Commissioners approve Hillficker repairs, authorize EarthTech West contract and extend disaster declaration to May 6

Following extensive discussion of a rockfall incident that has closed sections of county road, the Ouray County Board of County Commissioners on April 8 authorized repairs and extended the county’s disaster declaration to May 6 to maintain emergency procurement and operational flexibility.

Ty Barger, Road and Bridge Superintendent, briefed the board on rockfall mitigation work that started with drilling and a planned controlled detonation to fragment large boulders suspended above the roadway. Ty said the mitigation contractor (Access in Motion) would complete drilling and blasting next week and that contractor Thorn (Thorin/Thorn Resources) had offered to clear the crushed rock from the roadway after mitigation. Ty described the county’s planned sequence: rockfall mitigation and detonation; contractor clearing (Thorn); EarthTech West hill‑stabilization and repair work; and Road and Bridge finishing surface restoration. Ty said the objective — if weather and operations proceed — is to have the road open to county equipment by April 28.

Thorn provided a cost estimate to clear the road; Thorn had not submitted an invoice and had not requested payment at the time of the meeting. Ty recommended compensating Thorn for the work at a level between 50 and 100 percent of Thorn’s estimate if Thorn later requests payment; county staff advised Thorn had not asked for compensation at present.

County Attorney (Attorney Cassello) recommended handling any payment or invoice under an existing contract with Thorn that includes indemnity and bonding, and suggested giving Ty authority to negotiate a payment amount under the contract. Attorney Cassello said staff could start calls to affected property owners and, if requested, provide notices to relevant regulatory agencies. Emergency management staff clarified that the incident did not meet thresholds for FEMA major‑disaster reimbursement; hazard mitigation grant programs were a separate potential avenue but not an immediate funding option.

The board approved a contract with EarthTech West to repair the Hillficker at a not‑to‑exceed amount presented in the packet ($29,688 for the repair scope, with a separate worst‑case replacement estimate in the packet) and authorized staff to use existing emergency authorities to amend or extend scope and timing as needed during the declared disaster. The motion was moved and seconded and carried unanimously. The board then voted to extend the March 4 emergency declaration through May 6 to allow emergency procurement and coordinated operations to continue; that motion carried unanimously.

Commissioners asked staff to notify adjacent property owners and to seek informal coordination with federal and state natural‑resources regulators as a courtesy; staff said they would contact the Gebhardt property owners and would notify Corps and other agencies if needed. Commissioners emphasized the tight timeline required to reopen the mountain road before the principal high‑country access season.