Budget Hearing Meeting – Conservation Trust Funds, October 1, 2026

This was the Conservation Trust Funds budget hearing on October 1, 2026. Finance and Caitlyn walked a spreadsheet of past amounts, requests, and disbursements with applicants in the room. No roll-call votes. Final allocations were deferred to later meetings, with a target of December 15. This is restricted lottery money for public-space improvements. It is not general-fund cash and it is not the countywide shortfall. There are two money piles. The first is the 2027 CTF distribution itself, expected at about $57,000–$59,000. The second is the request stack and the reserve that has to bridge them. Initial requests totaled about $93,000. After adjustments (Altitude dropped from $30,000 to $20,000) the stack sits near $83,000. Reserves from unclaimed prior-year funds are expected to cover the $24,000–$26,000 gap. The room also noted a larger county shortfall in the $1.2 million range; that number is not a CTF overrun. Eligibility is the gate. CTF can only improve public spaces that are free to the public. Nonprofits need a formal government partnership or lease before they can receive the money. The board said it will check with DOLA’s CTF manager on the edge cases. All Aboard (Sandy Massik) asked $1,000 for outside woodwork repairs at the event center — lumber, caulking, paint. It is a standing request and meets the public-space test. Altitude (Christy Shraan) asked $20,000 for pool-deck repair. The pool resurfacing was already funded at $20,000. Deck parts are about $3,000; total servicing has run over $90,000. The project itself fits CTF, but Altitude is a nonprofit and does not qualify until a government partnership or lease is in place. Future plans for a community center were named and not funded. Mountain View Valley Baseball and Cal Ripken Baseball combined for $4,000. 2026 money ($2,000 each) went to engineering for a new softball field at the school. 2027 money would support construction. Public school grounds qualify. CSU Extension asked $15,000, with additional fairground work. The north fence and pedestrian gate at the fairground entrance are unsafe; the fix is estimated at $10,000 with possible donated materials. Extra pens and stalls would serve the fair and emergency animal sheltering. The Fair Board wants to concrete the hog-pen area and add permanent bleacher covers. Fairgrounds are a free public space. Schools (Pine) asked $8,000 for metal trash cans with lids and four metal benches near the football field. Public school grounds qualify. The Senior Center discussed a defibrillator nearing end of life, a double-slide kitchen window, and a 3-inch floor step. No dollar amount was locked. Public-health grants were named as a possible defibrillator source. Nonprofit status may need a check. High Altitude Garden Club (Deputy Van Dor) asked for continued support for Main Street plantings and courthouse sprinklers. Purchases stay local. No dollar amount was locked. Public-space beautification fits. Silver Cliff Community Park, Museum, and Trails were discussed together. Park trees died after water bills hit $6,000 a month. Shade structures and vegetation control were named. The museum previously used CTF for a trolley cart. Trails: Hermit Trail overlay is done; Trail System overlay is planned for 2027. No single dollar amount was locked. Wetmore Community Center uses funds for building upkeep. The library did not request money and is open two days a week; the center covers its maintenance. No motion allocated any of the $83,000. No motion cleared Altitude. No motion set the final reserve draw. Next steps named were eligibility checks with DOLA and final numbers by December 15.