BOCC Meeting, September 30, 2026

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Main Subject

The primary focus of the September 30, 2026 regular BOCC meeting was a string of approvals that lock in the post-Gasper Fire recovery path and the landfill/recycling consolidation — a $300,000 disaster-recovery RFP with a $75,000 county match, a $300,000 Underfunded Courts grant capped at a $15,000 county match, four OEM plans, the Solid Waste Management Facility Director job description, and a $125,337.10 accounts-payable run — while the only split vote was Lucas Epp’s no on the Deputy VSO job description because it does not require veteran status, and the Republican Central Committee’s non-binding call to stop the justice-center land contract was heard and not acted on.

Summary

This was the regular Board of County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. Present were Chair Bill Canda, Paul Vogelsong, Lucas Epp, Clerk Kelley Camper, the county attorney, BOCC admin, and OEM director Eric. Audience included Dominic (VSO side), Sarah Fischer (domestic-violence services covering Fremont and Custer), James Gilbert, Jim McMahon, and others. No agenda amendments. Minutes of September 23 were approved on a voice vote, all aye. Commissioner reports covered overnight rain and running water on roads out of St. Isabel / Wetmore / Bishop’s Castle drainage; sandbags available; Road & Bridge staged in Wetmore and OEM ready with a command center if flooding developed. The previous day’s 2025 audit was called excellent and on time; staff flagged the need for mini-audits on grant reporting. A new tourism sign went up on the south side of the airport. The first contested item was the Deputy VSO job description. It had been workshopped with the VSO director and the American Legion. Salary range is consistent with prior work. Canda moved to approve it as written. Discussion turned on whether the posting should require veteran status. Lucas wanted a veteran preference first, with a reopen if none applied. Canda said the best-qualified person should be hired — veterans are already served by non-veterans in government and the military — and that the director can accommodate veterans in the process. Dominic spoke to the need for someone who can actually run the system. Vote: Paul aye, Lucas no, Canda aye. Approved 2–1. Accounts payable over $5,000 totaled $125,337.10 and was approved all aye. Line items named included Redlands Accounting $5,250 (August), Dan Slater $7,021 (legal), McFarland Oil about $5,110 (landfill fuel), the District Attorney about $12,684–$12,849 (October), Road & Bridge about $7,684–$7,844 (fuel/maintenance), Acorn Petroleum about $10,260 (Wetmore fuel), Southern Tire Mart $5,527.98 (tires), Parro Disposal $6,000 (Aspen Acres fire dumpsters), and Conservation Trust / Silver Cliff $11,543 (playground fence). The board adopted a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month, all aye. Sarah Fischer thanked the board and noted her office serves both counties; the local hotline took about 1,280 crisis calls last year (719-275-2429). Paul presented the Solid Waste Management Facility Director job description. It consolidates landfill and recycling under one director for supervision, hiring, budgeting, compliance, and overlap when someone is out. Jim McMahon asked about future challenges. The room said no greenhouse-gas mandate applies to a landfill this size, the expansion is certified for about 75 years, recycling extends life, closure funds are set aside, and the site can be self-sustaining. Approved all aye. Eric brought four OEM plans as a package: Alert and Warning (updated from 2017, uses Everbridge), Debris Management, Pre-Entry (new, for safe return after evacuation), and Recovery (updated from 2019). Approved all aye. The recovery RFP is the larger money item. It is for professional disaster-recovery management, debris monitoring, grant administration, and mitigation support after the Gasper Fire. The program is $300,000 over three years. County share is 25% ($75,000); federal is 75%. The firm is project management, not individual workers. Posted on BidNet, no local preference. Paul moved, Lucas seconded (with BidNet). Approved all aye. A USDA NRCS post-fire flood-mitigation opportunity was named next — up to $5 million for watershed protection in Aspen Acres / Burnsar / CR 378, county match estimated under 12.5%, reimbursement-based, no commitment today. It was tabled to October 14 for public-notice reasons. No vote. The Underfunded Courts grant is $300,000 for courthouse work: ADA restrooms, probation relocation, propane tank, site prep, attorney-client conference room, generator, and roof. State wants a 1–10% match. The board capped the county at 5%, not to exceed $15,000. Roof is the priority; bids have ranged widely ($30,000–$125,000 range was discussed) and the room wants engineered drawings before a full roof contract. The grant covers the court portion, not the whole building. Approved all aye. Airport insurance with Gallagher was quoted at $3,476 for October 9, 2026 to October 9, 2027. Approved, with direction to renegotiate onto a calendar year after the 2027 budget is set. The last long item was Republican Central Committee resolutions from the March precinct caucus and county assembly. One calls for the board to cease activity on a new justice center / courthouse, cancel the land contract, and recoup funds, citing the 2021 voter rejection of an $18 million plan and remaining land payments. The board treated the resolutions as non-binding citizen input. Staff said the current work is a scaled courtroom-only path, not a full new facility, and that the land contract dates to 2018 with remaining payments on the order of $150,000. No motion adopted the resolutions. Town halls were announced for October 1, 15, and 29, 6:00–7:00 p.m. Meeting adjourned.

