Commissioners approve mutual termination of county preschool development grant after missed deliverables

The San Juan County Commission voted 3–0 to approve a mutual termination of the county’s Preschool Development Grant (PBG B-5) for its final year, following a recommendation from state Department of Health and Human Services staff and local officials.

Commissioner Stubbs, who identified herself as an early childhood educator, described the decision as difficult and blamed local management for lapses in grant reporting. “This is 1 decision that's kinda hard…when we write grants and we don't follow our part of the deal, we get to a situation like this,” she said.

Commissioner Adams said he understood the frustration but told colleagues the state had recommended termination to avoid penalties for missed deliverables. “I just I I don't think anybody's gonna miss the fact that we don't have that grant,” Adams said, referencing the county’s lack of an active program and reporting under the grant.

Commissioners and public-health board members said the mutual termination was intended to preserve the county’s ability to reapply in the future with a cleaner administrative record. A public-health board member had earlier told commissioners the state recommended mutual termination to avoid penalties and to improve the county’s prospects for future funding.

The motion to terminate the final grant year was made and seconded in open session and carried unanimously. The commission did not adopt a replacement program or budget appropriation at the meeting but directed staff and the public-health board to review grant-management practices moving forward.