Eagle County commissioners presented a three-year strategic plan during the annual State of the County address Tuesday, committing to 280 price-capped housing units and launching regional housing authority talks with Avon. The board unanimously approved a $50,000 General Assistance Program for residents in financial crisis and adopted the first supplemental budget for fiscal year 2026. Commissioners Tom Boyd, Matt Scherr and Jeanne McQueeney outlined three strategic priorities through 2028: Pursue Organizational Excellence, Promote Thriving Communities, and Protect Mountain Ecosystem. The plan includes measurable outcomes with six-month progress reviews.
Strategic Plan Framework
Chair Tom Boyd presented the strategic plan developed with county staff and community input. The plan includes 11 specific high-priority goals over three years with measurable outcomes.
County Manager Jeff Shroll said the county rejected a “wait-and-see approach” in favor of tangible goals with regular public progress tracking. Chief Financial Officer Joe Klosterman emphasized the need to prioritize, stating that “if everything’s a priority, then actually nothing becomes a priority.”
Boyd stated the county wants “a government that works as hard as you work for your family and for your community.”
Housing Crisis Response
Commissioner Jeanne McQueeney presented the county’s housing strategy, noting that housing costs now exceed childcare costs. The county’s 2025 Housing Needs Assessment shows a current shortage of 2,600 workforce housing units with a projected need for 6,300 additional units over the next decade.
McQueeney stated that “housing is more than units, leases, and interest rates. Housing is people, and people are community.” The county committed to securing 280 new or preserved permanently price-capped housing units over three years.
The county is leading community conversations with the Town of Avon about creating a regional housing authority. A community survey will launch in late February on the regional housing authority. Land use regulation updates are underway to support housing policy changes.
Workforce Development Initiative
Commissioner Matt Scherr addressed workforce challenges. The county is launching a “Workforce Ecosystem Map” described as a career GPS for the community identifying 20-year job needs.
Scherr stated the county’s commitment that “our strategic priority, promote thriving communities, is our commitment to this amazing place that our guests pay a lot of money to visit, that that place is first a wonderful place to live.”
Resiliency Director Tori Franks and Resiliency Manager Erin McCuskey are leading the workforce development efforts. Officials noted that mid-career professionals are leaving the valley after gaining experience, creating skills and leadership gaps.
Environmental Protection Goals
Marcia Gillis, Director of Open Space and Natural Resources, presented on ecosystem protection priorities. Gillis stated that “when we speak of protecting our mountain ecosystem, we are speaking about protecting the very soul of our community.”
Boyd noted that Eagle County is 80 percent public lands requiring coordinated protection efforts. Officials identified wildfire as the most serious threat facing county communities. Boyd said federal staffing changes have created gaps in ground-level management.
The county is developing new conservation partnership frameworks for landscape-scale management across public lands.
Administrative Actions
The board unanimously approved Ordinance 2026-01 creating a $50,000 General Assistance Program for residents in financial crisis. The board also adopted Resolution 2026-011, the first supplemental budget for fiscal year 2026.
Other Business
Heath Harmon from Public Health & Environment presented updates on the Aging Well Road Map. A final presentation is scheduled for February 10 at 2:30 p.m.
Assessor Mark Chapin announced his retirement after serving since 2007. The County Surveyor position is vacant following a 20-year veteran’s retirement.
Governor Jared Polis provided a video message stating that “our counties are such an important part of Colorado’s makeup and our partnership is a key part of the work that we need to do.”
Elected officials in attendance included Becky Close (Clerk and Recorder), Kara Bettis (Coroner), James Van Beek (Sheriff), and Teague Simonton (Treasurer and Public Trustee). Municipal representatives attended from Eagle, Gypsum, Edwards and mid-valley communities, along with representatives from Habitat for Humanity, Vail Health, and Senator Bennett’s office.
Public Engagement
The county scheduled six-month strategic plan progress reviews. Board of County Commissioners meetings are held Mondays at the Eagle County Building.
Community members can participate in the Regional Housing Authority survey, attend land use regulation update meetings, and engage with the Aging Well Road Map presentation on February 10. Businesses can connect with Tori Franks about housing partnerships and Erin McCuskey about workforce development.
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. 