Commissioner Scott Deacon told the Rio Grande County Board of County Commissioners that he had discussed a proposed small data center at San Luis Valley REC and that Grimmway Farms has pulled its carrot operation out of the valley. The reports came during the board’s regular meeting Wednesday, May 27. Deacon said the proposed data center would draw about two megawatts, run year-round and use no water. He said Grimmway’s exit would cost the county about $7,000 in tax revenue. The board also heard a presentation on the county-funded Kids Connection child care program and fielded resident concerns about water and power use tied to potential data centers. Commissioners approved the consent agenda and confirmed they will not meet June 3.
Data centers, water and power
During his report, Deacon said he had spoken with San Luis Valley REC Chief Operations Officer Shawn McKibbon about a proposed “micro” data center at the cooperative. He said it would consume about two megawatts, operate year-round and use no water, helping offset the loss of other electric loads.
Deacon compared the projected draw to seasonal users. He said Wolf Creek Ski Area runs about 1.3 megawatts at full operation. Fun Valley, he said, uses roughly three-quarters of a megawatt during its season.
Earlier, during public comment, a resident said he had attended the San Luis Valley REC board meeting and raised concerns about water and power demands tied to data centers that could locate in the area. He told commissioners that REC board members had assured him several ranchers and farmers on the board did not intend to divert water to outside interests.
The resident also relayed a guest speaker’s remarks on state legislation limiting coal-fired generation and referenced a recent county moratorium on a commercial solar project.
A representative from U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd’s office, joining by Zoom, told the board that Hurd was pleased about federal money secured to obtain the Shoshone water rights, which she said remain with Colorado. She said the congressman continues to work on forest health and water rights.
Kids Connection presentation
Kids Connection Director Anika Velasquez, appearing with Monte Vista City Manager Gigi Dennis, told the board the program is the only state-licensed, school-aged child care facility in the San Luis Valley. She said it runs after-school and full-day programs during the school year and operates nine hours a day, Monday through Thursday, in the summer.
Velasquez said about 95 percent of the children served attend free of charge, in part through the program’s memorandum of understanding with Rio Grande County and TANF funding. She said the county has helped fund Kids Connection for roughly 15 years.
She described a healthy-eating program called HEAL and a life-skills program called THRIVE. She said the program provides federally reimbursed meals that guarantee children two and a half meals a day when school is out, and that a food-pantry partnership with Care and Share is in the works.
Velasquez said many of the children served are neurodivergent and that the program works closely with the Monte Vista School District. Commissioners praised the program, and Social Services Director Greg Parra said he would like to tour the facility.
Grimmway Farms leaves the valley
Deacon reported that Grimmway Farms has pulled out of the San Luis Valley this year and planted no carrots. He said the county will lose about $7,000 in tax revenue. That figure does not include the roughly 30 circles the company farmed, he said, and he called the departure catastrophic for Rio Grande County.
Dispatch consolidation
Deacon also reported on a recent 911 meeting, saying the Alamosa dispatch center has taken on additional overnight coverage. He said the center handles around 10,000 calls a month. The previous month, he said, it logged 9,806 calls.
He raised concern that the state may seek to consolidate dispatch areas and said the region should keep the Alamosa center.
Other reports
Deacon said a donated horse-wash facility he is helping build still awaits a city permit, which was postponed, and that San Luis Valley Fair Board President Jason Tillman had not obtained approval.
Commissioner Gene Glover reported that three of his scheduled meetings were canceled. He said he attended the Memorial Day service at the Colorado Veterans Community Living Center at Homelake and met with Chief Financial Officer Amanda Klapperich on the county’s opioid steering committee, where he said policies and procedures are being rewritten. Glover said he also attended a veterans breakfast and noted the absence of Veterans Service Officer Jack Rudder.
Board Chair Tyler Ratzlaff reported attending an area agency on aging meeting by Zoom and noted that the Monte Vista City Council meeting was canceled. He echoed praise for the Homelake service.
County Attorney Nancy Lake said she spent much of the week reviewing campaign-practice statutes. She noted concerns about some conduct in the valley and said she would keep the board posted.
County Administrator William “Skip” Schoen said bids for the airport snow-removal equipment shed are due Friday. Because the board will not meet June 3, he said the bids will be opened June 10, with a recommendation to follow the next week and a decision expected by mid-June. Schoen said a courthouse security meeting remains on track for Monday, June 8, at 9 a.m.
Consent agenda and scheduling
All three commissioners were present. The board approved the agenda as amended, with the Weed District and Veterans Services reports listed as report-only, and all department head reports were given as report-only.
Commissioners approved the consent agenda, which included accounts payable, May payroll and the minutes of the May 6 meeting. The board confirmed there will be no regular meeting June 3.
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