Rio Grande County has been awarded an Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Fund grant to update its comprehensive plan, County Administrator Skip Schoen told the Board of County Commissioners at its regular Wednesday meeting. The award came in $13,000 short of the amount requested, which Schoen said will require scaling back the scope of work. Del Norte joined the county in the application; Monte Vista and South Fork are each pursuing their own updates separately.
The county also received word that its federal request for a backup generator has advanced to the next review stage. Offices for both Senator Michael Bennet and Senator John Hickenlooper notified the county of the progress. Several more cuts remain before any funding is confirmed.
The board voted unanimously to approve letters of support for two community projects — the Del Norte Rodeo Grounds proposal and the Children’s Specialty Clinic of the San Luis Valley’s application for the Independent Explorers Program, which serves youth with special needs across all six valley counties. Neither request involved county funding. The board also approved Gateway Church’s request to use the courthouse lawn Saturday evening for a children’s event.
Weed District Supervisor Billi Blades reported that CDOT spraying begins May 4 and that a recent state agriculture audit found the district in generally good standing, with three minor items to correct. Two Monte Vista High School students who worked with the district were recognized at the meeting.
The board approved the consent agenda, including accounts payable, April payroll, and minutes from four prior meetings. One resident spoke during public comment, urging the board to lower taxes and fees. The grand opening of the new sports courts at the Rio Grande County Community Fields in Del Norte is set for Friday, May 1 at noon.
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