Custer County commissioners approve landfill lease-purchase and other routine business; votes at a glance

Custer County commissioners on Oct. 16 approved a lease‑purchase for a landfill scraper, signed several grant agreements and handled routine administrative business including accepting the treasurer’s report and accounts payable. The board also disapproved a variance request for a commercial sign and voted to award a roof repair contract for a county building.

The most consequential financial action was approval of a lease‑purchase agreement to acquire a used scraper for $350,000 with a down payment and a multi‑year payment plan through United Business Bank. Commissioners and staff discussed leasing costs versus purchasing, machine condition and long‑term landfill needs before the vote.

Why it matters: the scraper purchase affects landfill operations and long‑term capital planning; the board also reviewed the county’s preliminary 2026 budget and posted it for the statutorily required public inspection period.

Key votes

- Lease‑purchase for landfill scraper: approved. The board approved a lease‑purchase (lease purchase financing) to acquire a scraper (purchase price quoted at $350,000) with financing options discussed and a recommended 5‑year lease term at about 5 percent; the board approved proceeding with the financing.

- Accounts payable and treasurer’s report: accepted. The board voted to accept the treasurer’s report for August and approved the accounts payable batch totaling roughly $203,496.99.

- Domestic Violence Awareness Month proclamation: approved. The board adopted a proclamation declaring October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month and heard a presentation from Family Crisis Services describing local hotline, shelter and transportation arrangements.

- Sign variance (Nicholas Smith / Log Masters): disapproved. The commissioners rejected a requested variance for a 6‑by‑10 foot permanent commercial sign that exceeds the county’s 20‑square‑foot sign limit under the county resolution.

- Sheriff vehicle title transfer: approved. The board authorized transfer of title for a 2016 Ram 1500 as part of vehicle outfitting/retirement paperwork.

- ERTB/recording technology grant: accepted. The board accepted an ERTB grant award of $34,878 to replace recording equipment and server for county recording functions.

- Roof repair (Road & Bridge shop / Rodent Bridge): contract awarded. The board accepted a bid (approximately $33,216) from a roofing contractor for the Road & Bridge shop roof replacement/repair.

- Colorado local public health chronic disease framework grant (STEP): application approved. The board approved staff applying for the Colorado Local Public Health Agency chronic disease framework grant (up to $30,000 for a six‑month pilot period) to support preventive nutrition/food‑access work tied to the county’s food‑hub/agribusiness efforts.

What the votes mean

The lease‑purchase for the scraper shifts the county away from an annual rental model to owning the machine under a financing arrangement, a change the county said would reduce long‑term rental expense and give staff more flexibility for landfill construction and capping work. Approving the ERTB grant and the public health grant application represents use of restricted or competitive funds for equipment and preventive public‑health pilot work rather than general fund spending.

Next steps and public participation

The preliminary 2026 budget was presented and posted for public inspection; a formal budget hearing and adoption must occur by Dec. 15. Citizens may inspect the posted preliminary budget and file objections as allowed by statute; the board will hold a public hearing later in the budget calendar.

Votes evidence

- Lease‑purchase discussion and passage (transcript evidence): discussion begins at 00:51:08 (Brian, landfill discussion) and vote recorded at 01:10:16: “All in favor of the lease agreement ... Paul? Aye. Lucas? Aye. Camden? Aye.”

- Accounts payable tally and vote (transcript evidence): accounts payable listed starting 00:18:02; vote recorded at 00:20:58: “All in favor of accepting accounts payable report, say aye. Lucas? Aye. Paul? Aye.”

- Domestic violence proclamation and vote (transcript evidence): presentation begins 00:25:58; proclamation moved and voted at 00:53:58–00:54:08.

- Sign variance (Log Masters) discussion and disapproval (transcript evidence): discussion beginning 00:35:54; disapproval vote recorded at 00:39:26.

- Sheriff vehicle title transfer (transcript evidence): discussion and motion 01:13:44–01:15:40; vote recorded at 01:16:42–01:17:05.

- ERTB grant acceptance (transcript evidence): award amount and vote 01:17:52–01:19:35.

- Roof repair contract award (transcript evidence): bids and motion begin 01:37:50; vote at 01:44:35.

- CLPHA grant application (STEP tobacco funds) approval (transcript evidence): discussion and motion 01:49:20–01:52:00; vote recorded 01:52:25–01:53:00.

For full motion texts, mover/second and recorded tallies see the meeting minutes and the county clerk’s official record.