DEL NORTE — The controversy over the sale of land to the Del Norte School District CFO Angela Velasquez has reached a new point. There is now talk of recalling the Rio Grande Assessor, J.J. Mondragon for releasing public information.

Mondragon contacted the Valley Courier about putting out a statement concerning public information in her office, most of which are either on the county website or available to inspection during business hours.

She said, “With few exceptions, the records in the Assessor’s Office are of public record. …The Assessor shall deny inspection of records containing social security numbers, Real Property Transfer Declaration forms, Manufactured Home Transfer Declaration forms, and Business Personal Property Declarations and Schedules.”

These specific documents are considered private information and must be withheld from public inspection by Colorado State Statutes, she said.

She added that “All deeds are public record. We have a very informative website (www.riograndcounty.org) that is always available to the public…[it] contains the sales information of all real property in the county.” Including the controversial land deal currently under review.

Mondragon stated, “Regarding the complaint [by some] about confidential records released from the Assessor’s Office are unfounded and untrue. No confidential records were released being that there are no confidential items regarding the sale in question…”

In a complaint filed with the Colorado Department of Education and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and subsequently to the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for investigation, Tom Haefeli claimed that the land deal was sold to Velasquez for $15,000.

The property was valued at $52,000, and the discussion to sell Velasquez the property was not done during a public meeting. There was, however, a 65-minute closed-door meeting to discuss the valuation of the property on Jan. 24.