Custer County commissioners ratified Stage 2 fire restrictions at their March 25 meeting, formalizing rules Sheriff Rich Smith had issued March 19 following several recent fires, including the Buttermilk Fire that forced evacuations and a welding fire on Haven Road in which the operator was charged with a felony. The board approved purchasing seven vehicles from Chaffee County for $56,000, adopted updated cell phone and procurement policies, appropriated $5,000 for vehicle financing, and ratified FY27 Congressional Directed Funding requests totaling $1,711,930.
Fire Restrictions and Enforcement
Commissioner Lucas Epp introduced the fire restrictions item, noting the county is in a tenuous period with Stage 2 restrictions in effect during red flag wind warnings. The Stage 2 order prohibits open fires, campfires, charcoal grills, fireworks, explosive targets, model rockets, and outdoor smoking except inside enclosed vehicles or buildings. Internal combustion engines must have a properly installed, functioning spark arrester, and all previously issued burn permits are revoked. The restrictions apply to county and BLM lands but not U.S. Forest Service lands.
Some activities remain allowed under strict safety requirements. Indoor fireplaces and wood-burning stoves are permitted inside buildings. Gas-fueled appliances are allowed only at developed campgrounds, picnic grounds, or private residences, with three-foot clearance of flammable materials and flame lengths not exceeding two feet. Outdoor welding requires a 30-foot cleared area, a dedicated fire watch, and immediate access to a fire extinguisher or water supply.
Commissioners noted the seriousness of violations, citing the welder responsible for the Haven Road fire — which burned approximately one acre — who originally received a $250 ticket before authorities reviewed the circumstances and filed felony charges. The restrictions created an immediate practical problem: a cattle guard on Oak Creek Grade damaged when a vehicle struck it cannot be welded back in place under current restrictions, forcing a temporary detour while it is removed and repaired off-site.
Commissioners urged all residents to sign up for the Everbridge emergency alert system. During the Buttermilk Fire, some evacuated residents had not enrolled and had to be located door-to-door, putting posse members and firefighters at risk.
Emergency Response Coordination
The Buttermilk Fire drew a coordinated response from the fire department, sheriff’s office, road and bridge department, and volunteers. Air assets freed up following a Fremont County fire were dispatched to assist, allowing aerial water drops on ridges inaccessible to ground crews. Commissioners praised the overall response.
Emergency Management Coordinator Robyn Knappe also commended the county’s response, specifically crediting the assignment of Reggie Foster as Public Information Officer. She noted strong community feedback from a town hall held the second day of the fire, which brought together representatives from the electric company, the fire chief, and the sheriff’s office. An after-action review will be scheduled for next week.
Vehicle Fleet Modernization
The board approved Resolution 26-19, purchasing seven vehicles from Chaffee County at $8,000 each — below estimated values of $10,000 to $12,000 per vehicle — secured through a group purchase arrangement. The vehicles consist of a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe, two 2019 Ford F-150s, two 2019 Rams, one additional Chevrolet Tahoe, and one additional Ford F-150, all with between 100,000 and 115,000 miles. Three will serve general county operations; four go to the sheriff’s office.
An audience member asked about the estimated vehicle values during discussion. Commissioners confirmed the $10,000 to $12,000 range and said the group purchase arrangement reduced the per-unit price. The board also approved $14,371.91 to Watts Upfitting to outfit the vehicles. The sheriff’s office plans to sell a Jeep Patriot received free from the military to offset up to $5,000 of those upfitting costs.
Resolution 26-20 appropriated $5,000 from the Capital Improvement Fund to the Sheriff’s Office Capital Outlay line as a down payment on vehicle financing, bringing the sheriff’s capital outlay budget to $40,000 for 2026. Commissioners noted the county is compiling a list of older vehicles to sell, reducing insurance and liability costs while the vehicles still carry resale value.
Road Equipment Needs
Commissioners flagged the need for a workshop to address road grader replacement. The county owns two graders; the older unit has cost approximately $20,000 per year in maintenance, though recent work — including turbos and other major components — puts its estimated local resale value at $80,000. A used grader from Chaffee County is available for $200,000 and expected to be ready by late May. The board will schedule a workshop to evaluate purchase and financing options.
Commissioners also reported that the Colorado Petroleum Storage Fund is expected to reimburse $10,000 following a February 5 tank leak at road and bridge that required $12,000 in inspection and remediation. The reimbursement will be applied to the road and bridge fund.
Financial Reports
Treasurer Virginia Trujillo reported the General Fund opened January 2026 at $8,998,585.56 and closed the month at $8,811,991.84. The road and bridge fund ended January at $886,706 after spending $26,359.66 during the month.
Commissioners approved $161,059.89 in accounts payable. Major items included McFarland Oil for fuel ($32,719.35), Valley Fence and Fabrication for landfill pit fencing ($14,040), Four Rivers for a grader blade ($11,747), CenturyLink for phone lines ($6,176.03), Maritain for health insurance claims ($7,498.92), Custer County CSU Extension for the 2026 Conservation Trust Fund award ($7,500), and Revenue Them for February finance services ($5,250).
The board ratified FY27 Congressional Directed Funding requests totaling $1,711,930 across four categories, originally approved at a prior meeting but requiring formal ratification. Potential awards could reach up to half the requested amount.
Policy Updates
Resolution 26-21 amended the county’s cell phone policy to require the Everbridge emergency alert application on all county-issued mobile devices, with employees required to remain signed in at all times. The policy also authorizes the county to provide security devices when employees need them to meet multifactor authentication requirements.
Resolution 26-22 amended the county’s procurement policy for federal grant compliance following a subrecipient monitoring visit. Updates require checking SAM.gov to confirm vendors are not debarred and printing verification screens for documentation, prohibit cost-plus-percentage contracts on federal work, and require analysis of lease versus purchase options.
The board removed Resolution 26-23 from the agenda before the meeting began.
Administrative Updates
BOCC Administrator Katlyn Wommack reported the county’s new website will launch next week after reorganization of agenda and minutes archive files. The county is converting email from Gmail to Microsoft for security and cost savings. The sheriff’s office SAM.gov account was updated for another year, with plans to consolidate two existing accounts into one.
Commissioner Paul Vogelsong announced weekly office hours beginning the first of the month, Wednesdays from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Wetmore Community Center Library, focusing on fire information and community outreach.
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