Key Points

Meeting

  • Regular BOCC meeting held Wednesday, September 30, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at All Aboard Westcliffe.
  • Present: Chair Bill Canda, Paul Vogelsong, Lucas Epp, Clerk Kelley Camper, county attorney Dan Slater, BOCC admin, and OEM director Eric.
  • Audience included Dominic (VSO side), Sarah Fischer (domestic-violence services for Fremont and Custer), James Gilbert, Jim McMahon, and others.
  • No amendments to the agenda.
  • Minutes of the September 23, 2026 regular meeting were approved on a voice vote, all three commissioners aye.

Voted — Deputy VSO job description (2–1)

  • The job description had been workshopped the prior meeting with the VSO director and the American Legion commander and deputy.
  • Salary range is set to be consistent with prior VSO work under Bob Smith.
  • Canda moved to approve the job description as presented.
  • Lucas Epp voted no because the posting does not require veteran status; he wanted an initial veteran preference with a reopen if no veterans applied.
  • Canda’s position was that the best-qualified candidate should be hired; veterans are already served by non-veterans in government and the military, and the director can accommodate veterans in the process.
  • Dominic spoke in support of hiring someone who can actually operate the system and complete VA paperwork.
  • Final vote: Paul Vogelsong aye, Lucas Epp no, Bill Canda aye. Approved 2–1.

Voted — Accounts payable $125,337.10

  • Lucas reviewed the accounts-payable items over $5,000 before the motion.
  • Named lines included Redlands Accounting $5,250 (August services), Dan Slater $7,021 (legal file), McFarland Oil about $5,110 (landfill fuel), District Attorney about $12,684–$12,849 (October budget), Road & Bridge about $7,684–$7,844 (fuel and maintenance), Acorn Petroleum about $10,260 (Wetmore fuel), Southern Tire Mart $5,527.98 (tires), Parro Disposal $6,000 (Aspen Acres fire dumpsters), and Silver Cliff / Conservation Trust $11,543 (playground fence).
  • The full AP total of $125,337.10 was approved on a voice vote, all three commissioners aye.
  • Auto-captions vary slightly on a few individual lines; the approved total is the figure that was moved.

Voted — Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation

  • The board adopted a proclamation declaring October Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
  • The proclamation cites 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men experiencing domestic violence, 15.5 million children exposed yearly, and the need for support services and full prosecution.
  • Sarah Fischer, whose office serves both Fremont and Custer counties, thanked the board and reported about 1,280 crisis calls on the local hotline last year (719-275-2429).
  • Adopted on a voice vote, all aye.

