Rio Grande County commissioners approved a $204,000 contract for a new snow removal equipment shed at the county airport at their June 17 meeting, selecting a bid from a local contractor over a competing bid that came in nearly three times higher.
Emergency Manager and Airport Manager Brian Burrell told the board that three bids came in for the project. One bidder submitted only design and construction fees of $58,000 without pricing the full project and was disqualified. A bid from Alcon came in at more than $600,000. A bid from a local contractor came in at $204,000. The airport board reviewed the bids and recommended the lower offer. Burrell said the contractor had previously done hangar work at the airport and that county Building Inspector Randy Kern had complimented his work.
At the June 24 meeting, commissioners unanimously approved a $12,083 purchase of equipment and software to bring the Sheriff’s Office into compliance with FBI cybersecurity mandates. Sheriff Anne Robinson told the board the Criminal Justice Information System now requires multi-factor authentication, password management software, and network activity logging on all devices connected to the sheriff’s network. The immediate cost covers minimum compliance requirements, with full compliance — carrying an annual cost of approximately $52,600 — required by October 2027.
Also at the June 17 meeting, commissioners approved three additional items on a unanimous vote: a special event liquor license for the South Fork Music Association’s Rhythms on the Rio festival running June 30 through August 2; a tourism board request to reduce its operating reserve from $85,000 to $40,000, freeing funds for local events; and a $104,000 comprehensive plan request for proposals, funded equally by a state energy and mineral impact assistance grant and county matching funds.
Commissioners also approved a state immunization contract amendment of $6,646 for fiscal year 2026-27. Public Health Director Dr. Bankole explained the reduced amount — down from the typical $31,000 to $33,000 range — reflects a federal funding delay, with an additional amendment expected once federal dollars are released. The contract supports vaccines for children and uninsured adults.
At the June 24 meeting, commissioners approved an extension of time to file the county audit, with Chief Financial Officer Amanda Klapperich telling the board that auditors requested the delay due to scheduling constraints. The board also approved the Sheriff’s application for a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Backcountry Search and Rescue grant, which Robinson said would primarily cover reimbursement for search and rescue mission expenses.
Administrator Skip Schoen reported at the June 24 meeting that the county received payment-in-lieu-of-taxes funds approximately $80,000 higher than projected, with 5% of that overage — roughly $8,000 to $9,000 — flowing to the airport budget under a previously approved formula.
A citizen presented an update on the Monte Vista Community Baseball Field Complex at the June 17 meeting, telling commissioners the project had scaled back from a $5 million proposal to a more sustainable plan building two new fields adjacent to the existing middle school field. Irrigation work was underway, with grass seeding targeted for July. The Monte Vista school district has taken over project finances, including a $302,000 transfer from proceeds of a land sale.
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. 