On Aug. 6, 2025, the Weld County Board of Commissioners acting as the countys redistricting commission voted 3-2 to select the Poudre River map as the final plan for commissioner district boundaries, and directed staff to complete required reports to state agencies. The decision follows several public meetings, input from a citizen redistricting advisory committee and legal review under Colorado law.

The Poudre River map will determine commissioner districts for the 2026 elections until the next redistricting cycle. Assistant County Attorney Matt Conroy told commissioners they were acting "in your quasi-judicial capacity as the redistricting commission" for the selection and that the board would later take a separate, legislative vote to adopt a map as county commissioners. Conroy said staff must report the final plan to the Colorado Secretary of State and the Department of Local Affairs and finalize a resolution containing the commissions findings.

Commissioners debated competing final maps during the meeting. Commissioner Jason Maxey said he would support the South Platte map and that it "complies with the statutory criteria" in Colorado Revised Statutes and the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, arguing it minimized splits of some municipalities and produced near-equal population districts. Commissioner Kevin Ross also said he would support the South Platte map, calling it the "most compact" and saying it kept key transportation corridors and communities of interest intact.

Commissioner Scott James presented findings in support of the Poudre River map, saying it "meets or exceeds every statutory criterion," preserves large Hispanic communities by uniting heavily Hispanic areas of east Greeley with Evans, and uses corridors such as I-25, U.S. Highway 34 and Highway 85 to anchor districts. James said the map maintained population equality within a roughly 3% total deviation and asserted the plan had been drawn without regard to incumbents or declared candidates.

Commissioner Lynette Peppler said she supported the Poudre River map because it kept the LaSalle, Platteville and Gilcrest area more intact as a community of interest, noting the towns share a single high school and a recently consolidated middle school. Commissioner Perry Buck voted in favor of the Poudre River map; he did not state a prior map preference in the meeting record.

After discussion, Commissioner Scott James moved to adopt the Poudre River map; Commissioner Lynette Peppler seconded the motion. The roll-call vote was: Jason Maxey, no; Lynette Peppler, yes; Kevin Ross, no; Scott James, yes; Perry Buck, yes. The motion passed 3-2. The commission then adjourned.

Speakers and several commissioners stressed that the redistricting commissions selection is distinct from the boards later legislative adoption and that staff must complete required administrative filings. Conroy said staff had prepared a draft resolution that (1) names the final map and (2) provides space for findings and administrative directions; he recommended finalizing and signing that resolution and completing the statutory reports. The public-comment period had closed before this meeting; commissioners repeatedly thanked the redistricting advisory committee and members of the public for participation earlier in the process.

The selection changes district lines that affect Greeley and Evans, the Tri-town area near Firestone and Frederick, and smaller towns including LaSalle, Platteville and Gilcrest. Commissioners cited goals used to evaluate maps: population equality, compliance with CRS 30-10-306 (statutory redistricting criteria), protection under the Voting Rights Act, contiguity and compactness, preservation of political subdivisions and communities of interest, and avoiding favoritism for incumbents.

Next steps documented at the meeting: staff will finalize the resolution with findings, complete reporting to the Colorado Secretary of State and the Department of Local Affairs, and present the map for the boards subsequent legislative adoption as required by statute. The redistricting commission was then adjourned.