The Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners approved more than $11.8 million in airport contracts, voted to oppose a statewide road funding ballot measure, and heard a warning that state transportation bureaucracy may cost the county a full construction season on its landmark affordable housing project at the May 5 regular meeting.
Chairperson Laura Puckett Daniels, Vice-Chairperson Liz Smith, and Commissioner Jonathan Houck were all present. County Manager Matthew Birnie and Deputy County Manager for Public Works Martin Schmidt also attended.
Airport
The board approved three Federal Aviation Administration Airport Infrastructure Grant agreements totaling $6,600,689, running May 5, 2026 through May 4, 2030. A separate $5,220,885 construction agreement with Oldcastle SW Group, Inc. dba United Companies covers Phase 2 of the General Aviation Ramp Reconstruction at Gunnison-Crested Butte Regional Airport. All four items passed on the consent agenda without discussion.
Whetstone Housing
Birnie reported significant progress on Whetstone, which he described as the largest project in county history. Framing is ahead of schedule, off-site utilities are ahead of the revised schedule, and water pressure testing is set to begin within days — potentially putting one component two weeks ahead. Two geothermal drilling contractors are now on site after the county brought in a second firm to supplement the original driller, which had fallen behind.
The progress came alongside a setback. CDOT has proposed a review schedule that would not permit a pre-construction meeting for the Whetstone roundabout and pedestrian underpass until December 2026, pushing any construction start to spring 2027. The county submitted 60 percent complete engineered plans to CDOT in July 2025 and intended to begin at least the underpass this construction season.
Birnie said he has been in direct contact with CDOT Region 3 Director Jason Smith, arguing the project supports the governor’s housing priorities, but said those priorities do not appear to have filtered down to the agency’s project review process. Schmidt noted that slow CDOT review timelines are a common frustration for local agencies across the state. Birnie said he may ask commissioners to apply political pressure to move the project forward, noting that the commissioners have relationships that could help.
Initiative 175
The board agreed unanimously to draft a letter opposing Initiative 175, a statewide constitutional amendment backed by the Colorado Contractors Association that would redirect a portion of state revenue to road and bridge funding. Schmidt told the board that even under the best scenario, the measure would generate between $500,000 and just under $1 million annually in additional Highway Users Tax Fund revenue for the county — against a $3 million annual road funding deficiency identified by the county’s own consultant.
Commissioners raised two additional problems with the measure. Initiative 175 would impose new restrictions on how HUTF funds can be spent, eliminating transit, pedestrian infrastructure, and bicycle safety as eligible uses. It would also reduce funding for K-12 education, higher education, and other state programs. Puckett Daniels noted Colorado ranked 47th nationally in school funding until recent years and said the measure would put the state back in that position.
The board addressed the political complexity of opposing a state road measure while preparing a local road and bridge sales tax ask for November. Commissioners said the two are distinct: Initiative 175 diverts existing state revenue and restricts how it can be spent, while the county’s proposed measure would generate new, locally controlled funding. Survey data from a prior meeting showed voter support drops off sharply above a half-cent sales tax rate.
The board agreed to send one letter now to the Contractors Association and to prepare a separate community-facing letter after the state legislature’s proposed countermeasure is resolved.
On-Site Wastewater Regulations
The board opened a public hearing at 9:13 a.m. and approved updated On-Site Wastewater Treatment System regulations, effective June 18, 2026. State law required the update after Colorado revised its statewide OWTS standards. The Environmental Health Board reviewed the proposed changes over three meetings and voted unanimously to recommend adoption.
Staff submitted the draft regulations to the state for pre-adoption review. The state flagged two issues: a clerical error, which staff corrected, and a question about floodway provisions. Gunnison County prohibits septic systems within floodways entirely, which is more stringent than the state standard. The county also requires professional engineer design for any system in the 100-year floodplain regardless of flood zone — again more stringent than state requirements. The state accepted both clarifications. No public comment was received. The board approved Resolution 2026-19 unanimously.
Budget Amendment
The board approved Resolution 2026-18, amending the 2026 county budget by approximately $1.3 million for the landfill shop project. Deputy CFO Mark Rozman explained the amendment combines $697,000 in carryover from 2025 — the project spent $879,000 of a $1.6 million budget last year — with $633,000 in change orders the board approved March 17 for HVAC upgrades and a geothermal system added during design. The vote was unanimous.
Consent Agenda
The board approved 13 of 15 consent agenda items without discussion. Those included a term extension for a professional services agreement with Sarah Elzay through May 31, 2026; a software support and maintenance agreement with Creative Information Systems for Public Works; a $13,500 state contract modification for Health and Human Services; a $4,000 community grant to the Gunnison Hinsdale Early Childhood Council; a $7,000 community grant to the Gunnison County Community Health Coalition; a $42,500 memorandum of agreement between the City of Gunnison and Gunnison County for the GV-HEAT program; retention of expert witness services through the Attorney’s Office; a temporary road use agreement with Gunnison Trails for May 23 and 24; and a $6,300 account assistance agreement with Tyler Technologies for the county’s ERP system. Items 3 and 10 were pulled for discussion.
