Mineral County commissioners approved a $388,890 airport runway maintenance contract and tabled a district attorney term limits resolution over a ballot timing error at their March 25 meeting, while Sheriff Terry Wetherill reported an ongoing investigation into graffiti vandalism on the Masonic building in Creede. The board also renewed a cooperative road maintenance agreement with the U.S. Forest Service, approved search and rescue equipment, scheduled an April 15 meeting on the Bachelor Loop Superfund site, and joined the Creede school booster club at the $500 level.
Graffiti Investigation Underway
Sheriff Terry Wetherill reported investigating weekend graffiti vandalism on the Masonic building. Surveillance footage tracked a white 2018-2022 Toyota Sequoia with non-Colorado plates spending eight minutes in town, making a U-turn at the gas station at 8:08 p.m., parking between the courthouse and the Masonic building for three minutes, then leaving via Main Street. The vehicle had not appeared in town in the week before or after the incident. Based on letters identified by a community member with knowledge of graffiti, the sheriff determined the most likely word spray-painted on the building was “LIAR.” The incident drew 58 Facebook comments. A paint crew is expected to repaint the affected wall.
Airport Runway Project Approved
Commissioners approved an engineering services agreement with Dibble Engineering for runway and apron pavement maintenance at Mineral County Memorial Airport, planned for summer 2026. The project is funded through a CDOT Aeronautics grant with an available budget of $388,889. Engineering costs are approximately 21 percent of construction — higher than the typical 15 percent — due to complex airport-specific regulatory and documentation requirements. Dibble will prepare bid packages, review contractor submissions, and provide oversight during project execution.
Forest Service Agreement Renewed
The board unanimously approved renewal of the Schedule A cooperative agreement with the Rio Grande National Forest, updating joint road maintenance responsibilities. The agreement allows the county to include Forest Service roads in its annual mileage certification to the Colorado Department of Transportation, which determines Mineral County’s share of Highway Users Tax reimbursements from statewide gas tax revenue. Forest Service representatives also arranged for the county to access crushed gravel from a pit near the base of Wolf Creek Pass, eliminating the need to haul gravel across the pass for road maintenance on the county’s side.
DA Term Limits Resolution Tabled
Commissioners tabled Resolution 2026-5, which would have referred a ballot question on eliminating the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s three-term limit to Mineral County voters. County Administrator Janelle Kukuk identified a timing conflict during the meeting: the resolution’s language requires an election “within the next succeeding 120 days” of adoption, but the November 3, 2026 general election falls approximately 240 days away. Alamosa County has been driving the effort and attorney Jason Kelly drafted the resolution; Ronnie Wisdom, the Alamosa County Administrator, asked valley counties to adopt it. Saguache County has requested broader discussion at the April County Commissioners of Colorado meeting. Commissioners expressed general support for eliminating term limits, noting that elections provide accountability and that continuity in the district attorney’s office has value. Kukuk said she would follow up with Wisdom on the 120-day language before the April meeting. The July deadline for ballot certification still allows time to adopt a corrected resolution.
Search and Rescue Equipment
Emergency Manager Clint Leggett reported that search and rescue park/arc jackets purchased in January arrived, with one sizing error: all yellow-orange mission jackets came in one size too large. The vendor has agreed to a one-time exchange. Those jackets retail for $800 to $900 but were purchased at approximately 50 percent discount; they will be awarded based on hours served over the past two years. Black everyday-wear jackets, retailing for approximately $300, are available to team members for $175. Leggett is also completing a congressionally directed spending grant application for a search and rescue building. He also reported progress on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan following a meeting with Headwaters Economics, with a red-line draft expected to go to planning and zoning within the next few weeks.
Landfill Expansion Approved
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved construction of a new landfill trench. Safety measures include a 10- to 20-foot wall between the existing and new trenches and berms on both ends to restrict public access during construction. Signs will be installed at both access ramps.
Bachelor Loop Superfund Meeting Set
Commissioners scheduled an April 15 meeting with the Army Corps of Engineers and EPA officials to discuss the Bachelor Loop Superfund project. The Army Corps is now managing cleanup focused on development rock from the Nelson Tunnel, and officials are evaluating waste rock drop sites while considering temporarily removing a bridge to access the upper bench with equipment. Commissioners discouraged scattering drop sites along Bachelor Loop Road during tourist season, noting the project work window runs only November through April. The county previously spent $188,000 stabilizing cribbing at the site; that cost is being reported against LATCF COVID funds received by the county under the public safety category, as the Army Corps now assumes responsibility for cribbing work going forward.
Commissioner Reports
Commissioner Ramona Weber, participating by phone, reported on the previous day’s Council of Governments meeting. On regional GIS funding, she said Mineral County’s position is that monthly costs above approximately $500 would be difficult to sustain. Several other valley counties said they cannot afford either proposed option, and the program’s current coordinator position is funded only through April. Pending grants may determine whether the regional GIS effort continues.
On wildfire code, Weber reported that Rio Grande County is firmly opposed to the Wildland Urban Interface code, calling it an unfunded mandate. Saguache County holds a similar position. Separately, the South Fork Fire and Rescue District board is seriously considering adopting the WUI code independently — a move that would extend the code’s reach east to the South Fork–Del Norte dividing line, north to mile 7.5 on Highway 149, west to the top of Wolf Creek Pass, and south to the county line.
Other Business
Commissioners approved a $500 Gold Club membership in the Creede school booster club, declining all associated perks except an advertising banner. The payment will come from the commissioner discretionary fund. The board also received updates on museum operations at reduced hours and upcoming building HVAC transitions from winter heating to summer cooling.
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