Town of Paonia, Colorado
Mayor Paige’s Page
2025
On behalf of myself, the Paonia Board of Trustees and Town staff…..Welcome!
The Town of Paonia and the North Fork Valley serve as the largest hub for organic agricultural production in the state of Colorado. The area not only includes the sweetest organic fruit in the state, but we have local goat cheese, grass-fed beef, local lamb, pork, chicken and even elk. Paonia is also surrounded by wineries that are recognized as part of the federally designated West Elks American Viticulture Area. The views from the North Fork Valley wineries are gorgeous and the entire area has been compared to that of Provence, France.
The Town of Paonia is home to 1475 in-town residents and serves as the local commercial hub for approximately 3,500 folks living on the surrounding mesas. As a recognized Colorado Creative District, our small town offers numerous art galleries, artisan studios, theatre, live music, pop-up and brick and mortar restaurants, coffee shops, an all-sourdough bakery that uses locally grown grain and a French pastry chef whose creations rival those found in any large city. We also have locally brewed beers, hard cider, unique gift and clothing stores, hardware, and garden shops, two grocery stores that offer anything and everything you may need, banks, a bookstore, public library, two schools offering K-8 and PreK – 6th grade classes and our own local public radio station.
We’re situated right next to the North Fork of the Gunnison River and Mount Jumbo, a renowned hiking and mountain bike BLM recreation area. Paonia also offers three beautiful Town-managed parks. What I especially love about this town is that you can walk to everything I’ve described as all is located within or just outside the boundary of the 500 acres that is the Town of Paonia.
The management of our town is overseen by Administrator Stefen Wynn, Clerk Samira Vetter, Deputy Clerk Ruben Santiago and Public Works Director, Cory Heiniger. Paonia also employs its own Police Department which is managed by Chief Laiminger with five officers reporting to him. Those of us living and working here or visiting would not be able to safely enjoy the amenities offered without the efforts of our entire team of dedicated Town of Paonia employees.
In addition, because of our Town staff, we all enjoy dependable drinking water, a functioning sanitary sewer when we flush or send water down the drain and consistent, efficient solid waste pickups. Our parks, streets, sidewalks, curb, gutters, and storm water system would not be functional without our employees.
Our Town also relies on the service of citizen volunteers who serve as our six elected Town Trustees and others who dedicate their time to serve on local commissions, committees, and boards. All of these combined efforts make it possible to provide what is required to conduct the business of a Colorado Statutory town for the citizens of Paonia.
If you'd like to know more about Paonia, please stop by Town Hall at: 214 Grand Avenue and meet our friendly staff. You can also find information about the Town of Paonia, services offered, and departments that provide services offered and departments providing services, as well as links to many community organizations of the Town of Paonia website: https://townofpaonia.colorado.gov.
All my best,
Paige Smith
Mayor