Crested Butte South Roads
The board approved the Amended Crested Butte South Public Road Maintenance Agreement with the Crested Butte South Metropolitan District, covering January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2027 — a shorter term than the prior agreement. Birnie explained the county explored delegating greater road authority to the Metro District but could not transfer its safety obligations, and the agreement reverted to existing terms.
Schmidt told the board the Metro District holds full responsibility for all roads in CB South under its service plan. A commissioner said residents and the Property Owners Association remain confused about road responsibility, and that the confusion could affect the county’s road and bridge ballot campaign. Schmidt said the county’s past involvement in chip sealing, crack sealing, and snowplowing lower roads has created a mistaken impression of county ownership.
Secure Rural Schools
The board voted unanimously to direct Title I Secure Rural Schools funds for fiscal years 2024 and 2025 to the Gunnison Watershed School District, consistent with historical practice. Birnie explained that any Title I funds the county retains are deducted dollar-for-dollar from federal Payment in Lieu of Taxes receipts, making it more beneficial to pass the funds to schools while PILT remains reliably funded. The board also approved a $10,000 Memorandum of Agreement with the Roaring Fork Valley Wildfire Collaborative — funded through Title III SRS funds via Emergency Management for wildfire mitigation activities. A commissioner noted the agenda listed the entity incorrectly as the Roaring Fork Valley Wildlife Collaborative and asked the correction be noted for the record.
Public Comment
Three members of the public addressed the board during unscheduled public comment.
Scott Wagner told commissioners he has been denied a housing linkage fee exemption on a garage addition permit despite meeting the income threshold. Wagner said the county rejected his application because his tax returns list a Morrison, Colorado post office box as a mailing address, even though his driver’s license, vehicle registrations, utility accounts, and voter registration have all listed his Gunnison County property for more than a decade. He argued the denial was inconsistent with how similar exemptions have been applied and asked the board to address what he called discriminatory treatment. The board directed him toward the Board of Adjustment as the appropriate venue.
Todd Call, of 99 Creekside Lane, described ongoing coordination with the Whetstone project team on neighbor concerns, including entry gate design, trespassing, fencing along the shared property line, and drainage. Call said he and the project team walked the site the previous week and reached agreement on several items, and asked the board to support pending project modification requests.
John Murphy, of 738 Riverland Drive, identified himself as the southernmost property owner adjacent to Whetstone. Murphy said he has attended design reviews and site visits throughout the project and told the board the project as constructed differs significantly from the approved plans. He cited grade changes of 20 to 40 feet along his property line, lost privacy, inadequate landscaping between the two properties, a berm that he said was not removed as he was told it would be, and a sewer inlet he said sits 50 feet from his septic field outlet. Murphy requested a site visit from commissioners before additional backfill work proceeds.
Executive Session
The board voted unanimously to enter executive session pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4)(b) to receive legal advice from the county attorney regarding Lake Irwin Coalition, Inc. v. Smith, 2017CV30060. Upon returning to open session, commissioners confirmed the discussion stayed on topic and that two commissioners and county staff would move forward as previously directed.
Commissioner Items
Houck reported that BLM Gunnison Field Manager Jon Kaminsky shared data from a recent BLM economic report showing the Gunnison Field Office generates $401 million in annual economic output and supports approximately 2,400 jobs, with $395 million of that impact tied to recreation. Houck also reported attending the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Partners in the Outdoors conference, where he presented on the GORP Act; a wildlife crossing study kickoff funded by the National Park Service and CPW; a Peace Officer Standards and Training grant awards meeting; and a CCI Steering Committee meeting focused on the state health and human services reorganization proposal and the Initiative 175 countermeasure. He attended an all-day river mapping session in Monte Vista on April 22 and made a field trip to Kebler Pass to observe road conditions ahead of the county’s road and bridge ballot campaign.
Puckett Daniels reported meeting with Tourism and Prosperity Partnership Director Andrew Sandstrom to discuss tourism headwinds, including the effects of gas prices on visitor traffic and potential ripple effects for aviation. She also attended the county’s Earth Day event at the courthouse and a Juntos por Gunnison community barbecue at Legion Park, which included a Gunnison Police Department presence. She reported attending a Wild and Scenic Crystal River subcommittee meeting, where she flagged that discussions had begun to stray into travel management on the Ledge King Loop trail system, and raised concerns about potential Wild and Scenic designation impacts on existing mining claims in the area.
Smith reported presenting to the local gardening club on the county’s affordable housing approach and the upcoming road and bridge ballot measure. She said she also continued participating in the regional river mapping effort covering Western Colorado waterways.
Liquor Licensing
Before the regular meeting, the board convened as the Gunnison County Local Liquor Licensing Authority and approved two alcohol beverage license renewals on the consent agenda: Three Rivers Resort Inc. dba Three Rivers Resort and Powder Monarch LLC dba Monarch Ski and Snowboard Area. Both passed unanimously without discussion.
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