The Custer County Board of County Commissioners approved accounts payable totaling $168,623.44, authorized air conditioning units for two county offices, and heard commissioner updates on the SilverWest Airport, the proposed Justice Center, and a potential boundary expansion for the West Custer County Hospital District at its May 27, 2026, regular meeting in Westcliffe. The board approved the minutes of its May 20 meeting without amendment. The meeting adjourned at 9:19 a.m.
The board voted unanimously to approve accounts payable through May 27. Items above $5,000 included county attorney general file work at $6,393.50; CenturyLink telephone service at $6,186; Burns & McDonnell Engineering for 50 percent of Phase 2 landfill engineering quality assurance work at $8,500; a cooler generator and concrete pad at the airport from GP Power Systems at $11,373; the District Attorney’s June budget at $12,608.49; road and bridge equipment from Four Rivers Equipment at $12,608.49; a pump at $10,534.39; a lodging and tourism advertising campaign through Orange 142 at $5,466.45; and aviation gasoline and taxes from Ascent Aviation Group at $24,615.38. The total approved was $168,623.44.
The board voted unanimously to accept a sole bid from Piñon Plumbing LLC of Westcliffe for $19,500 to install wall-mounted air conditioning units in the assessor’s office and the CSU Extension office. No competing bids were received despite the county’s attempts to solicit them, and the board waived its normal bid policy to approve the contract.
Chairman William Canda told the board the Colorado National Guard will conduct helicopter training exercises at SilverWest Airport on June 4, requiring at least 1,000 gallons of Jet A fuel. He said the airport’s self-service fuel pump currently cannot process military credit cards, and that Airport Manager Clyde Butler and Finance Director Vernon Roth are working to install a Square card reader to allow the Guard to pay by card, with Butler on hand to process transactions. The airport sits at approximately 7,000 feet elevation, which Canda said produces density-altitude conditions equivalent to 13,000 feet on warm days.
Canda reported that the Central Front Range Transportation Planning Region awarded the county $75,000 in additional funding for the courthouse sidewalk project, bringing the total budget to $375,000, and that the project will go out for bid. He said architect firm RJA is assembling preliminary cost estimates for the proposed Justice Center and the board remains on track to place a ballot question before voters by the August deadline.
Commissioner Paul Vogelsong reported that 4-H weigh-ins are underway ahead of the county fair, that the Department of Family Services received a $13,000 federal grant to cover overtime costs, and that the county landfill shipped a load of baled cardboard to a paper plant in Illinois. Commissioner Lucas Epp reported that he and Canda attended a West Custer County Hospital District town hall at the Wetmore Community Center, where the district is considering a ballot measure to expand its service boundary to include residents east of Colorado Highway 165, with a district board vote on the question scheduled for the following day. Epp also said staff are finalizing records for an annual audit beginning June 1. County Attorney Dan Slater said he would attend the county attorneys’ conference in Snowmass the following week.
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