Fremont County commissioners awarded a nearly $1 million contract Tuesday to replace the aging heating and cooling units at the county’s judicial building, with roughly half the cost covered by a state grant the county competed hard to secure. The board also approved an expansion of a Penrose cannabis cultivation operation and heard that county fee collections are running more than $156,000 behind last April’s pace.
The board voted 3-0 to award Freedom Mechanical a $997,000 contract to replace five rooftop units at the Fremont County Judicial Building. County Engineer Sam Cocchia told commissioners the units were installed during original construction and have reached the end of their service life. Four bids came in when they opened May 19, and staff recommended Freedom Mechanical as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. The contract covers Option 1, which uses custom units designed to fit the building’s existing roof curbs, avoiding the more disruptive modifications a standard-unit approach would require.
Director of Facilities Randy Toler said the custom units carry a 12-week lead time from order, compared to 30 weeks for the alternative, and the project must be finished by December 31. He said installation should begin in late July or early August, with each of the five units taking roughly three to five days to swap out, putting anticipated completion near the end of September or early October. Commissioner Bell noted that roughly half the project cost is covered by a state underfunded courthouse grant, that the county competed against more than $10 million in requests for those dollars, and that Toler had traveled to Denver on his own time to present the application in person.
Pure Medical Expansion Approved
Commissioners unanimously approved a modification of premises for Pure Medical LLC’s optional premises cultivation license at 44 8th Street in Penrose, expanding the fenced perimeter by approximately 1.17 acres, adding a refrigeration unit, and increasing the licensed grow area. The operation has held an active OPC license since 2014 and employs 16 people.
A company representative told the board the expansion is driven by operational needs more than production ambitions — bringing water tanks, storage buildings, and equipment inside the secured fence line and improving site efficiency. He said a water tap limitation imposed by the Penrose Water District will cap actual plant counts well below the licensed maximum of 6,000, with realistic capacity closer to 800 to 1,000 plants. The refrigeration unit supports a fresh-frozen product line for which market demand has grown as other regional grows have shut down.
Commissioner McFall asked whether the operation had been in recent contact with Penrose Water District Manager Ron Gasser given current drought conditions and the district’s potential move toward restrictions. The representative said he stays in regular contact with Gasser, that the operation uses a drip irrigation system engineered for maximum efficiency, and that he retains the ability to haul water if restrictions are imposed. Commissioner Bell said the optics of restricting residential drinking water while a cannabis operation continues irrigating concern her. Senior Planning Coordinator Danielle Adamic reported that Planning and Zoning had received no public complaints against the operation in years and no negative agency referrals on the modification application. Commissioners closed the public hearing with no public comment and approved the modification 3-0.
Clerk’s Report Shows Revenue Decline
County Clerk Justin Grantham reported that total motor vehicle fees, sales taxes, and recording fees collected in April 2026 reached $1,312,859, with Fremont County’s disbursement share at $684,086 — 52 percent of the total and $156,048 less than April 2025. Year-to-date, the office is running $128,586 behind last year’s pace. Grantham said the figures are tracking in line with the budget, which was built to anticipate a softer year. Commissioners accepted the report 3-0.
The board approved a consent agenda that included the May 12 meeting minutes, $3,225,161 in bills, ratification of the chair’s signature on a CDOT grant agreement for an unleaded fuel tank at the county airport, and ratification of the chair’s signature on an Alera Group master services agreement for employee benefits consulting.
Commissioner Remarks
Grant Adkisson of Canyon Cowboy Church delivered the invocation at the opening of the meeting.
Commissioner McFall reported that the county has dropped from Stage 2 to Stage 1 fire restrictions following recent moisture, but said conditions remain dry and volatile and urged residents to remain careful outdoors.
Commissioner Grantham devoted his remarks to two subjects. On the legislative session, he described what he called a maneuver by the state legislature to neutralize a citizen initiative that would have directed transportation-related fees toward road projects. He said House Bill 1430 reduced fuel taxes, vehicle registration fees, and road usage fees — ordinarily welcome — but did so in tandem with Senate Bill 135, which he said allows the state to retain revenue above the TABOR cap. Without House Bill 1430, he said, the initiative would have generated approximately $690 million for roads in 2028, $714 million in 2029, and $740 million in 2030. With it, he said, those figures drop to zero across all three years.
Grantham also raised Governor Polis’ May 15 commutation of Brandin Kreuzer, who was convicted of shooting Douglas County Deputy Todd Tucker during a 2008 crime spree and sentenced to 50 years in prison. Kreuzer served approximately 15 years and became eligible for parole June 1. Grantham said the commutation received less attention than another clemency granted the same day but called it reprehensible, and noted that Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly and the district attorney held a press conference disputing the factual basis of the governor’s clemency letter.
Commissioner Bell reported that a brick dedication ceremony the previous Wednesday at the Colonel Leo Sidney Boston War Memorial Park added 48 newly inscribed bricks, bringing the park’s total to nearly 2,000 veterans’ names. Bricks honoring veterans with ties to Fremont County remain available for $75 through the Veterans Service Office at 615 Macon Avenue, Room 203, or by calling 719-276-7400.
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