Grand County Attorney’s Office Paralegal Cristin Hofhine has formally objected to her unannounced removal from the temporary Zoning Administrator position, citing concerns about the impact on departmental stability and the lack of professional communication with Grand County employees.
Hofhine took on the additional Zoning Administrator duties in March as a temporary assignment to help stabilize the Planning Department, which had no staff.
In letters sent to both the Grand County Commission and Planning Commission on August 15, Hofhine said she learned of the proposed action only through a public agenda while working during approved vacation time.
“No one spoke to me beforehand,” Hofhine wrote in her letter to the Commission. “That lack of notice and direct communication is inconsistent with basic professional practice and undermines continuity of service.”
Instability in Planning Office
Hofhine’s planned removal occurs against what she describes as “a backdrop of longstanding instability within the Planning Office, including leadership turnover, vacancies, and shifting directives.”
Despite these conditions, Hofhine said applicants, members of the public, and county staff have been “overwhelmingly supportive” of her work during the temporary assignment.
Since accepting the role, Hofhine said she has kept the Planning Department operating without interruption despite organizational volatility, stepped in to stabilize and manage functions as another department faced difficulties, filled critical gaps for a department entirely outside her normal Attorney’s Office duties while maintaining her legal responsibilities, worked extended hours including weekends, and maintained case flow and public-facing service.
Similarities to Earlier Planning Commission Tensions
The dispute echoes tensions that arose in April 2025 when the Grand County Commission voted 4-2 to request the resignation of Planning Commissioner Laura Long.
Long had criticized a controversial development project in public comments and online posts, leading commissioners to question her ability to remain impartial on planning matters.
Like Hofhine, Long objected to the lack of prior notice before the Commission’s action. The April meeting agenda had listed only “Consideration of a Request for Resignation of Planning and Zoning Commission Member” without naming Long or providing background information. At the April 1 meeting, Commissioner Trish Hedin called the process “a disgrace.”
Long declined to resign, characterizing the action as “an ideologically motivated attempt to remove someone who may sometimes disagree with the current political majority of the County Commission on a single issue.” She still serves on the Planning Commission.
Requests for Accountability
Hofhine has requested written responses within five business days addressing who initiated the change, when, and the specific rationale; the transition plan for active files, staff direction, and applicant communications; confirmation of her current title, duties, reporting line, and delegated authority; acknowledgment of the workload she absorbed and a staffing plan that aligns responsibility with authority; and a commitment to direct, timely communication and professional conduct in personnel matters.
She also requested a meeting to review the transition and protect service continuity.
Broader Pattern of Departmental Challenges
Hofhine concluded her letter to the Planning Commission by noting that when leadership treats willing employees as “disposable,” it sends a message to every public servant that “dedication does not guarantee respect, and extraordinary effort will not shield you from being undermined.”
“The public has a right to expect better,” she wrote. “Both in how their government treats its employees and in how it safeguards the operations those employees work tirelessly to uphold.”
The Grand County Commission was contacted for comment but had not responded by publication time.
This is an emerging story and will be updated as developments arise.
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