BOCC Meeting, October 14, 2026

This was the regular Board of County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. at All Aboard Westcliffe. Present were Paul Vogelsong (chairing in the room), Lucas Epp, and Bill Canda (via Zoom), Clerk Kelley Camper, county attorney Dan Slater, and BOCC admin. Audience included Tracy Taylor and James (Jimmy) Gilbert. No agenda amendments. Minutes from the 29th and another published meeting were approved, all aye. Commissioner reports covered the airport board (Canda and Vogelsong) on capital investment, the DA budget finalized with the four counties, a 100-day OEM fire-recovery report, completion of last year’s underfunded-courts work with an invoice pending, and courtroom upgrades (propane tank, ADA bathroom, jury room) headed to a November 12 briefing in Denver with approval expected before Thanksgiving. A meeting with the Over Creek Snowmobile Club on plowing to an abandoned trailhead is set for next Tuesday. Paul noted mattresses donated for Aspen Acres fire victims and monitoring of Over Creek water with OEM and Road and Bridge. Lucas covered the budget hearings already held, a CCI legislative session that set five priorities (airport authority modernization, online legal notices, Medicaid for justice-involved individuals, youth foster programs, ground ambulance costs), completion of the courthouse sidewalk with leftover MMO funds for the north side, the posted 2025 audit, a workforce-housing committee meeting, and a CES LEPC meeting on hazardous materials shipping. The Model Traffic Code ordinance (No. 26-TAC01) adopts the 2024 Model Traffic Code for Colorado, repeals conflicting ordinances, and sets penalties. It was read at length. Public comment from Jimmy Gilbert noted the 200-plus-page code, the five-year update cycle, and the value of uniform enforcement with the state patrol. Lucas highlighted higher fines (up to $5,000) aimed at speeding. Concerns were raised about electric-bike safety on county roads. No local exceptions were added. Motion to adopt with a corrected hearing date (September 23, 2026) passed, all aye. Accounts payable from October 1–14 totaled $245,769.54 and was approved all aye. Named lines over $5,000 included Baseline $24,414.30 (sidewalk), CTSI Claims $55,639.26 (sheriff vehicles, mostly reimbursable except a $1,500 Aspen Acres deductible), Chaffee County Finance $8,800, PCC Dennis Post $10,726 (officer certification tuition), Watts Upfitting $5,916 (five vehicles), Envirrote Services $45,553.39 (soil stabilizer on the airport road), and Sturdy Built $6,400 (two 20-foot containers). Sealed bids on five surplus vehicles were accepted for the highest bids: 2009 Dodge Durango $1,000 (Pam Baltis), 2002 GMC Yukon $215,057 (Steve Wilkerson — caption anomaly; treat as the bid of record only if confirmed), 2012 Dodge Ram $1,776 (Vernon Roth), 2007 Ford F-150 $470 (Vernon Roth). One 2001 Dodge Durango remained unsold. Motion to accept the highest bids passed, all aye. The preliminary 2027 budget preview showed several funds (general, self-insurance, capital) with expenses still ahead of revenue. HUTF is down about $50,000 because of fewer gas purchases. Health-insurance numbers are still pending. Goal is to balance without dipping into reserves as the first move. Jimmy Gilbert asked about tax loss from burned houses (about $21,000) versus new builds. Lucas noted mill-levy movement and a $300,000 justice-center placeholder, possibly in the capital fund. The 2025 audit is posted and cleaner than prior years. A public hearing was scheduled for November 25, 2026, on a policy that would rebate 75% of county property tax to licensed child-care providers (an extra 25% for infant/toddler care). Other taxing authorities are excluded. Only one family-home provider and a school center exist; the school is ineligible. Towns get 30 days’ notice. Motion to schedule passed, all aye. Stacy from the Kids Council spoke to the need (only about 6% of infant/toddler demand met), a DOLA needs-assessment grant, high costs, and the fact that informal care covers most of the rest. Public comment later returned to the courthouse. A speaker cited the 2016 Anderson Holland report (about $1.48 million for upgrades and expansion) and argued that $500,000–$780,000 in grants plus land costs over the last decade could have finished the original scope. The request was to put a discussion of returning to the 2016 plan on a future agenda. No motion was made. Jimmy Gilbert asked for time on the Republican Central Committee resolutions. The $300,000 Underfunded Courts grant from September 30 was referenced; the speaker asked that spending not contradict the 2016 report. No vote. Silver Cliff workforce housing was discussed. Liability rests with the developer (Keith Meyer). The county’s role is limited to land subject to conditions; if conditions fail, the land returns. Deed restrictions are perpetual unless jointly altered; a 30-year restriction is in the agreement. ARPA and LATCF funds previously associated with the housing effort were redirected or assigned elsewhere (fuel system, airport tank, and other items were named). No motion changed the restrictions. Water-treatment concerns were raised about the electrocoagulation / electro-oxidation pilot at Round Mountain Water (serving Westcliffe and Silver Cliff). Speakers flagged electricity use, electrode wear, and the lack of a long industrial track record. The county’s oversight is limited because Round Mountain is a separate entity. No vote. Bill Canda closed with a statement on equal authority among commissioners and transparent budget work. Lucas noted an RFP for a five-year auditor contract by October 28 and Redlands handling bookkeeping to reduce audit cost. No motion closed the NRCS flood grant that had been tabled to this date in the September 30 meeting, the courthouse-scope discussion, or the housing restrictions.