism announces new board line-up

The Breckenridge Tourism Office announced on Thursday that it will welcome four new board directors in June 2016. The office and the town vetted 15 applicants for the four open seats in a several-month process.

The new board directors are:

Travis Beck: director of environmental services, SE Group (town council appointee).

Jay Beckerman: managing member, Blue River Bistro (town council appointee).

Christine Berwyn: director of marketing, Pinnacle Mountain Homes and Pinnacle Lodging (tourism office appointee).

Cary Cooper: community philanthropist and volunteer with extensive board experience (tourism office appointee).

The following directors’ appointments will expire in June: Dick Carleton, Steve Lapinsohn, Bruce Horii and Rob Neyland.

“Breckenridge is coming off an extended period of record lodging and sales tax receipts largely due to the great work of the BTO,” said Richard Sosville, chairman of the tourism office board.

The Breckenridge Tourism Office is the destination marketing organization for the town of Breckenridge.

Frisco

Town hosts third annual Mardi Gras 4Paws

On Saturday, Feb. 6, 2016 from 3-6 p.m., Frisco will host the third annual Mardi Gras 4Paws event. The event, a costumed dog parade inspired by New Orleans traditions, benefits League for Animals and People of the Summit (L.A.P.S.).

“It is impossible not to smile when you see a bulldog in a tutu or a lab dressed as a martini. The Mardi Gras 4Paws parade epitomizes the love mountain people have for dogs, costumes and a good party,” said Sally Beerup, president of L.A.P.S, in a written statement.

Pre-registration is $20 per dog and $5 for each additional dog and is available online at http://www.summitlaps.com. Day of registration will be $25 per dog and will be available starting at 3 p.m. at the “yappy” hour street party at 2nd Avenue and Main Street. Humans are free.

For further information about Mardi Gras 4Paws, please contact Nora Gilbertson at (970) 668-9132 or norag@townoffrisco.com or Sally Beerup at LAPS@colorado.net

Senior-focused winter games set for Feb. 21

The Summit County 50+ Winter Games will be take place at Keystone Resort, the Frisco Nordic Center and the Summit County Community and Senior Center from Feb. 21-23. The Summit County 50+ Winter Games are in their 36th year and feature ice skating, alpine skiing, snowboarding, Nordic skiing, hockey skills events and snowshoeing.

The Summit County Senior Citizens (SCSC) group organizes the 50+ Winter Games to round out their winter recreation schedule and highlight their group’s focus on wellness.

All proceeds from the Summit County 50+ Winter Games benefit SCSC. In 2015 alone, SCSC raised over $60,000 from events like the 50+ Winter Games.

It is $35 per person to register for the 50+ Winter Games and it is $15 per person for the opening night dinner and silent auction. $52 reduced fee Keystone day ski passes are also available for participants who do not have a season ski pass. For more information or to register, please call (970) 668-2940 or email seniors@

summitcountyco.gov.

Compiled by Summit Daily News staff