Alamosa County commissioners directed staff to open transition discussions with the airport’s fixed base operator and voted to release bids on a deteriorating Stanley Road bridge at their March 25 regular meeting, while also receiving a $603,000 solar regulation grant, extending a long-delayed glamping permit for the last time, and approving a letter of support for a youth shooting facility. The board authorized release of an RFP for the Stanley Road bridge replacement, estimated at $752,000 after county labor reduces the original bid, following word from Centric, the fixed base operator at San Luis Valley Regional Airport, that it wishes to discuss exiting its contract. Land Use Director Richard Hubler announced the $603,000 Local Impact Accelerator grant award and reported the county’s comprehensive plan earned a national honor award from the American Planning Association. The board also authorized County Administrator Roni Wisdom to sign an airport advisory services contract with Bolton & Menk and approved a 2026 weed control contract not to exceed $16,500.
Airport FBO Transition
County Attorney Jason Kelly told commissioners that Centric sent a letter March 23 indicating it wants to discuss transitioning out of its fixed base operator contract at San Luis Valley Regional Airport. Kelly said the letter followed the board’s previous work session in which commissioners raised significant concerns about Centric’s performance, and that Centric appeared to be signaling it could not meet those expectations. Kelly said there is no material breach on the county’s part and advised against issuing a formal default notice before first having a direct conversation with Centric. He noted Centric’s separate Quest car rental agreement is not tied to the FBO contract and could remain in place regardless of any FBO transition. Commissioners directed staff to initiate that conversation with Centric.
Stanley Road Bridge Replacement
The board authorized release of an RFP for a concrete box culvert to replace the failing bridge over the Excelsior Ditch on Stanley Road. Road & Bridge Director Ronnie Medina told commissioners the structure is deteriorating and requires active monitoring. The project budget is $752,000, plus a 7% contingency of approximately $50,000, reduced from an initial estimate exceeding $1 million through county force account labor. Construction is planned after November 1, 2026, when the ditch closes for the season, requiring a three-to-four month road closure with a detour via County Road 102 north to County Road 100. Medina said oversized signage and concrete barrier protection will be put in place to manage traffic near the work site. The county’s road fund carries a $4.3 million balance, which Wisdom said is sufficient to cover the project.
Solar Regulation Grant and Planning Award
Hubler announced the county received $603,000 from the Local Impact Accelerator program, exceeding its ask, to update solar energy regulations and fund a revegetation pilot project in partnership with the Rio Grande Water Conservation District. The project will study how retired irrigation circles can be revegetated as agricultural land shifts to solar production. Hubler also reported the county’s comprehensive plan received an honor award from the Small Town and Rural Communities Division of the American Planning Association, to be presented in Detroit in the coming week.
Glamping Permit Extension
Commissioners voted 2-1 to extend the special use permit for Dune Glamping LLC at 15050 Lane 6 North until July 4, 2026. The project was originally approved in November 2022 and has received multiple extensions. Hubler told the board the wastewater system was inspected March 6 but cannot be certified until an engineer signs off and a pump system receives power. Dome structures remain in a Denver warehouse awaiting concrete foundations. The applicant told commissioners she has invested more than $700,000 and carries a $1.3 million loan. Commissioner Lori Laske voted no, citing repeated extensions and the absence of completed construction after more than three years.
Youth Shooting Facility Support
The board approved a letter of support for a grant application by a local youth shooting sports nonprofit seeking Pittman Robertson funds to build an approximately 42-by-96-foot indoor shooting and archery facility near the Del Monte Gun Club on county land. The estimated project cost is $130,000–$150,000. The letter commits to potential use of county land through a lease agreement and in-kind road and site preparation work from the Road & Bridge Department as part of the grant match.
Army Corps Levee Update
Staff reported the Army Corps of Engineers has initiated a Federal Interest Determination — a new 30-day process to assess whether a full flood protection study for the Alamosa levee system is warranted. The assessment is fully funded by a federal appropriation expected by end of March at no cost to the city or county. If the determination is positive, a cost-shared three-year study estimated at up to $3 million would follow. Staff noted the existing levee was designed to direct overflow toward East Alamosa, meaning that side of the valley would flood even if the levees function as intended.
Public Comment
Two residents spoke during public comment about Denver Air Connection’s parent company, Key Lime Air, and its role in ICE charter flights used to transport detainees. One speaker said the company completed 487 such flights through late February 2026 at taxpayer costs of $8,557 to $26,795 per hour, and submitted a written safety and ethics comparison of Key Lime and SkyWest related to the county’s upcoming Essential Air Service carrier recommendation to the Department of Transportation.
Other Business
The board approved consent agenda items including two airport improvement project grant amendments and a fiscal year 2026 veterans assistance grant application. Commissioners authorized Wisdom to sign a master agreement with Bolton & Menk for airport advisory services brought forward by Airport Manager Sirah Masters, with ratification at the April 8 meeting. The board approved letters of support for Adams State University’s joint budget committee and congressional funding requests and a courthouse security grant for the sheriff. Commissioners discussed but did not act on a proposal to reorganize a county accessibility and cybersecurity employee under the emergency management department. County Administrator Wisdom reported the county is exploring inmate medical insurance options following a recent hospitalization, and confirmed a volunteer medical insurance rider is available through CTSI at $3.60 per volunteer per year. Staff noted state judicial officials have indicated counties are responsible for courthouse furniture costs, drawing pushback from commissioners who said the statute requires only an adequate facility. Wisdom reported receiving bond refinancing information from Stiple for commissioner review. Alamosa County declined to increase its financial contribution to a regional San Luis Valley GIS program, citing budget constraints. A district attorney term limit resolution is expected on the April agenda following Rio Grande County’s recent passage of a similar measure.
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