Colfax County approves emergency repairs, budget adjustment for Leon Carlitz Judicial Center roof

Colfax County commissioners on Oct. 11 held an emergency meeting and voted to authorize immediate repairs to the roof and related electrical work at the Leon Carlitz Judicial Center, 1413 South Second Street, and approved a budget adjustment to fund the work.

The move was prompted by recent leaks that county staff said allowed water into light fixtures and along window sills above the jury box. Commissioners approved an initial repair under the contractor quote identified as option 3 — a $45,050 repair plus gross receipts tax (GRT) — and passed a separate budget-adjustment resolution to cover the purchase order and immediate costs.

The repair vote passed 2-1, with Vice Chair Mary Lou Kern and Chairman Tatum voting yes and Commissioner Trujillo voting no. Commissioners then approved Resolution 2025-56, a related budget adjustment covering the larger possible cost, by unanimous roll call to ensure a purchase order could be issued promptly.

County officials said the contractor on the state contract, J3 Systems, provided multiple options: a staged approach with an initial repair followed by completion later, or a full replacement for approximately $152,250 plus GRT. Sheriff’s Office staff told commissioners they had emailed the full quote and a cost breakdown before the meeting. The sheriff noted the county received a separate electrical quote previously and that water has pooled in some light fixtures and continues to enter the building near the northwest corner, largely from window sills that had leaked before.

Vice Chair Mary Lou Kern, who moved the repair motion, acknowledged she dislikes temporary fixes but said the county’s current budget made the patch-and-credit option preferable. “As much as I hate putting Band Aids on things, I, by far, prefer to just go in and fix everything. But… given our financial budget and pocketbook right now, I would suggest that we just go ahead with the repair, and that would buy us a little bit of time,” Kern said.

Commissioner Trujillo argued for full replacement immediately. “I would say, I'd like just to redo the whole roof. Get it done,” he said, adding concern that a patched repair could fail later and cause further damage.

To allow work to start, the county manager’s office staff requested a purchase order large enough to cover the highest quote; the adjustment amount presented to the board was $164,823.26, which staff said would allow a PO to be issued at once and be closed out at the end of the fiscal year, with any remaining funds reverting to the general fund and a new PO reissued afterward.

Because the meeting was called on short notice, county officials recorded that it was held as an emergency meeting with slightly more than 24 hours' public notice. A county official told the board a letter explaining the reason for holding an emergency meeting and the action taken must be sent to the state Attorney General’s office within 10 days; staff said the county manager’s office would prepare and send that letter.

No additional public speakers or outside experts addressed the board during the emergency session. With the repairs authorized and the budget adjustment passed, staff said they would issue the purchase order and coordinate follow-up work and funding options, including seeking capital outlay funding through the ICIP or other sources for a full replacement when feasible.

The board adjourned after completing the emergency actions.