The Fremont County Board of County Commissioners approved a $55,980 contract with Synergy Disaster Recovery to update the county’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan before its October 2026 FEMA expiration date, gave final approval to revised on-site wastewater treatment regulations, and proclaimed May 2026 as Foster Care Awareness Month at their April 28 regular meeting in Cañon City. The board also approved a new behavioral health transportation license and vehicle permit for Lima Transportation LLC, ratified two Fremont County Airport lease renewals with the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, approved minutes from the April 14 meeting, and approved bills totaling $3,467,224.84. Commissioners Debbie Bell, Dwayne McFall, and Kevin Grantham voted unanimously on every item. No public hearings were scheduled.
Hazard Mitigation Plan Contract
FEMA requires counties to update their Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plans every five years. Fremont County’s current plan, developed with Synergy’s help in 2021, expires in October 2026. County Attorney Eric Bellas told the board the existing plan was strong enough that the county issued an invitation to bids rather than a full request for proposals, inviting contractors to build on what already exists. One bid came in response.
Synergy Disaster Recovery of Lafayette proposed a fixed-price contract not to exceed $55,980, covering all labor and travel. The company’s timeline calls for a kickoff meeting in May, plan drafting through July, public review in August, and submission to the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management before the plan expires. Commissioner McFall, who noted he was missing a FEMA reform task force meeting in Washington, D.C., to attend Tuesday’s session, said an updated hazard mitigation plan makes it substantially easier for a county to access federal disaster recovery funds when a natural disaster strikes. The board approved the contract unanimously.
Wastewater Treatment Regulations Finalized
The board gave final approval to revised On-Site Wastewater Treatment System regulations, completing a process that began with a public hearing April 14. Building Official Wyatt Sanders reported his office received no additional public comments or complaints in the two weeks since that hearing. County Attorney Bellas noted the board also sits as the Fremont County Board of Health under C.R.S. 25-1508-2C and could adopt the regulations in that capacity; a Board of Health meeting was also scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
The regulations align local standards with state amendments to OWTS Regulation 43 adopted in June 2025. Local agencies had one year to adopt revised rules. The board voted unanimously to approve.
Foster Care Awareness Month
Molly Willard, who supervises kinship and foster programs at the Fremont County Department of Human Services, presented the proclamation and told commissioners the county currently has five traditional foster homes and seven kinship foster homes. Foster parents themselves plan to hold community Q&A sessions in Cañon City through May, with DHS staff attending to answer questions from prospective families.
The proclamation cited 2025 data showing Fremont County achieved permanency rates of 80–100% for children in care up to 23 months, against a national standard of 43.6%, and rates of 50–75% for children in care 24 months or more, against a national standard of 30.3%. Kinship providers accounted for more than 40–50% of family-like placements throughout 2025, and the county kept siblings together at a rate of 77–100%. Residents interested in becoming foster parents can call 719-275-2318. The board approved the proclamation unanimously.
Behavioral Health Transportation License Approved
The board approved a Class B Secure Transportation Service License and a Type 2 vehicle permit for Lima Transportation LLC. County Attorney Bellas explained that Class B licenses cover behavioral health transport without physical restraints, while Type 2 vehicle permits apply to vehicles without a partition between driver and passenger. The three-year license runs from April 28, 2026, through April 27, 2029. The one-year vehicle permit covers a 2014 Toyota Sienna and expires April 27, 2027.
Administrative Reports
County Clerk Justin Grantham reported total motor vehicle fees, sales taxes, and recording fees collected in March reached $1,386,670.82. Fremont County’s share for disbursement was $720,923.87, representing 52% of total fees — $37,920.60 less than March 2025. Year to date, the clerk’s office is up $27,461.82 compared to the same period last year. Commissioner McFall noted for the audience that the year-to-date increase reflects total collections across all sources, not a direct increase in county revenue.
Public Trustee Kathy Elliott reported 316 deeds of trust released and 19 foreclosures initiated in the first quarter — two more than the same period in 2025. Of the 19 new foreclosures, 12 are in Cañon City, five in Florence, and two in Penrose. Elliott said a Hampton Inn property is expected to sell at foreclosure next month, and that trailer park properties in foreclosure have a deadline approaching in July.
County Administrator Tony Carochi announced that the Department of Transportation will apply mag chloride dust suppressant to approximately 44.75 miles of county roads beginning May 4, covering more than a dozen roads countywide. He also announced an HVAC replacement project at the Fremont Combined Courts Judicial Building at 136 Justice Center Road, with sealed proposals due by 2 p.m. May 14 through BidNet Direct; the project is supported by a state Underfunded Courthouse Facility Cash Fund Commission grant. On May 9, Amrize will accept up to 15 used passenger car tires per vehicle for disposal at Portland Park from 8 a.m. to noon.
Primary Election Information
During the citizen comment period, County Clerk Justin Grantham addressed the board in his official capacity to provide primary election information. He said the June primary will involve four ballots — Republican, Democratic, Unity Party, and Libertarian. The Libertarian Party closed its primary to unaffiliated voters; the Unity Party’s primary is open but requires in-person voting for unaffiliated voters. Ballots mail June 8. Voting centers open June 22. The deadline to change party affiliation for affiliated voters is June 8. Voters can update their information at govotecolorado.gov or in person at the Clerk’s office.
Blossom Festival Court
The board welcomed 2026 Blossom Festival Queen Olivia Landry, First Attendant Zafa Koehn, and Second Attendant Olivia Brady to open the new business portion of the meeting. The three described a week of events including a band competition Wednesday, choir Thursday, and a Saturday parade on Main Street between Third and 14th streets featuring 24 marching bands and more than 100 entries. The festival theme is “Stars Over the Rockies,” celebrating Colorado’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s 250th. The Clusterduck music event runs Saturday evening with gates opening at 3:30 p.m.
Commissioner Reports
Commissioner McFall urged residents to conserve water amid continuing drought and warned that all fire districts and surrounding counties are under fire restrictions. He said representatives from Cañon City and Florence will appear at the next board meeting to present their water restriction plans.
Commissioner Grantham reported that the Combined Regional Communications Authority — known as CIRCA — received dual Accredited Center of Excellence designation simultaneously for both emergency medical and emergency fire dispatching from the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, presented at the 2026 Navigator Conference. He said CIRCA is the only Colorado agency to achieve dual accreditation at the same time. Grantham recognized CIRCA Executive Director Angela Clawson, Deputy Director Lindsay Hubbard, and dispatcher Alex Henry, along with the full CIRCA team.
Grantham also highlighted a historical flag display installed in the county administration building in recognition of Colorado’s 150th anniversary and the nation’s 250th, assembled by Office Administrator Kathy Lutz. He said school groups are scheduled to tour the building and the display on May 11.
Grantham also addressed Senate Bill 135, pending in the Colorado legislature, which he said would move the TABOR revenue cap upward and retain an estimated $37.5 billion in taxpayer refunds over the next 10 years. He characterized the bill as the largest tax increase in state history, framed as an education measure, and urged residents to vote against it if it reaches the November ballot.
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