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Elbert County adopts Debris Management Plan; approves fairgrounds feasibility grant application
Summary
Commissioners formally adopted the county’s Debris Management Plan and approved applying for a Rural Economic Development Initiative grant to fund an update to the fairgrounds master plan, including a required 50% local match.
The Elbert County Board of County Commissioners voted March 12 to adopt the county Debris Management Plan and to authorize staff to apply for a Rural Economic Development Initiative feasibility grant for the fairgrounds master plan.
County emergency management staff told commissioners the debris plan brings the county to an industry standard: many Colorado counties still lack formal debris plans. The plan identifies multiple primary, secondary and tertiary debris-collection sites; county staff said a northwest parcel of the fairgrounds and adjacent county storage areas have been used historically and were included among candidate sites.
Commissioners voted to adopt the Debris Management Plan after a staff presentation. A motion to “approve the Albert County Debris Management Plan as presented” passed on unanimous voice vote at the meeting; the motion was made and seconded on the record. County staff said the plan will be revised every three years and can be amended if the fairgrounds feasibility study recommends alternate sites.
Tiffany Hermas, the county finance director, presented the Rural Economic Development Initiative grant opportunity to update the fairgrounds master plan. The grant provides $25,000 of the $50,000 budgeted study (a 50% local match). The county would have one year to sign a contract if awarded and two additional years to expend funds; award notifications were expected around July 2025 if the county applies. Commissioners voted to move the item into action the same day and approved the application.
County staff said the grant would fund professional planning and feasibility work to evaluate uses and improvements at the fairgrounds; the work would inform future capital decisions and debris‑site planning. Emergency management staff offered to coordinate any ADA and operational improvements for debris operations at candidate sites.
The votes were taken during the board’s action items session. Commissioners and staff said adopting the plan should improve the county’s ability to receive state and federal reimbursement after large emergencies.
