Ouray County commissioners approve O&M rates, federal roadway MOA and multiple proclamations; appointments, contracts cleared

The Ouray County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 7 approved several routine and policy items, adopting the 2026 operation and maintenance (O&M) rate for the Dallas Creek (Ridgeway Dam) project, authorizing a federal lands access memorandum of agreement for US 550 Red Mountain Pass, adopting three month-long proclamations and confirming multiple appointments and contracts.

The board voted unanimously on each item. Commissioners adopted the O&M rate for the Dallas Creek project and directed county staff to update contact information with Tri-County Water. At the meeting a representative of the Ouray County Water Users presented a $7,230 check as the group’s contribution to a no-call water agreement that county staff and irrigators said helped mitigate drought impacts this year. The payment and the O&M charge were described as budgeted expenses with an upcoming November payment deadline mentioned in staff comments.

Why it matters: The O&M payment and the no-call agreement are part of a five-year pilot effort, county staff said, to keep leased water in storage to reduce drought impacts for local irrigators. The federal lands agreement covers a major safety and access project on U.S. 550 that county officials say will include improvements at the Crystal Lake and Ice Park parking areas and other safety work along Red Mountain Pass.

Major actions and outcomes - 2026 operation and maintenance rate for the Dallas Creek (Ridgeway Dam) project — approved unanimously. The board asked interim county manager Kara Rhodes to update contact information with Tri-County Water for future billing and administration. A representative of Ouray County water users, Christine Collin, presented a $7,230 contribution toward the associated no-call agreement. - Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) memorandum of agreement for US 550 Red Mountain Pass — approved unanimously. County staff and attorneys discussed contract language and the county’s matching obligations; the MOA links Ouray County, the Federal Highway Administration, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and U.S. Forest Service partners. Staff said the county’s budgeted share had been referenced in project materials; precise future-year payments were discussed as contingent on final project phase costs and budget timing. - Escalante Construction Management and Engineering agreement (Corbett Creek flood project/Corbett Creek construction manager) — approved unanimously. - Appointments — Robbie Mart appointed to the Ouray County Right to Farm Agricultural Review Board (term to expire 2027-10-31); Shelley Duplant appointed to the Planning Commission (term to expire 2028). - Proclamations — Commissioners adopted proclamations recognizing October 2025 as Bullying Prevention Month, Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. - Other administrative approvals — Consent agenda (items a–c) approved; BOCC authorized a furniture quote and down payment for courthouse/4-H event center furnishings; minutes for prior meetings were approved with recorded roll-call votes.

Context and next steps County staff repeatedly emphasized that several items are budgeted expenses or part of previously authorized multi-year commitments. On the FLAP project, staff and outside counsel said the county’s contribution was identified in packet materials and that the county’s share of any cost overrun would be defined by the MOA’s matching formula; they asked the county to remain flexible about whether part of the match could be provided as in-kind work or cash. Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach to the town of Ouray about shared benefits (the Ice Park parking improvements were noted as a shared interest).

The board did not revise or delay any of the votes and recorded unanimous approval for the items listed above. Follow-up on implementation and budget timing was assigned to county staff.

Ending Items discussed at the meeting will be brought to staff for scheduling and for inclusion in next fiscal-year budget planning. County staff said they will return with any contract clarifications or further details on payment timing as needed.