The Park County Board of County Commissioners approved more than $1.09 million in Land and Water Trust Fund grants at its May 12 regular meeting, directing money toward a new Bailey water treatment plant, riparian restoration, and trail conservation — while tabling a nearly $2 million request to build a covered arena at the Burland Equestrian Park. The board also established a formal committee to study whether Park County needs a health service district, approved the conveyance of a downtown Fairplay parking parcel to the town, and signed off on a new vehicle fleet lease with Enterprise covering 27 county trucks and SUVs.
Land & Water Trust Fund: Three Projects Funded, One Tabled
The LWTF, funded by a voter-approved 1% sales tax, held a spendable balance of approximately $3.73 million as of March 31, 2026. LWTF Secretary Liz Biggs presented each of the four applications, summarizing the advisory board’s rankings and recommendations. All four votes followed discussion at the board’s prior work session.
Bailey Water & Sanitation District: $500,000 Approved
The board voted 3-0 to award $500,000 — the full amount requested — to the Bailey Water and Sanitation District for treatment plant improvements. The LWTF advisory board ranked this project first among the four applications.
The district serves the unincorporated community of Bailey and needs a new water treatment plant to address failing infrastructure, raw water reliability, and metals contamination on the North Fork of the South Platte River — a 303(d)-impaired waterway. The existing plant sits on a 0.03-acre parcel with no room for modern equipment. The district has secured a nearby site and is completing subdivision of the property. Total project cost is approximately $3.86 million; the district’s application lists an 87 percent cash match. The application projects construction beginning in late summer 2026 with completion targeted for August 2027.
A commissioner noted the district is one of only four combined water-and-sanitation systems in Park County and also sells bulk potable water to residents outside the system — a public benefit that extends beyond the district’s approximately 125 customers.
Colorado Open Lands: $400,000 Approved — Board Trims Request
The board voted 3-0 to fund Colorado Open Lands’ Riparian Reconnect restoration program at $400,000, cutting $82,557 from the $482,557 requested. The LWTF advisory board had recommended full funding, but commissioners narrowed the scope to Task 1 of the application — adaptive management and physical restoration treatments on 16 stream miles and 557 riparian acres currently underway across Park County.
The board declined to fund Task 3, which would pay Colorado Open Lands to identify new project sites for future grant applications, and Task 4, program management and administration. One commissioner said paying the organization to find future projects amounted to double-dipping: the county would fund the search and then be asked to fund the projects. Another commissioner said he wanted the commitment limited to a two-year window rather than the five-year scope in the application, citing uncertainty about future LWTF revenue.
The Riparian Reconnect program has received over $1.2 million from the LWTF across five previous funding cycles. It covers restoration sites on public federal land including North Tarryall Creek, Trout Creek, Geneva Creek, and seven other stream corridors in Park County.
Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative: $193,448 Approved — Two Items Cut
The board voted 3-0 to fund the Mosquito Range Heritage Initiative’s 2026 community conservation and recreation program at $193,448, reducing the $203,148 request by approximately $9,700. MRHI engages youth and volunteers in trail maintenance, habitat restoration, noxious weed removal, and conservation education at multiple Park County locations.
Commissioners trimmed the request to exclude $3,200 for CUSP slash mitigation in private residential subdivisions — consistent with the board’s prior decision not to fund wildfire mitigation on private property using LWTF dollars — and approximately $6,500 for interpretive signs at the historic Town of Horseshoe, which commissioners characterized as a historical preservation project outside the LWTF’s statutory scope.
Burland Equestrian Park Arena: Tabled — Board Wants Broader Plan
The board voted 3-0 to table — rather than deny — the Burland Equestrian Park Arena Improvement Project, directing the applicants to return with a more comprehensive proposal that includes community partners and matching funds. The application requested between $1,598,475 and $1,994,894 to install a permanent roof structure over the outdoor riding arena at 1674 County Road 72 in Bailey. The LWTF advisory board did not recommend funding. The application listed zero applicant cash match.
Commissioners expressed interest in the concept but identified several obstacles. The project lacked matching funds — a factor in LWTF scoring — and no plan addressed the broader site, which includes adjacent ball fields used by Platte Canyon Little League and approximately three acres of undeveloped land between the arena and the fields. Commissioners said that land has long been discussed as a potential community park, and that a plan addressing only the equestrian arena was too narrow to maximize available grant funding.
