Archuleta County commissioners approved nearly $850,000 in road infrastructure projects, awarded a contract for a comprehensive community plan update, and directed $265,779 in federal school funding to Pagosa Springs public schools at their April 7 regular meeting. The board also approved $40,000 in workforce housing assistance, ratified a free Wi-Fi agreement for county facilities, passed five community proclamations, and entered executive session for legal advice before adjourning at 4:14 p.m. Commissioners Warren Brown, John Ranson, and Veronica Medina were present.
Public Comment
Mark Weiler of Pagosa Springs addressed the board during public comment, urging commissioners to push back against unfunded government mandates. Weiler said county finances are under increasing pressure and encouraged the board to spend future funds more wisely than it had in recent years.
Road and Infrastructure Projects
The board approved three road-related projects totaling more than $849,000. Commissioners awarded the Pines Drive Resurfacing Project to Strohecker Asphalt — the lower of two bids received — for $502,808.80. Oldcastle Southwest Group submitted the competing bid of $571,994.
Commissioners also approved paving the remaining 0.3-mile section of Cloman Boulevard using Strohecker Asphalt for up to $240,404.45. The county received a private donation to pave the parking lot at Cloman Park, and paving the connecting boulevard section was recommended to protect the newly paved lot, with potential cost savings since the contractor will already be on site.
The board additionally approved a grant agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service for Emergency Watershed Protection Program Project No. 5097, targeting river bank stabilization and erosion control along County Road 500. Public Works Director Mike Torres said ongoing erosion also threatens a tribal gas line running above the roadway. The total construction cost is $827,682, with NRCS funding 75%. The county’s local match is not to exceed $106,295, though Torres noted state reimbursement of 12.5% — if approved — could reduce the county’s direct cost to approximately $53,147. Commissioner Medina asked for clarification on what projects the county was committing to before the board approved the item. The county fronts the cost and is reimbursed.
Community Plan Update
Commissioners voted 2-1, with Commissioner Medina dissenting, to award the Archuleta County Comprehensive Community Plan Update to HRM, one of three firms that submitted proposals by the March 6 deadline. The other bidders were Matrix and SEH. County Manager Longinos Gonzalez Jr. noted the contract is valued at $140,000, but $87,500 in combined DOLA grants — including Fast Track Incentive Funding the county recently qualified for by adopting a Proposition 123-compliant expedited review policy — reduces the county’s direct cost to approximately $57,500. Commissioner Ranson asked for clarification on the net county cost before the vote.
Schools and Housing Funding
Finance Director Chad Eaton explained that under the Secure Rural Schools Act, any dollars the county directs to roads are deducted dollar-for-dollar from future federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes funding, meaning a roads allocation provides no net county benefit. Commissioners voted 2-1 to direct 100% of the county’s 2026 SRS disbursement — $265,779.69 received from the state on March 23 — to Pagosa Springs public schools.
The board approved a $40,000 request from the Archuleta County Workforce Housing Development Fund to the Pagosa Springs Community Development Corporation for utility connection costs. A participating special district is contributing approximately $45,000, and the Town of Pagosa Springs is waiving related fees. Commissioners also approved a letter to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs amending the county’s Local Planning Capacity grant agreement to direct $25,000 in Fast Track Incentive Funding toward wages for the Multi-Jurisdictional Housing Coordinator, and adopted Resolution 2026-29 authorizing the county manager to execute that agreement.
Proclamations
The board unanimously passed five proclamations. Heidi Martinez, Department of Human Services Director, presented the proclamation designating April 2026 as Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Month. Carmen Lewis, Executive Director of Rise Above Violence, presented the Sexual Assault Awareness Month proclamation, noting the organization is marking its 30th anniversary of service to the community. Ashley Wilson, Public Health Director, presented the Public Health Week proclamation for April 6-12. Jean Murray presented the International Dark Sky Week proclamation for April 13-20, highlighting that Chimney Rock National Monument holds a certified dark sky park designation. Vanessa Skean of Healthy Archuleta presented the Archuleta Food Summit Day proclamation for April 18, with the summit to be held at Pagosa Springs High School.
Other Business
The Board of Adjustment approved Resolution 2026-02, granting a land use variance for Laura Ochoa representing Cues and Brews. The Liquor Board approved the retail license renewal for Pagosa Liquor Inc. after the establishment served a mandatory suspension from March 13-16 and remitted required fines following a 2025 violation.
The consent agenda included free Wi-Fi agreements with 0Wire Communications, LLC for the county’s CSU Extension office and fairgrounds — with a 30% revenue share from the vendor’s billboard sales — a $1,500 conference sponsorship on a request from CSU Extension Director Cindi Galabota for the National Association of County Agriculture Agents annual conference in Denver in July, professional services with Short Elliott Hendrickson for landfill engineering and environmental monitoring up to $80,000, consolidation of three lots in Lake Forest Estates into one for Catherine L. and Lincoln E. Frye III, letters of support for Habitat for Humanity, Healthy Archuleta’s food hub grant request, and Colorado’s participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus Request for Information, a CBI grant providing the Sheriff’s Office four mobile ID devices for SORNA implementation, and an airport hangar lease assignment from Kenneth Tooker to C&J Hangars, LLC.
Commissioners entered executive session at 2:50 p.m. for legal advice on pre-litigation and litigation matters under C.R.S. 24-6-402(4)(b), reconvened at 4:14 p.m., and adjourned with no additional business.
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