Grand County commissioners approved $746,639 in financing for three motor graders, authorized a first-year peer support mental health program for county first responders at no cost, and reduced groundwater monitoring requirements at Legacy Park Ranch from annual to every five years at their March 17 meeting in Hot Sulphur Springs. The board also received $171,346 in insurance pool rebates, approved $60,300 for two variable message boards with traffic monitoring capabilities, and granted Granby Rotary permission to sell beer and wine at Flying Heels rodeo events this summer.
Insurance Performance Returns $171,346 to County
CTSI representative Dana Foley reported Grand County received $134,155 in equity distribution and $37,191 in interest from the county-owned insurance pools, returning a total of $171,346. Grand County’s workers compensation loss ratio of 0.92 placed it in the lowest tier among pool members, while its liability pool ratio of 0.795 ranked in the second-lowest tier.
The county filed 22 workers compensation claims totaling $226,694 in 2025, with four indemnity claims accounting for $155,233 of that total. Fifteen liability claims cost $70,914, with eight related to vehicle incidents. Over five years, Grand County averaged $7,000 per workers compensation claim and $17,261 per liability claim, both below statewide pool averages.
Foley identified slips, trips and falls as the top loss driver, though 2025 showed improvement. She recommended accident investigation training as the top priority, along with return-to-work programs to reduce lost wage costs and body mechanics training for EMS staff. A new state requirement takes effect July 1, 2026, requiring all ambulance operators to complete formal driver training.
First Responder Mental Health Program Authorized
Commissioners authorized a partnership with Routt County Crisis Support to establish peer-to-peer mental health services for county first responders. The nonprofit will provide clinical oversight, access to an anonymous support app, and assistance standing up the program at no charge for the first year.
Lieutenant Aaron Trainor explained the program connects first responders with peers who have experienced similar trauma, reducing the stigma of seeking help while providing required professional oversight. The service can respond to critical incidents and may eventually help Grand County establish its own nonprofit peer support structure.
Water Quality Monitoring Reduced at Legacy Park Ranch
Commissioners approved reducing groundwater monitoring at Legacy Park Ranch from annual to every five years. Water Resources Manager Katherine Morris reported that 26 years of data showed no discernible trends in nitrate, nitrite, fecal coliform, phosphorus or ammonia levels at the cluster development, which was platted in 1999.
Morris recommended discontinuing surface water monitoring entirely, noting it often proved unproductive due to dry conditions. She explained that two of six monitoring wells showed water flowing into the development from outside sources with worse quality than water found within Legacy Park Ranch itself.
During public comment on the item, Legacy Park resident Daniela Gosselova urged commissioners to keep the monitoring wells in place for future testing and to base decisions on science and data. HOA Treasurer Reeves Brown, who supported reducing the frequency, noted annual monitoring costs the HOA $2,500-$3,000. The HOA may conduct additional independent testing at any time.
Traffic Monitoring Equipment Approved
Commissioners approved purchasing two variable message boards for $60,300, approximately $10,000 over the original estimate. EMS Chief Austin Wingate said the boards include integrated radar and telescoping cameras for remote traffic monitoring, and will help coordinate special events and emergencies following the loss of most CDOT camera access in the county.
Wingate clarified the cameras will not issue citations, read license plates or aggregate personal data, collecting only aggregate speed statistics and providing surveillance capability for emergency management and public safety leaders.
Equipment Financing and Road Operations
The board approved financing three motor graders from John Deere for $746,639 through U.S. Bank at 3.84% interest, with annual payments of $119,089.81 over seven years. The U.S. Bank proposal came in $40,373.76 lower than a competing bid and at a better rate than the county secured last year.
Commissioners also approved $5,300 in travel costs for EMS Chief Wingate and Billing Manager Cordelia Stieve to attend the American Ambulance Association conference in Las Vegas next month, with a focus on revenue cycle and billing training amid increased artificial intelligence use in health insurance.
Veterans Services and Community Programs
Commissioners authorized the county manager to sign a $26,000 Veterans Assistance Grant application to help veterans with mental health services, utility bills, rent, housing assistance, and health and wellness programs.
The board approved Granby Rotary’s request to operate concessions and sell beer and wine at Flying Heels rodeo events on June 6, 13, 20 and 27, and July 3, 4, 5, 11, 18 and 25. Representatives Mark Hermanson and President Yolanda Jurgensen said proceeds fund scholarships and grants to organizations including Grand County Rural Health, the library district and youth programs. The all-volunteer operation provides free meals to first responders at every rodeo.
Ms. Colorado Senior America 2025 Terrilynn Moore Smith presented her platform, “Save Our Wildlife and Wild Spaces,” to the board and invited Grand County to send representatives to the April 25 pageant in Denver.
Administrative and Legislative Actions
Finance Director Alina Bell presented $913,409.13 in weekly payments for approval, including $590,145.31 in distributions to local governments from February collections, $87,565.96 to Tyler Technologies for Eagle software, and $78,906.94 to Blackwell Oil for fuel. Commissioners approved releasing payments March 18.
The board approved a $7,358.89 annual Laserfiche archival system contract, though Information Systems Director Thomas Johnson said the county will likely migrate from the system next year. Commissioners also approved an Eagleview aerial imagery cost-sharing agreement with Grand Fire Protection District No. 1 and formally approved a 2022 Granby Airport layout plan that had been lost at the FAA.
The board approved a Motorola DigiTicket e-ticketing contract amendment adding five units for the Fraser Winter Park Police Department, with costs covered by that department.
The Grand County Assessor withdrew a requested letter of opposition to a proposed change in the Assessor Resource Library language after resolving the issue directly with state officials the previous day.
The board approved sending a letter of support for Hot Sulphur Springs’ $1.5 million congressionally directed spending request for a water treatment facility to address iron and manganese issues, with a March 27 application deadline.
The county attorney reported House Bill 26-1239, Grand County’s code enforcement bill, passed the House with full Colorado Counties Inc. backing and no fiscal note, and now moves to the Senate. Commissioners discussed several other active bills, including HB 26-1119, which would require an estimated $60 million in statewide software upgrades and appears to be dying.
Finance Director Bell also presented revisions to the county’s purchasing, contracting and credit card policy, including updated bid thresholds and a new section covering public auction purchases. Discussion continued at the end of the meeting; no final vote was recorded in the transcript.
Public Comment
During general public comment, one resident raised concerns about county governance, including the Board of Equalization’s constitutional composition, the delegation of rulemaking authority to county departments, and property tax policy. The chair thanked the resident for his comments.
Executive Sessions and Other Business
Commissioners held executive sessions on negotiations for the Kremmling Airport McElroy Field fixed base operations agreement and the Winter Park Urban Renewal Authority tax increment financing relationship, directing negotiators to continue in both matters.
A public hearing on the Always Mountain Time LLC special use permit renewal was continued to April 21 to allow staff to finalize a lease with the landowner.
The county’s Community Priorities Fund carries a $711,000 balance with approximately $200,000 in first-quarter collections expected. Staff will return to commissioners in May with grant cycle funding recommendations.
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. 