Colorado Parks and Wildlife re-released Wolf 2403 into Grand County last Thursday despite the state’s wolf plan explicitly prohibiting translocation of depredating wolves—rules CPW wrote and Commissioner Merrit Linke spent two years helping develop. The Grand County Board of County Commissioners directed staff to draft letters condemning CPW’s actions and send them to the agency, Governor Polis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado’s congressional delegation.
Wolf Re-Release Violates State Plan
Chapter 5, page 35 of Colorado’s wolf plan states translocation of depredating wolves will not be considered because it “translocates the problem with the wolves.” Wolf 2403 has now been translocated three times after confirmed depredations in three counties.
Wolf 2403 is part of the Copper Creek Pack that chronically killed livestock in Grand County’s Williams Fork area last year in what the former CPW director called “the perfect storm.” CPW trapped and removed the entire pack due to conflict.
CPW re-released the pack into Pitkin County where they immediately continued killing livestock. CPW killed Wolf 2403’s littermate on May 28th after the pack met the state’s chronic depredation definition. The pack qualified for removal again.
CPW said Wolf 2403 and another littermate were on the removal list. The agency removed no wolves. Wolf 2403 was then connected to confirmed livestock depredation in Gunnison County on November 22nd.
The wolf traveled to New Mexico where CPW captured it. The agency brought it back to Grand County and released it without notifying ranchers of the specific location, stating only the release was “due to proximity to a lone female wolf.”
Doug Bruchet testified the re-release creates public safety risks his neighbors experienced firsthand last year. A fifth-generation Colorado rancher and board member of the Middle Park Habitat Partnership Program and Middle Park Stock Growers Association, Bruchet told commissioners Wolf 2403 followed his neighbor’s children back to the corral while they exercised 4-H sheep, getting within 15-20 yards of the kids.
Insurance companies are treating ranchers as uninsurable risks. “They’re looking at us as high risk and won’t insure our livestock anymore,” Bruchet said during public comment. Compensation for wolf kills doesn’t cover breeding stock value and long-term herd genetics.
Linke spent nearly two years on the technical working group that developed the wolf management rules CPW and the Wildlife Commission adopted. Federal Fish and Wildlife approved those rules under the 10(j) experimental population designation. The working group brought together experts from both sides who reached consensus on rules designed to protect both wolves and livestock producers.
“Now we’re breaking the rules when it comes down to it because it seems like there’s political influence rather than science-based management,” Linke said at Tuesday’s meeting in Hot Sulphur Springs. CPW is violating rules the agency wrote and the working group spent two years developing.
Board Chair Randy George and Commissioner Ed Raegner joined Linke in directing staff to draft letters to CPW, Governor Polis, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Colorado’s congressional delegation including Congressman Neguse, Senator Bennet, Senator Hickenlooper and Speaker McCluskie. Commissioners authorized signing the letters outside the meeting to expedite sending them this week, coordinating with the sheriff, Middle Park Stock Growers and potentially the tourism board. Commissioners also noted tourism impacts since wolves create conflicts with dogs on county trails where visitors recreate.
Voting System Decision Delayed Despite Year-End Deadline
Commissioners delayed deciding whether to switch from Dominion/Liberty voting systems to Clear Ballot, pushing the decision to December 23rd despite the current eight-year contract expiring December 31st. Clerk Jolene Linke recommended Clear Ballot based on ease of use, space requirements and cost, with Clear Ballot’s eight-year contract totaling $200,000 compared to Dominion/Liberty’s $217,046. Past Dominion support created problems where “some of their helpers have not even been Americans,” Linke said, recalling incidents where previous Clerk Joni “couldn’t even understand the help she was getting” during elections when technical support was critical.
Commissioners requested a pros/cons rubric comparing the systems, endorsement letters from the three Colorado counties using Clear Ballot, and additional feedback from county clerks before deciding next week. Information Systems staff emphasized “this is super important to the public” and urged thorough due diligence because “if it doesn’t work there are definitely contractual clauses but there’s also egg on our face from a due diligence perspective.”
