The Grand County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously June 9 to impose a moratorium on data center facilities in unincorporated Grand County, citing a lack of regulations and unanswered questions about water use, energy demands, and land impacts. The same meeting produced a unanimous closure of a public hearing on zoning regulation amendments — sending the measure back to the Planning Commission after commissioners found language inconsistencies — and saw adoption of the state-mandated 2025 Wildfire Resiliency Code over explicit commissioner objection that it is an unfunded mandate.
Data Center Moratorium
The moratorium on data center facilities will run through June 24, 2027, aligning with the county’s existing moratorium on commercial solar and wind energy installations. Community Development director Chris VanGuzel said Grand County has no existing regulations governing data centers and reported that an inquiry about a large facility near the Grand and Routt County line had come in, though no formal application had been filed.
Commissioners said the moratorium is a pause to develop proper 1041 regulations — not an anti-development stance. The board discussed bonding or decommissioning requirements, wildlife corridor impacts, and water availability as among the unanswered questions. Colorado Counties Inc. will serve as a clearinghouse for data center regulations from other counties, and the board said it plans to hold a workshop on whether to address data centers through zoning or 1041 authority.
During the public hearing, a Grand Lake resident who had spoken during general public comment thanked commissioners for considering his earlier remarks about differences between data centers and solar facilities. A Granby resident objected to a newspaper article included in the exhibit record, calling it unreliable. The moratorium and closure of the public hearing both passed unanimously.
Zoning Amendments Returned to Planning Commission
Commissioner Leake said she found inconsistencies in the draft zoning regulation amendments, and the board voted to close the public hearing and send the matter back to the Planning Commission — likely for an August hearing — with direction to correct the language and republish. Among the amendments was a proposed change to the Three Lakes Design and Review Area tourist district screening standard, shifting from “fully screened” to “adequately screened” for outdoor storage and similar uses visible from Highway 34.
Two property owners on Highway 34 appeared during general public comment to oppose the change, arguing the current standard protects the scenic character of the corridor leading to Rocky Mountain National Park. One said the proposed language had not gone through Planning Commission review before reaching the board. The other asked commissioners to determine whether a nearby commercial storage project required an amendment to its original special use permit before any screening standard change was considered. A third speaker during general public comment argued the county’s noxious weed board is not functioning and that county staff have not exercised the local control over weed management that state statute assigns to commissioners.
Wildfire Resiliency Code Adopted Under Protest
Commissioners voted to adopt the 2025 Wildfire Resiliency Code with local amendments and an explicit statement of objection. One commissioner said the board was adopting the code “under duress” because of the state-mandated risk classifications and the unfunded nature of the requirement. The motion included a condition that final approval is contingent on staff producing language tying enforcement to “a locally adopted map” rather than a fixed document, preserving the county’s ability to update the map as its Community Wildfire Protection Plan evolves.
Brad White of Grand Fire said all Grand County jurisdictions except the unincorporated county portion had approved the WRC map, with questions remaining about large-acreage parcels along Highway 40 and Trough Road. Two public commenters raised concerns that state wildfire risk maps inaccurately classify some Granby properties in high-risk zones. A lumber supplier attended to confirm that fire-treated wood siding remains permissible under the adopted code; staff confirmed the relevant state code language was unchanged.
Elk Herds Below Objective
Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologist Elissa Slazak and area wildlife manager Jeremy Huntington presented the annual big game update. The mule deer herd has returned to approximately 10,700 animals — within its 10,500-to-14,000 objective — after two severe winters dropped it below the lower threshold. Fawn survival reached 75 to 76 percent in each of the past two years, well above the 68 percent long-term average.
The elk picture is more troubling. The E8 herd covering game management units 18 and 181 is estimated at approximately 3,200 animals, below its 3,400-to-4,400 objective for the second consecutive year. The E13 herd is at approximately 2,600 animals — roughly 35 percent below its 4,000-to-5,500 objective — after years of incremental cow license reductions failed to produce a population rebound. CPW has cut cow elk licenses significantly in both units. Commissioners raised concerns about recreation pressure and habitat loss from development as contributing factors.
CWD prevalence in buck deer has climbed from below 3 percent to approximately 8 to 10 percent over the past decade. Mountain lions accounted for roughly three-quarters of calf elk deaths in the ongoing survival study, and one wolf mortality was recorded among calf elk. Moose are estimated at approximately 500 animals, well above their outdated management objective of 190. Pronghorn are at approximately 690 within their 600-to-800 target and have been spotted in new areas along the east end of the county in recent years. Hunters took more than 100 moose last year, among the highest harvest totals on record.
EMS Actions
EMS Chief Austin Wingate received authorization to deploy crews to out-of-state wildland fires without board approval each time, provided a valid resource order is in hand. A commissioner noted the county has grown significantly drier in recent weeks and asked about local coverage; Wingate said he monitors staffing and risk daily, would limit deployments to nearby states, and could recall crews if a local emergency required it.
