Garfield County has fired its oil and gas liaison, Judy Jordan. Jordan received a letter of termination Wednesday.

While residents are upset, some say it's been a long time coming.

"I'm not at all surprised," says Nikki Fender, who lives on Silt Mesa. "I think we've kind of all been expecting this."

Fender has lived on Silt Mesa for five years. In that time she says she's watched the county commission lean strongly in favor of oil and gas. Jordan had recently been criticized by the industry for showing bias against it.

"The county commissioners were pressured by the industry to oust her," Fender says. "I really feel like that was the reason she was fired."

County manager Ed Green tells us he is not able to discuss reasons for the firing or who made the decision. The termination comes just a few months after the county halted a health impact assessment planned for Battlement Mesa.

Jordan's attorney tells us she will be taking steps to appeal the county's decision. That starts with a post-termination meeting which will likely be held next week.