Eagle County commissioners approved two airport technology upgrades and appointed property tax hearing officers Tuesday during a regular meeting that also featured a Holy Cross Energy briefing on grid capacity for a fully electrified future.
Commissioners sitting as the Eagle County Air Terminal Corporation unanimously approved a framework agreement with AeroCloud Systems for a common-use passenger processing system at the Eagle County Regional Airport. The system allows airlines to operate from any gate rather than assigned gates, and also integrates baggage and boarding functions. IT Project Manager Amanda Bay, who managed the procurement, said passengers would notice no disruption. The board also approved a separate agreement with Zephyr Colorado, doing business as PSI, to replace the airport terminal’s original 1986 boilers with high-efficiency units.
Sitting as the County Board of Equalization, commissioners unanimously approved a resolution appointing two outside hearing officers to manage the 2026 second-round property tax appeal process. Executive Coordinator Rea Silvercorn said this is an off-year cycle, covering new construction and major renovations, requiring only two hearing officers. Commissioners extended thanks to both appointees.
On the consent agenda, commissioners approved 12 items without discussion after brief explanations on two. Open Space Natural Resource Director Marcia Gillis described a management MOU for Three Meadows Ranch, a property purchased in February 2025 in partnership with Pitkin County and Aspen Valley Land Trust, noting upcoming work includes wildlife-friendly fence replacement to benefit elk habitat. Staff member Jesse Masson explained a recycling drop-site relocation from its current Town of Gypsum location to the county’s Maintenance Service Center property, citing better oversight of a site that has experienced chronic dumping problems.
Holy Cross Energy President Brian Hannigan told commissioners in an afternoon work session that the utility currently delivers power at 11 cents per kilowatt hour and reached 85% carbon-free generation in 2025, hitting 94% year-to-date. He said existing substation infrastructure county-wide carries capacity well above the projected 20% demand growth through 2035, with transformer upgrades already planned for Wolcott and Eagle. Hannigan noted the Gypsum-area Cooley Mesa substation represents the one location where forecast growth will require a second transformer, already scheduled for 2030.
During constituent input, Eagle residents voiced opposition to a proposed pickleball court project near the geothermal site. Commissioners confirmed no decisions have been made and that a formal public land-use process would follow if the project advances.
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