High Country Advocate Staff Report
SALIDA — The Chaffee County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, November 12, 2025, swearing in two new county officials and voting down a controversial wildfire mitigation project amendment after extensive public opposition. Commissioners P.T. Wood (Chair), Gina Lucrezi, and Dave Armstrong were present.
The board unanimously appointed and swore in Janie Williams as County Assessor and Jolene Ellis as County Treasurer. County Clerk Lori Mitchell administered both oaths of office. Outgoing Treasurer Dee Dee Copper addressed the board about the transition process.
Public Comments on Hostel Operations and Planning Procedures
During the general public comment period, Logan Opsahl addressed the board about an unlicensed lodging business known as the Monarch Butterfly House hostel. Opsahl described ongoing issues including late-night parties, loud speakers, concerts, and food trucks affecting the residential rural zoned area. The complaint stated that operator Shane Corrigan runs the facility without proper permits, fire safety inspections, or compliance with local zoning laws. The property also hosts camping with people living in school buses, campers, vans, trucks, and sheds, raising health and safety concerns about inadequate sanitation and waste disposal.
Patricia Duncan raised procedural concerns regarding the Arkansas Valley Sports Group rezoning. Duncan filed a procedural complaint on September 3 against the Community Planning and Natural Resources Director, identifying six administrative lapses including defective notice, missing traffic and road referrals, and incomplete state and water reviews. Duncan requested the board exercise its call-up authority under Land Use Code 5214.2 to review the director’s failure to issue required determinations, emphasizing this would not reopen the rezoning decision but ensure procedural compliance.
Library Board Appointments Moved to Regular Business
At the meeting’s opening, Wood requested moving Resolution 2025-54, which makes appointments to the Salida Regional Library Board of Trustees, from the consent agenda to regular business. Wood explained that library district jurisdictions are divided geographically. Since Wood is not part of the Salida Regional Library jurisdiction, the resolution was moved to allow proper voting procedures.
Fee Reduction Policy Continued
Discussion of a proposed County Fee Reduction and Waiver Policy was continued to December 4.
Methodist Front Amendment Denied After Public Opposition
The board unanimously voted down a Common Ground grant amendment that would have spent $162,600 on tree mastication in Droney Gulch after six speakers opposed the project.
The amendment sought to use remaining funds from the completed 2020-2021 Methodist Front project—$88,000 in Common Ground money plus $74,600 in unspent Congressional Delegate Spending matching funds—for pinion-juniper mastication covering 120 to 320 acres. The Citizens Advisory Committee voted 5-2 to approve.
Speakers argued mastication is ineffective and counterproductive. Residents near the original Methodist Front project reported it created worse conditions—cheatgrass infestations, wood chip piles, and increased ladder fuels. One recounted a state forester at the original project’s contractor meeting allegedly saying the work “won’t stop a fire, but the public just needs to see something done” to fulfill Envision funding quotas.
A forester said masticated areas burn hotter because fuel becomes continuous on the ground and firefighting is harder due to debris. Speakers contended brush and grass carry fire, not live trees, questioning why healthy trees are removed.
An ecologist noted Droney Gulch contains globally imperiled Brandegee’s wild buckwheat. She cited research on 1,500 Western fires showing forests with more logging burn more intensely, and that mastication destroys soil crust that prevents cheatgrass while demolishing wildlife habitat requiring decades to recover.
Commissioners cited concerns despite the CAC’s 5-2 approval vote, with one noting it didn’t demonstrate sufficient confidence. Another preferred redirecting funds to land acquisitions. The motion to deny passed unanimously, with future support requiring specific purposes, sound reasoning, and robust mitigation plans. Staff will present public comments to the CAC for policy updates.
BLM Conservation Rule Support
The board ratified Chaffee County’s opposition to the Bureau of Land Management’s proposed rescission of the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule. The letter argued the rule provides critical tools for maintaining productive, multiple-use public lands and that rescission would weaken BLM’s ability to manage for ecological health and mitigate drought, wildfire, degradation, invasive species, and habitat loss.
Commissioners strongly opposed reversing rules that placed conservation and wildlife protection on equal footing with development. One commissioner referenced another proposal to remove tribal authority over hydroelectric projects on tribal lands, describing it as an attack on indigenous peoples’ lands.
Transportation and Contracts
The board discussed a Colorado Department of Transportation Intergovernmental Agreement requesting $143,000 in local cost-share for the Bustang Outrider second route serving Chaffee and Gunnison counties. CDOT’s October request came months after the February 2025 route launch. Helmke cited budget challenges and need for better ridership data. Initial data shows 900-person ridership increase, about 25 percent over last year, with roughly 50 percent disembarking in Chaffee County.
The board approved a service contract with Rocky Mountain Behavioral Health, Inc. for drug and alcohol treatment services as part of a tri-county arrangement.
Other Business
Commissioners recognized the land use code team for receiving an American Planning Association award, praising the code’s adaptability despite implementation challenges.
Regarding the ongoing budget process, commissioners emphasized examining spending to improve operations. They praised Finance Director Dan Short’s team for positioning the county to weather challenges, noting not every Colorado government is in similar financial condition.
Consent Agenda Items
The board approved consent agenda items including bills, the 2026 Holiday Schedule, Board of Health Resolution 2025-03 on wastewater systems, the Treasurer’s third quarter report, support for a water conservation grant, Common Ground funds for the Rec Rangers Program, a DOLA REDI grant amendment, and monthly reports from the Sheriff’s Office and Veteran’s Service Officer.
Fire Ordinance Continued
County Ordinance 2025-03 restricting open fires and burning in unincorporated areas was continued to December 16. Wade Forster attended public comment to speak on the ordinance but was informed of the continuance.
Silver Cliff Ranch Hearing Continued
A public hearing for the Silver Cliff Ranch Conditional Use Permit continued from November 4. The application seeks approval for nonconforming pre-existing use as a rural resort. The hearing was continued to allow completion of road and fire access analysis.
Executive Session
The board entered executive session for legal advice on Cooper v. Chaffee County, Case No. 2025CV30045. No decisions were made.
Community Notes
Commissioners highlighted the high school soccer team’s regional final appearance that evening at Western State and mentioned the Northern Lights display the previous evening.
Support Independent Local Journalism — High Country Advocate was created as a real alternative to regional media that too often silences dissenting voices while taking sides in the political struggle. Producing in-depth, unflinching reporting like this series and others is expensive: servers, editing, research time, and legal review all add up quickly. If these articles have informed you or given you new perspective, please consider supporting HCA with a paid subscription — every subscriber helps keep this reporting strong and independent. 