Voted — Solid Waste Management Facility Director job description

  • Paul Vogelsong presented the job description that consolidates landfill and recycling under one director.
  • Duties include supervision, hiring, budgeting, regulatory compliance, recycling promotion, emergency plans, and policies that allow the two operations to cover each other during absences.
  • Jim McMahon asked about future financial and regulatory challenges.
  • The room response was that no greenhouse-gas mandate applies to a landfill of this size, the expansion is certified for about 75 years, recycling extends the life of the site, closure funds are already set aside, and the operation is intended to be self-sustaining.
  • Approved on a voice vote, all three commissioners aye.
  • This is a job description approval, not a hire and not a new general-fund appropriation.

Voted — Four OEM plans as a package

  • Eric presented four plans: Alert and Warning (updated from 2017, uses Everbridge), Debris Management (overarching for emergencies), Pre-Entry (new plan for safe re-entry after evacuation), and Recovery (updated from 2019).
  • The plans are base documents that can be adjusted during an actual event; they were updated after the recent fire season.
  • Everbridge is a free, subscription-based opt-in system used since about 2020.
  • Debris management covers county property; private property requires separate legal process.
  • Approved as a package on a voice vote, all three commissioners aye.

Voted — Disaster-recovery RFP ($300,000 / $75,000 county match)

  • The RFP is for professional disaster-recovery management, debris monitoring, grant administration, and mitigation support after the Gasper Fire.
  • Total program is $300,000 over three years.
  • County share is 25% ($75,000); federal share is 75%.
  • The firm is project management, not a hire of individual workers for septic systems or debris crews.
  • The RFP will be posted on BidNet with no local preference; qualified contractors are open.
  • Paul moved; Lucas seconded with the BidNet amendment. Approved all aye.

Voted — Underfunded Courts grant ($300,000 / $15,000 county cap)

  • The grant is $300,000 for courthouse improvements limited to the court portion of the building.
  • Named pieces include ADA-compliant restrooms, probation office relocation, propane tank relocation, site prep, an attorney-client conference room, generator installation, and roof repair.
  • The state requires a local match of 1–10%. The board capped the county contribution at 5%, not to exceed $15,000.
  • Roof repair is the priority; contractor bids have ranged widely (about $30,000 to $125,000 discussed) because of incomplete scope.
  • The room directed that an engineer of record and drawings be obtained before a full roof contract is let.
  • The grant does not cover the entire county building.
  • Approved all aye.
  • Break-room relocation and metal-detector / voting-space conflicts inside the building were discussed and not voted.

Voted — Gallagher airport insurance

  • Airport insurance renewal with Gallagher was quoted at $3,476 for the period October 9, 2026 to October 9, 2027.
  • The board approved the policy as written.
  • Direction was given to renegotiate it onto a calendar-year term (January 1 to December 31) after the 2027 budget is set, to avoid overlapping coverage.
  • Approved all aye.

Not voted — USDA NRCS flood-mitigation grant

  • Eric presented a USDA NRCS opportunity for post-fire flood mitigation in the Aspen Acres / Burnsar / County Road 378 area.
  • The grant could provide up to $5 million for watershed protection.
  • County match is estimated at less than 12.5% and is reimbursement-based (county fronts the money).
  • No financial commitment was made.
  • The item was tabled to the October 14, 2026 meeting because of public-notice requirements.
  • Eric indicated the deadline can be extended if needed.

Not voted — Republican Central Committee resolutions

  • Resolutions originating at the March 7 precinct caucus and the county assembly were presented for discussion.
  • One resolution calls on the board to cease activity on a new justice center / courthouse, cancel the land-purchase contract, and recoup funds, citing the 2021 voter rejection of an $18 million plan.
  • The board treated the resolutions as non-binding citizen input; no formal process requires the board to act on party resolutions.
  • Staff clarified that the current path is a scaled courtroom-only approach, not a full new facility, and that the land contract dates to 2018 with remaining payments cited around $150,000.
  • No motion was made to adopt, reject, or implement any of the resolutions.
  • Town halls were announced for October 1, 15, and 29, 6:00–7:00 p.m.