2026 Budget Adopted With No Mill Levy Increase
Commissioners approved the $77.9 million 2026 budget without increasing the mill levy despite funding 2.8% cost of living adjustments for most employees and adding five new positions. The General Fund totals $30.9 million with other major funds including Road and Bridge ($11.5 million), Public Health ($10.6 million), Human Services ($9.5 million) and Capital Projects ($5.6 million).
Finance Director Alina Bell projected property tax revenue at $16.2 million based on actual assessed valuation and sales tax revenue at $4.8 million, down slightly from 2025 actuals. The budget maintains the county’s fund balance policy of 25% of General Fund expenditures with a projected year-end balance of $8.9 million. Commissioners also approved 2025 budget supplementals totaling $10.9 million including $820,000 in Leapfrog grant funds for Public Health’s WIC program and $185,000 for the Hazard Mitigation Plan update.
Dillie Docks Storage Permit Approved Despite Violation Claims
Commissioners approved a special use permit for boat and trailer storage at Dillie Docks near Grand Lake over public opposition focused on alleged violations the county hasn’t enforced. Patty McCollum, who owns property across the street, testified she has filed complaints through the online portal for three years documenting illegal camping, unpermitted structures and waste management violations with no county enforcement action, questioning why the applicant faces no penalties while the county sued her and her husband for three years with fines totaling $132,000 for a mobile home zoning violation in the same tourist zone.
Commissioners added conditions requiring the LLC be current with the Colorado Secretary of State and requiring the applicant contact CDOT within 60 days to resolve access issues. Other conditions limit hours of operation, require screening and landscaping, prohibit outdoor camping, mandate proper waste disposal, and require independent third-party fire inspection through Grand Fire rather than Grand Lake Fire to avoid conflicts of interest.
Gravel Pit Hearing Splits Neighbors Over Noise
Commissioners heard conflicting testimony on Jeremy Straley’s gravel pit operation at 1221 County Road 5, with neighbors 0.2 miles away reporting severe rock crushing noise while the closest neighbor 100 yards from the operation heard nothing problematic. Russell Waugaman testified the noise is severe enough that “if you have your windows open at home and you’re trying to converse with somebody else in your house you have to close the windows.”
Adam Fisher, whose family owns 40 acres adjacent to the property with his parents living 100 yards from the operation, strongly supported the permit and said any noise comes from Road and Bridge facilities rather than Straley’s operation, praising Straley’s community contributions and noting “this gentleman’s just trying to do it the legal way, he’s trying to make a living.” Community Development clarified rock crushing is not allowed under this permit.
Other Business
Commissioners approved the collective bargaining agreement between Grand County and the Fraternal Order of Police Headwaters Lodge 71 despite FOP members receiving 2.3% COLA while actual COLA came in at 2.8%, with County Manager Ed Moyer explaining it “all averages out in the end.” Antero Group presented tourism revitalization data tools now available on the Working Grand website, with Economic Development Director Diane Butler saying she’s already using the tools when working with developers. The Housing Authority received $70,000 in support funds after Director Sheena Darling reported significant shortfall from voucher program reduction. The Sheriff’s Office received approval for four out-of-state travel requests including conferences in Washington, D.C. and Reno, and commissioners approved a contract with Allpaid, Inc. for jail bail bond online payments required under House Bill 25-1015. County Manager Ed Moyer reported the Colorado River Connectivity Channel project is moving forward and Congressman Neguse is planning a January 2nd roundtable on water and wildfire issues. Approved items included Public Health MOU, Information Systems GIS contract, EMS commissioning contract, Human Services certifications, Water Resources project charter, Peak Imaging maintenance agreements totaling $47,350, tourism board contracts, and a thank you letter to Congressman Neguse for Secure Rural Schools reauthorization. Commissioners approved weekly vouchers totaling $339,794.04, conducted the required annual jail inspection, and entered executive session on the Flying Heels Arena property matter before adjourning.
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