Park County commissioners approved nearly $210,000 in contracts and grants during their January 21 meeting while unanimously rejecting a tax abatement request that would have refunded over $10,000 to Ask AG LLC for agricultural classification of a Bailey property. The board denied appointing Todd Johnson to the Tourism Board despite unanimous tourism board recommendation, citing concerns about potential conflicts of interest and personal business promotion focus. Major expenditures included an $81,600 state conservation easement grant supporting Barren Ranch conservation adjacent to Staunton State Park, a $31,110 tourism marketing contract with Mount Bailey Productions, and a $19,950 assessor software agreement for the Just Appraise system. Commissioners Dave Wissel, Amy Mitchell, and Jason Gemmer also passed Resolution 2026-008 establishing Board of County Commissioners authority over legal expenditures for elected officials, changed regular meeting schedules from Wednesdays to Tuesdays beginning in February, and approved $75,700 in vouchers described as a new low for weekly expenditures. The Wednesday afternoon session included public comment from six residents addressing issues ranging from energy policy to property disputes.
Tax Abatement Rejected Despite Lease Documentation
Commissioners denied the Ask AG LLC abatement request for property at 27 Silver Springs Road by a 2-1 vote, with Commissioners Mitchell and Gemmer supporting County Assessor Monica Jones’ recommendation for denial while Commissioner Wissel supported partial abatement for 2024.
Adam Shirley, representing Ask AG LLC, presented a lease agreement from January 1, 2021 with Colorado Pine Ridge LLC documenting cattle operations on the property. He provided brand inspections showing livestock activity from 2020-2025 and requested agricultural classification for the 2023-2024 tax years, citing Supreme Court precedent on actual use versus lease requirements. Shirley also submitted photographs of cattle on the property, though quality issues from phone transfers were noted during the presentation.
Jones explained the 2021 lease was received in 2024, after the assessment periods in question, emphasizing burden of proof requirements for abatement cases. The assessor noted a 2022 meeting established three-year documentation requirements for agricultural qualification. The property received agricultural status in 2025 as scheduled after meeting the documentation timeline. Jones recommended denial due to lack of timely documentation, noting any refund over $10,000 requires Board of County Commissioners approval.
Wissel supported partial 2024 abatement based on the 2021 lease evidence, while Mitchell and Gemmer agreed with the assessor’s position on discovery timing requirements. The property was described as the former Bill Shots branch, part of the Willow Wisp subdivision, fenced on three sides with electric fencing on the fourth side.
Tourism Board Appointment Denied Over Conflict Concerns
The board unanimously rejected Todd Johnson’s Tourism Board appointment despite Tourism Board Chair Bill Brunner presenting the application with unanimous tourism board approval.
Commissioners questioned the applicant’s marijuana industry connections and previous county funding requests for movie projects. The board left open possibilities for reapplication with broader tourism focus beyond personal business promotion.
Major Service Contracts Approved
The Mount Bailey Productions professional services agreement for tourism and heritage marketing passed unanimously after legal review during a meeting recess. The $31,110 contract excludes podcast services initially and splits services between the tourism board and South Park National Heritage Area, with separate funding allocations for each organization.
Tourism Board Chair Bill Brunner noted the board’s unanimous approval of the contract and emphasized competitive pricing for the comprehensive services package. The agreement includes social media management, website maintenance, blog posts, email newsletters, video content creation, and advertising management for the Explore Park County tourism initiative and South Park National Heritage Area programming.
Commissioners approved the Just Appraise software contract transferring deed data to the computer-assisted mass appraisal system. Jones explained she eliminated half a staff position to fund the one-year $19,950 contract with renewal options. Commissioners asked about property transfer applications and short-term rental tracking capabilities within the new system.
Conservation Easement Grant Authorized
The board unanimously approved $81,600 in Colorado Land and Water Trust Fund grant money supporting Barren Ranch conservation easement transaction costs. The Colorado Open Lands project preserves property contiguous to Staunton State Park, creating expanded wildlife habitat corridors while retaining water rights for agricultural uses.
The conservation easement maintains limited grazing lease opportunities while designating one building envelope in the northern portion of the property. Commissioners noted the strategic importance of protecting wildlife corridors and maintaining working ranch lands through conservation easements that balance preservation with agricultural heritage.
Legal Spending Controls Established
Resolution 2026-008 passed unanimously, establishing Board of County Commissioners authority over legal expenditures for elected officials. The resolution emphasizes collaborative approaches over individual legal spending decisions.
Jones noted statutory rights to seek district attorney advice could still result in general fund legal costs under the new policy.
Meeting Schedule Restructured
Commissioners passed Resolution 2026-006, moving regular meetings from Wednesdays to Tuesdays beginning February. The new schedule includes first, second, and third Tuesdays monthly with work sessions 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and legislative sessions 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The change addresses attorney availability and scheduling conflicts with regional boards.
State Energy Mandate Opposition
Resolution 2026-007 passed unanimously, opposing Colorado Public Utilities Commission mandates eliminating non-electric energy by 2050. The resolution supports local energy choice and recognizes rural electrification challenges.
Public Input on Multiple Issues
Six residents addressed commissioners during public comment on topics ranging from state energy policy to property disputes and county budget priorities.
Dave Santo criticized the Public Utilities Commission opposition resolution as performative while noting assessor budget cuts that eliminated staff positions. Stan Bates, representing a homeowners association, supported the tax abatement denial and alleged illegal commercial use on the Ask AG LLC property.
Joe Weidner from Willow West Water District expressed support for the commissioners’ abatement decision and offered veteran employment opportunities to county officials. Kimberly Merriman, serving as Willow Wisp board president, supported the denial and reported ongoing cattle trespassing issues affecting the subdivision.
Susan Esmond questioned agenda posting requirements for the legal representation resolution that commissioners added to the meeting agenda. Susie Bay thanked commissioners for their work while reporting continuing noise and construction concerns related to the property subject to the abatement hearing.
Routine Business Completed
The board approved $75,700 in vouchers and meeting minutes from January 14 and a January 15 special meeting. County Manager Lucas Meyer conducted the meeting with support from an assistant from the clerk’s office while County Clerk Milena Kassel attended an elections conference.
Commissioners deferred consideration of a film commission contract proposal to a future meeting.
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