Custer County commissioners approve several routine agreements, grants and permits; take initial step on lodging-tax question

The Custer County Board of County Commissioners on July 23 approved a set of routine and program actions including minutes, a right-to-enter agreement for county access to private aggregate pits, the county’s acceptance of a state grant award offer for a downtown Westcliffe agricultural marketplace (subject to final contract review), application for a Colorado Tourism Office marketing grant with a letter of support, and a special-event permit for the American Legion’s Blue’s, Brews & Barbecues festival.

The board first approved the minutes from its July 9 and July 16 meetings. The motion to approve the minutes was moved and seconded; the record in the meeting shows the vote as “Lucas, aye; Paul, aye; Candide, aye.”

The board then approved a written right-to-enter agreement with Seyfried (Cypher) Enterprises that formalizes county access to several private aggregate pits. The agreement requires standard insurance-related provisions requested by the pit owner (including additional-insured and waiver-of-subrogation language) so the county’s insurer will accept the exposure. The board moved and seconded the motion to enter the agreement and voted in favor (motion recorded as “moved and seconded; all in favor, aye”). County attorney Dan Slater confirmed he drafted the agreement and reported no legal issues.

Commissioners voted to proceed with acceptance of the Ready25-348 DOLA grant for the Wet Mountain Valley Agricultural Marketplace, a brick-and-mortar food hub and storefront in downtown Westcliffe. The county will not execute the state grant contract until the final contract language is received and reviewed; the board’s motion authorized staff to pursue acceptance and to return the contract for review and approval. The county’s staff described the award as $100,000; matching funds and in-kind contributions were discussed during the presentation.

Separately, the board approved applying for a Colorado Tourism Office marketing grant (up to $10,000 with a $2,500 county match) and authorized the chair to write a letter of support. That motion was moved, seconded and approved.

A special-event application from the American Legion for the Blue’s, Brews & Barbecues festival at Beckwith Ranch in August was approved after the applicant confirmed required permits and traffic/posse support.

Finally, on an unrelated agenda item the board voted to move forward with drafting ballot language under House Bill 25-1247 to raise the county lodging-tax rate from 2% up to a maximum of 6% (a potential 4-percentage-point increase). The board approved a motion to proceed with drafting a resolution and ballot question and directed the county attorney and clerk to prepare language and outreach materials for further public discussion at the next meeting. The board recorded the motion as moved and seconded and the roll call recorded “Lucas: aye; Paul: aye; Candice: aye.”

The board did not execute the DOLA grant contract, accept donated vehicles on the spot, nor finalize any contract language for the lodging-tax question; staff were instructed to return with contract drafts and further detail for future formal action.

Votes at a glance - Minutes (July 9 and July 16, 2025): Outcome — approved. Vote (as recorded in meeting): Lucas — yes; Paul — yes; Candide — yes. - Cypher (Seyfried) right-to-enter agreement: Outcome — approved. Motion moved and seconded; board voted in favor. - Ready25-348 DOLA Grant (Wet Mountain Valley Agricultural Marketplace) — acceptance/proceed: Outcome — board authorized pursuing acceptance and instructed staff to review the grant contract when issued; final execution deferred pending contract review. - Colorado Tourism Office marketing grant (apply $10,000 request with $2,500 match) and letter of support: Outcome — authorized application and letter of support. - Special-event permit — American Legion Blue’s, Brews & Barbecues (Beckwith Ranch): Outcome — approved. - House Bill 25-1247 lodging-tax ballot initiation: Outcome — board voted to proceed with drafting ballot language to raise lodging tax up to a 6% total rate (i.e., add up to 4 percentage points). Staff directed to prepare resolution/ballot language and materials for subsequent meetings and public outreach.

What the board did not finalize: staff were specifically directed to bring back the DOLA contract for formal approval, and county staff will present detailed draft ballot language and supporting materials prior to any final board resolution committing the measure to the November 2025 ballot.