Park County approves highway funding inventory, adopts unclaimed-property policy and accepts Perris Mill grant conditions

Park County commissioners on Jan. 7 approved the county's annual Highway User Tax Fund inventory, adopted a countywide abandoned and unclaimed personal property policy, acknowledged State Historical Fund grant conditions for Perris Mill Phase 8 and authorized a Certified Local Government (CLG) grant application to update the county preservation plan for 2026–2030.

The annual highway-user-tax inventory that the county files with the State of Colorado will list 1,576.175 miles of county-maintained roads for the state's HUTF calculations, county staff told commissioners. County staff said a recent audit removed about 20 miles that no longer qualify for the county's HUTF request because those segments have become part of other jurisdictions’ inventories (one cited example was a section of County Road 8 annexed by a municipality). County staff estimated the county’s share at about $3,200 per mile as a rough historical comparison; the final payment will depend on statewide HUTF calculations.

The HUTF inventory must be filed annually with the state to request reimbursement for eligible road miles; county staff told commissioners they had worked through questions raised at a prior work session and presented a revised mileage inventory for adoption. The board approved the inventory by voice vote.

Amy Flint, Park County treasurer, briefed the board on the abandoned and unclaimed property policy the county adopted by resolution. Flint said the county’s prior policy (cited in the agenda as a 2013 resolution) was outdated and did not include a required opt‑out form; she said she consulted other counties and drafted an updated policy intended for countywide use. The new policy includes guidance on handling tangible and intangible abandoned property, low‑value items, and a proposed departmental log template for tracking attempts to reunite owners with property. The board adopted the resolution as Resolution 2025‑1.

The board also accepted the State Historical Fund grant conditions for Perris Mill Phase 8 — described in the agenda as an accessibility and interior rehabilitation project — and approved an application for a CLG grant from the Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation to update the Park County preservation plan for 2026–2030. County presenters said the State Historical Fund award on the agenda is for $192,172; one presenter during discussion referred to a figure “about $199,000 and some change.” Commissioners were told the project’s local match is $64,057 and that match will be covered by funds from the South Park National Heritage program, not the county general fund.

Commissioners and staff noted that these preservation grants and the CLG application are intended to help preserve county historic assets and to make buildings such as Perris Mill safer and more accessible for visitors.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt annual HUTF inventory (1,576.175 miles) — approved by voice vote (Aye). Outcome: approved. - Adopt abandoned and unclaimed personal property policy — approved by voice vote; recorded as Resolution 2025‑1. Outcome: approved. - Acknowledge State Historical Fund grant conditions for Perris Mill Phase 8 (agenda amount $192,172; presenter also referenced ~$199,000) — approved by voice vote. Outcome: approved. - Approve CLG grant application to update Park County preservation plan (2026–2030) — approved by voice vote. Outcome: approved.

The board recorded that state rules limit use of general fund dollars for roads; commissioners noted road-related funding must come from state HUTF distributions or voter‑designated revenue streams. No public or staff testimony indicated any change to the county’s general fund allocations on the items approved at this meeting. The board moved on after completing the consent and action items and opened the meeting's public comment period.