One commissioner suggested the Burland Equestrian Board, the Little League, the school district, and community members convene a work group to develop a master plan for the entire site. A broader recreational designation could open access to GOCO grants and Colorado Conservation Trust Fund money, commissioners said. Another commissioner noted construction costs will only rise and encouraged the applicants to move quickly on a more complete proposal.
A motion to deny the application was made and seconded, then withdrawn. The board agreed that tabling — with clear direction — was preferable to an outright denial.
Health Service District Study Committee Established
The board voted 3-0 to approve a resolution establishing the Park County Health Service District Study Committee, a time-limited advisory body charged with evaluating whether a formal health service district could improve access to medical care in the county. The committee will consist of seven to eleven members appointed by the board. Under the resolution, the committee dissolves within six months of its first meeting unless the board extends it by subsequent action.
Chair Wissel provided context: Park County has not had a functioning county-wide hospital district for decades, and residents in different parts of the county depend on facilities in Jefferson, Teller, Chaffee, and Summit counties. County Attorney John Evans, who drafted the resolution, described it as a formal structure for a study the board had pursued informally for years.
Commissioners discussed organizing the study along geographic lines rather than strict political boundaries, recognizing that residents in Bailey access Jefferson County services and those in other areas travel to neighboring counties. Evans described the resolution as comprehensive and well-suited to give the committee clear guidance on its scope, limitations, and reporting obligations.
County Conveys Downtown Fairplay Parking Parcel to Town
The board voted 3-0 to approve both a letter of intent and Resolution 2026-25 authorizing conveyance of a 0.10-acre county-owned parcel — Parcel #472, Lot 2, Front Street — to the Town of Fairplay by quitclaim deed. The parcel was inadvertently omitted when the county transferred the adjacent former annex building to the town and has historically served as the building’s parking area.
Janell Sciacca, Town of Fairplay Town Administrator/Clerk, appeared via Zoom to describe the town’s plans to pave alleys between 4th and 6th Streets and several surrounding parking lots as part of a larger downtown improvement project that will also include new EV charging stations. The resolution requires the town to maintain the parcel for public use and to continue good-faith intergovernmental cooperation with the county.
Enterprise Fleet Lease: 27 Vehicles Approved
The board voted 3-0 to approve new Enterprise Fleet Management lease agreements covering 22 Ford Mavericks, 3 Ford F-150s, and 2 Ford Explorers. The county has held a master lease agreement with Enterprise since approximately 2020. Staff presented the proposal with support from Enterprise representatives who participated via Zoom.
Staff explained that several leased vehicles are at or past their optimal replacement point. Replacing them while used vehicle values remain relatively high allows the county to roll equity from the returned vehicles into new leases and reduce net costs. Standardizing on Ford reduces parts and maintenance complexity. County Manager Lucas Meyer endorsed the plan, saying the county needed a consistent fleet replacement schedule.
One commissioner said he was uncomfortable approving the leases without having reviewed the underlying master agreement, which was not included in the packet delivered the prior afternoon. Enterprise representatives clarified that all vehicle-specific terms are in the individual lease quotes and offered to provide the master agreement separately. Staff noted two additional F-250s for the facilities department may return for approval under a separate agreement.
Lockette Appointed to Board of Adjustment
The board voted 3-0 to appoint Michael E. Lockette to fill a vacancy on the Park County Board of Adjustment. Lockette, a retired Air National Guard colonel, previously commanded the 233rd Space Group — the only space group in the Air National Guard — and held senior advisory roles to the U.S. Space Force and U.S. Space Command. He also served on a Weld County school board and municipal planning committee.
Child Fatality Prevention Services Scope of Work Approved
The board voted 3-0 to approve a $4,500 Child Fatality Prevention Services scope of work, renewing Park County Public Health’s participation in a state grant program that funds multidisciplinary review of preventable child deaths. Carol Togie, Park County Director of Public Health, presented the scope of work. The local review team includes the coroner, law enforcement, emergency medical services, school officials, and human services. The contract pays $1,125 per quarter.
Routine Business
The board approved the consent agenda — covering vouchers and minutes — 3-0 at the opening of the meeting. No public comment was received and no public hearing was held. No administrative session items were taken up. The board adjourned 3-0.
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