Wingate also received unanimous approval to apply for a nearly $700,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance grant to fund a crisis co-responder program. The board directed him to submit public comments opposing a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rule that would cap Medicaid supplemental reimbursements at Medicare allowable rates, which Wingate said would cost Grand County EMS approximately $196,716 annually and could endanger rural ambulance services in neighboring counties with higher Medicaid payer mixes. Commissioners said they would draft a separate letter to Sen. John Hickenlooper, with the public comment deadline in the third week of July.
Departmental Contracts and Updates
Deputy Director Hannah Wine of Grand County Public Health secured approval for a request for an additional $12,000 on top of the county’s standard annual WIC grant from CDPHE. Housing Authority director Sheena Darlan presented online banking forms to add Commissioner Ragnar and remove two former commissioners from GCHA accounts; the board approved while sitting as the Housing Authority. The Drowsy Water Ranch retail liquor store license renewal was approved with all fees paid and no adverse actions reported by the sheriff.
Human Services Director Deb Ruttenberg secured approval for a core services contract with Mountain Family Center running June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027, not to exceed $20,000 without prior approval, to provide life skills and intensive family services to child welfare-involved families. Road and Bridge Director David Buckley presented a land use agreement allowing United Companies to stage equipment at Highway 40 and County Road 83 through October for summer work in the Fraser Flats area, using the same location as last year with two fewer trailers since the company will not be performing county road work this season. The board approved unanimously.
Board and Manager Business
County Manager staff reported the county received a single response to its request for qualifications for a real estate broker to list the current EMS Station 1 once the new station is completed this fall. The board accepted the qualification and directed staff to negotiate a listing contract on 90-day renewable terms. Staff also reported that Commissioner Ragnar’s signature was stamped on the Winter Park Transit IGA, which is scheduled for the Winter Park Town Council on June 12. The board authorized the chair’s signature on a Stillwater Community Chapel access agreement for a Rocky Express transit stop, which the chapel had already signed and mailed back.
The board voted to close county buildings at 4 p.m. on July 30 to allow staff to attend the Employee Appreciation Picnic. Staff reported the Historic Users Pool in Green Mountain Reservoir held approximately 23,965 acre-feet as of June 3, with Colorado River District emergency water supply plan releases covering contract holders through June. A FAA filing for the 70-foot Flying Heels Arena flagpole near the Grand County airport came back as not required; the county filed voluntarily and is looking into solar lighting for the top of the pole. Six firms responded to the airport engineering and planning consultant request for qualifications; the advisory committee is reviewing them with interviews expected in July or August before the current Lochner contract expires at year-end. The rooftop air handling unit on the judicial building is not working, with parts on order.
Treasurer Marcy Wheatley presented the monthly financial report and noted three bills passed during the recent legislative session: Senate Bill 144 allowing mobile homes in tax lien sales with a three-year redemption period, effective July 1; and House Bill 1098, the Public Trustee Act, with minor changes also effective July 1. Two bills Wheatley said would have been damaging to county operations were defeated.
The board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Grand County and the Town of Fraser for $321,566 toward the Fraser paved trail rehabilitation project from the Open Lands, Rivers and Trails spring grant cycle. The West Grand Booster Club received a fee waiver — including the late registration fee — for ambulance standby at Cliff Golf during Kremlin Days on June 20, where BLM requires an on-site ambulance due to a past lightning strike incident.
Finance Director Alina Bell reported weekly vouchers totaling $445,488 across 64 payments, including $285,000 in Open Lands, Rivers and Trails disbursements to three nonprofits, and the board approved release of those payments. Bell also nominated Kathy Henderson, a 19-year Finance Department employee, for the Coin of Excellence for her work on the annual comprehensive financial report and OpenGov budgeting platform. The board approved the prior meeting’s minutes with one correction: a water figure in the county manager’s update had been inadvertently omitted. No attorney items were presented.
The board approved the Cornerstone Mobile Concrete Batch Plant in Fraser for a five-year special use permit renewal after staff reported no complaints on noise, dust, pollution, or traffic since operations began. The plant produces roughly 10,000 to 12,000 cubic yards of concrete annually against a 60,000-cubic-yard maximum. Water attorney David Taussig was authorized to execute a statement of opposition in the Climax Molybdenum water rights case, Case No. 12 CW 176, to protect Grand County’s 1041 permit and applicable water standards.
Community Priorities Fund
The Grand Foundation reported approval of $122,335 in spring Community Priorities Fund grants for five organizations. Granby Recreation received $15,000 for summer and after-school program tuition subsidies; Grand Kids Learning Center received $45,110 toward rent and a van; Mountain Family Center received $20,000 for drought-related rental assistance; Habitat for Humanity received $13,225 for increased wetlands and soil sampling costs on a 26-unit Granby housing project; and Winter Park Early Education Center received $29,000 to add an infant room teacher. Two applicants fell below the 60-point scoring threshold and were encouraged to reapply in the fall cycle, which opens September 7. The Grand Foundation also announced the launch of the Grand County Child Care Investment Fund, seeded with $250,000 from the county, the Town of Winter Park, and existing reserves.
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