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Pueblo County prioritizes Colorado City water, stormwater and recreation center in fast-moving federal grant push
Summary
County Manager Vina Genesio told commissioners April 24 that Colorado City water needs are the top federal appropriations priority, followed by stormwater projects; staff also proposed a $1 million request for a Saint Charles Mesa community and recreation center and flagged road and diversion-center funding for future action.
PUEBLO COUNTY, Colo. — Pueblo County Manager Vina Genesio told county commissioners at a work session on April 24 that county staff will submit several federal appropriations requests by a tight federal deadline and that water service in Colorado City should be the county’s top priority.
Genesi o said the applications are being routed primarily through “Congressman Jeff Hurd’s office” and will also be sent to “Senator Hickenlooper and Senator Bennett” to seek Colorado support. “There is a very tight deadline, specifically tomorrow at 6 p.m. eastern time, so 4 p.m.,” Genesio said, and she asked commissioners to confirm priorities quickly.
County staff proposed several funding requests. Genesio said she has drafted a $1,000,000 appropriations request to support the Saint Charles Mesa community and recreation center, which the county could match from existing funds; she said a later phase of the project could total about $4,000,000. For stormwater, Genesio said the county’s draft request is $5,000,000 and that a 20% local match would be required.
“Some of those programs are some of the few programs in the county that could have fees associated with them,” Genesio said when commissioners raised concerns about staffing and operations tied to a larger recreation facility. She also summarized the board’s informal ranking, saying, “So I’m hearing priority 1 is water, priority 2 is stormwater management.”
Commissioners discussed sending supporting letters and coordinating with local entities. Genesio said the Colorado City district manager has submitted a request through Senator Hickenlooper’s office and that detailed needs from Colorado City and Rye will be shared with the county as they become available. Genesio said the county would also look for grant opportunities tied to diversion or rehabilitation center programming, noting federal funding sources that could include opioid settlement funds, Department of Justice and HHS grants for substance-use treatment.
Road funding also appears on the list. Genesio said she received updated public works data and expects to submit a highway reallocation request; figures discussed in the meeting ranged around $5,000,000 with a potential local match, but Genesio said details are still being finalized.
Why it matters: County officials said water in people’s homes is the most urgent local need and that stormwater, recreation amenities and road improvements will be pitched to federal lawmakers in a tightly constrained appropriations window. If awarded, the grants would require local matches and, in some cases, additional staff or operational planning, officials said.
Genesi o told commissioners she will circulate the draft applications and supporting letters for their review and asked for final comments before the federal deadline. She also said the county will continue to pursue other grant opportunities beyond the current deadline and recommended the board develop a short strategic list of priority issue areas to guide future grant-seeking.
