High Country Advocate Staff
November 7, 2025
HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS — The Grand County Board of County Commissioners faced pointed questions about property tax assessment practices and deliberated on critical airport safety improvements during their November 5 meeting, with Commissioner Rich Cimino absent while traveling abroad.
Citizen Challenges County Assessment Practices
The meeting’s public comment period sparked controversy when Nate Davis, appearing remotely, questioned the Board’s recent approval of $10,000 to hire additional assessor staff to pursue a property owner whose taxes allegedly increased by $24,000 between appraisals.
“Why would a person’s taxes go up $24,000 between appraisals? Isn’t that a five or six million dollar increase since the last appraisal?” Davis asked the commissioners. “None of you asked about that before approving the $10,000.”
Davis went further, questioning the competency of assessor’s office employees and suggesting that such a dramatic valuation discrepancy raises concerns about whether the county’s assessment practices are accurate or potentially predatory.
“Are the employees that you manage, because you are responsible for the employees at the assessor’s office, so incompetent that they could be off five or six million dollars in their last appraisal?” Davis stated.
The commissioners did not respond to Davis’s comments during the public comment period, following their standard practice of not engaging in dialogue during that portion of the meeting.
Airport Safety Takes Center Stage
A significant portion of the meeting focused on improvements to Grand County’s airports, specifically addressing displaced threshold installations at one of the county facilities. The discussion revealed both safety concerns and funding challenges facing the airport system.
David Buckley, Road and Bridge Superintendent, and Dennis (last name uncertain from transcript), engaged in an extensive discussion with the commissioners about implementing displaced thresholds — safety features that effectively shorten usable runway length to avoid obstacles.
The commissioners appeared to reach consensus on prioritizing work on the West End of the runway, with plans to combine it with a blast fence project already scheduled for 2026.
“I think that’s about as well said as we can do. So ultimately do both, but I think start with the West End, work on that, keep an eye on what we need to do on the East End,” one commissioner stated during deliberations.
Economic and Safety Considerations
The airport discussion highlighted multiple factors beyond immediate safety concerns. Officials noted that improved airport capacity has direct economic benefits for Grand County and could serve as a staging area for firefighting aircraft to assist neighboring Summit County during wildfire season.
“There is an economic value in bringing more traffic into the airports. The airports play a critical factor in our economy here,” Buckley told commissioners, while emphasizing the need to “juggle funds responsibly.”
Staff proposed having consulting engineers design the most economical option for a B2 class displaced threshold to provide concrete cost estimates before proceeding with the project. However, questions arose about whether design work would be provided without charge.
“I’m looking for a freebie on a design,” one official stated, though concerns were raised that consultants typically charge for design services even if those costs are later reimbursed through Federal Aviation Administration grants.
Officials indicated they plan to explore grant opportunities and will return to the Board with a specific timeline and cost estimates for the project.
Budget Considerations
Finance Director Alina Bell presented the Board with a draft budget message for the 2026 fiscal year, which will show a deficit largely attributed to Certificate of Participation (COP) expenses. The budget message will accompany the final budget submission to the state.
The Board approved weekly vouchers totaling $999,915.54, including notable payments of $578,000 for the second interest payment on COPs to BOK Financial, $168,915.20 to Colorado Lining International for landfill liner installation, and $66,775.08 to the District Attorney’s office for monthly expenses.
Commissioner Merrit Linke commended the county’s support of local businesses, noting numerous payments to local hardware stores and auto parts suppliers in the check register. He also questioned why the county maintains so many separate accounts with Mountain Parks Electric, learning that each meter at various county facilities requires its own account.
Agenda Modifications and Canceled Executive Session
The Board made several agenda changes at the meeting’s start, pulling items related to the Housing Authority’s SSA Service Windows Contract and the Community Development Master Plan Contract with Logan Simpson. They also added an item to appoint an alternate for the Board of Adjustment.
A scheduled executive session regarding collective bargaining was canceled, with County Attorney Chris Leahy stating he did not have sufficient information to warrant meeting in closed session at that time. The item was moved to the following week’s agenda.
The meeting adjourned at 11:33 a.m.
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*The next Grand County Board of County Commissioners meeting is scheduled for November 12, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. at the Administration Building, 308 Byers Avenue, Hot Sulphur Springs. The public may attend in person or remotely via Zoom.*
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