What was not decided

  • No vote on the USDA NRCS $5 million flood grant; it returns October 14.
  • No vote on the Republican Central Committee resolutions.
  • No engineering firm selected and no roof-repair contract awarded.
  • No decision on whether the Deputy VSO posting will automatically reopen if no veteran applies.
  • No new general-fund appropriation for the Solid Waste Management Facility Director position; only the job description was approved.
  • Next public dates named: October 14 for the NRCS grant notice; town halls October 1, 15, and 29.

Summarized Transcription

Bill Canda opened the regular meeting at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 30. Pledge, invocation for the rain that came as drizzle instead of flood, roll call. Minutes of the 23rd passed all aye.

Reports: heavy rain overnight, running water on roads out of St. Isabel and Wetmore, sandbags available, crews staged, OEM ready. The audit from the day before was called clean and on time. A tourism sign went up at the airport.

Then the Deputy VSO job description. Workshopped with the director and the Legion. Canda moved to approve it. Lucas wanted the posting to require a veteran first and reopen if none applied. Canda said hire the best qualified; veterans are already served by non-veterans in government. Dominic spoke to the need for someone who can run the system. Paul aye, Lucas no, Canda aye. 2–1.

Lucas walked accounts payable. Redlands $5,250, Dan Slater $7,021, landfill fuel about $5,110, the DA about $12,700, Road & Bridge fuel and tires, Acorn Petroleum for Wetmore, $6,000 in Aspen Acres fire dumpsters, $11,543 for the Silver Cliff playground fence. Total $125,337.10. All aye.

Proclamation for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. All aye. Sarah Fischer noted about 1,280 crisis calls last year on the local hotline.

Paul brought the Solid Waste Management Facility Director job description — one director over landfill and recycling so the two can cover each other. Expansion certified for about 75 years, no small-landfill greenhouse-gas mandate, closure money set aside. All aye.

Eric brought four OEM plans: Alert and Warning on Everbridge, Debris Management, a new Pre-Entry plan, and Recovery. All aye as a package.

Then the recovery RFP. $300,000 over three years for a firm to manage Gasper Fire debris, grants, and mitigation. County puts up $75,000. Federal puts up the rest. BidNet. All aye.

NRCS flood money — up to $5 million, match under 12.5%, reimbursement only — was tabled to October 14. No check written.

Underfunded Courts: $300,000 for the court portion of the building, roof first, ADA restrooms, probation move, generator, and the rest. County match capped at 5%, not over $15,000. Roof bids have been all over the map; they want drawings before a contractor. All aye. Gallagher airport insurance at $3,476 for the next year was approved, with a plan to move it to a calendar year.

Last came the Republican Central Committee resolutions. One says stop the justice center, cancel the 2018 land contract, get the money back. The board treated them as non-binding input. The 2021 $18 million plan lost at the ballot; the current path is a courtroom, not a new building. Remaining land payments were cited around $150,000. No motion. Town halls on the 1st, 15th, and 29th. Adjourned.

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Associated Polls

Deputy VSO: veteran required?: Job description approved 2–1. Lucas voted no because it does not require veteran status. Canda said hire the best qualified. What should the posting say?
$300,000 recovery RFP / $75,000 county match: Professional firm to manage Gasper Fire debris, grants, and mitigation. County 25%, federal 75%. BidNet. Support it?
Courthouse grant: $15,000 county max: $300,000 Underfunded Courts grant. County match capped at 5% / $15,000. Roof is the priority; bids have ranged from about $30k to $125k. Fair?
Solid Waste Management Facility Director: One job over landfill and recycling. Expansion certified ~75 years. Closure funds set aside. Support the consolidation?
Justice-center resolutions: Republican Central Committee asked the board to stop courthouse work and cancel the 2018 land contract. Board called the resolutions non-binding and did not vote. What now?