Park County commissioners unanimously approved an outdoor event permit for the Badger Music & Arts Festival in Hartsel after tabling the matter a week earlier, imposing tighter noise restrictions than the applicant requested.
Applicant Robert Grosso had sought music until 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Commissioners instead approved music until midnight at 65 decibels, dropping to 55 decibels from midnight to 2 a.m., with quiet hours running from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday night music must end at 11 p.m. The board allowed the three-night camping format — Thursday through Saturday — citing Park County’s dark-skies designation and an annual meteor shower. The vote carried 3-0.
Additional conditions require Grosso to mow grass in all vehicle driving and parking areas to reduce wildfire risk from hot tailpipes, and to implement a rain-event safety check at a half-inch of precipitation — lowered from the applicant’s proposed one-inch threshold. Commissioners noted that three-quarters of an inch of rain recently left a nearby county road impassable to emergency vehicles. Five residents had spoken against the festival at the June 16 meeting, citing noise, livestock disruption, and road conditions.
The board also approved a $528,436 motor grader agreement with Wagner Cat, to be billed in 2027 at current-year pricing — avoiding an estimated $85,000 price increase. Monthly payments will run $6,798.98. Public Works Director Nick presented the deal, which commissioners called a prudent use of a vendor inventory error. The vote carried 3-0.
Commissioners approved a $15,000 professional services agreement with Savio House for community-based sexual abuse prevention services through Health and Human Services, and approved a Local Public Health Agencies immunization contract ahead of the state’s June fiscal year-end. Both votes carried 3-0.
The board adopted Resolution 2026-31 certifying compliance with the state’s new Peace Officer Training and Support Fund under Proposition 130, making the Park County Sheriff’s Office eligible for grant distributions. Commissioners suggested the sheriff also formally acknowledge the fund’s restricted-use requirements.
The board tabled adoption of the 2021 International Wildland Urban Interface Code to allow staff to finalize a clean exhibit without draft watermarks before a later vote.
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. 