GUERNSEY – A former soldier, professional motocross rider, general contractor, and dairy farmer, Guernsey’s new town planner, John Burfeind, pulls together his variety of experiences and love of the community to the table.
Having grown up on a dairy farm in the countryside of rural New York where the trees touch across the road, Burfeind learned from his grandfather the value of your word and a handshake. He learned the trade of carpentry and construction from his uncles, and after serving proudly in the U.S. Army’s first infantry division, chose to go back into the construction business.
He did a stint riding in the professional motocross circuit across the country in the middle of all that, then eventually moved to Greeley, Colorado to help out a contractor who needed someone qualified to take care of his list of contracts while he was recovering from a serious medical condition. Eventually, Burfeind became a general contractor with his own business, successfully building not only homes, but turning his clients’ dreams into reality.
After spending the last 30 years in Colorado, Burfeind is pleased to have the opportunity to make a difference in the community he has spent a lot of time in and has considered home since he and a friend were invited to a steak dinner by his future in-laws years ago when he was on assignment with the army at Camp Guernsey. He eventually married Laura Frederick – whose family’s roots run 145 years deep in Guernsey – and has always enjoyed his time in Guernsey.

When the position of town planner and code enforcement officer came open, Burfeind took the chance to get out of the rat-race of Colorado to be a full-time part of the community he has always loved and reminds him of his rural upbringing. After 38 years of construction, Burfeind has had extensive experience dealing with code and ordinance compliance, so he knows both sides of the issue.
One of the most important tasks in his new position will be to have good communication with residents and to make sure they understand the codes and ordinances and what it means for them individually. Burfeind explained, one of the tasks he has right now is to help 81 Guernsey property owners understand what is going on with requests that have been sent out for them to agree to quick deeds to give the town full ownership of the street between the curbs.
He explained, on multiple homes in town there are discrepancies with the surveyed property lines as reflected by the county’s mapping system and physical deeds to the properties. Essentially, the homeowners are paying property taxes to the middle of the street. Earlier this summer the town council chose to rectify the errors by requesting quick deeds for the street portion of the properties.
“Some of the verbiage is confusing,” Burfeind said of the legal requests mailed to homeowners. “I want to educate people to help them know what is happening. I want them to understand what they are being asked to do so they are comfortable making a decision.”
He said the town is asking the homeowners to deed only the portion of their property from the curb to the middle of the street, which they are currently paying taxes for, but also has the potential for liability issues for the homeowner. The quick deeds are the solution the town has chosen to pursue.
Burfeind said he wants to foster a sense of community in the town, encouraging neighbors to be neighborly and helping find solutions to the issues that come up in the town. He also has several ideas he wants to explore to assist those who need help and to encourage pride in the community.
After the position was open throughout the summer, Mayor Ed Delgado said he is pleased with the appointment of Burfeind to the position. He said Burfeind has jumped right into the job and has been doing an excellent job communicating with residents. “We’re lucky to have him,” he said.