Montezuma County reinstates open-fire, fireworks ban; approves law-enforcement pact, grant support and racetrack lease addendum

Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners voted July 1, 2025, to reinstate a ban on open fires and the use of fireworks, approve a cooperative law-enforcement agreement with the USDA Forest Service San Juan National Forest, sign a letter of support for a regional housing planning grant to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, and approve an addendum to a racetrack lease adding B and B Investments LLC as a tenant alongside Brace Motorsports.

The actions followed brief discussion and routine motions during the board's public meeting. The board said the fire ban will take effect at 6 a.m. on July 2, 2025, and commissioners also directed county staff to waive landfill fees for county residents bringing green waste (sticks, limbs, trees, grass) to the county landfill while the ban is in effect.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 8-2025 (reinstating ban on open fires and use of fireworks): Moved and seconded during the July 1 meeting; effective 6:00 a.m. July 2, 2025. The board announced the landfill will accept green waste from county residents at no charge while the ban is active. Vote: unanimous (three "Aye" responses were recorded). Outcome: approved.

- Cooperative law-enforcement agreement between the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and the USDA Forest Service San Juan National Forest: Moved and seconded and approved by the board. During the discussion a dollar amount was read aloud as "$10.05"; meeting audio/transcript shows a brief exchange about that figure (see clarifying details). Vote: unanimous (three "Aye" responses were recorded). Outcome: approved.

- Letter of support for Region 9's housing planning grant application to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (HPLN program; referenced as Senate Bill 24,174 in meeting): The board voted to sign and send the letter of support. Vote: unanimous (three "Aye" responses were recorded). Outcome: approved.

- Addendum to racetrack lease: The board approved adding B and B Investments, LLC as a tenant alongside Brace Motorsports for the existing three-year contract. Vote: unanimous (three "Aye" responses were recorded). Outcome: approved.

The board also approved the minutes from the June 24, 2025, meeting by motion and second; that approval was recorded without further discussion.

During the meeting the commissioners noted administrative items and reports from county representatives. Commissioner Lindsey spoke briefly about local personnel changes in neighboring jurisdictions and the Cortez city clerk's service; the board also announced the county landfill was closed temporarily due to high winds earlier in the day.

No formal public hearing or deliberative debate on the merits of the federal land-management agreement, the housing planning grant or the racetrack lease addendum occurred on the record; each item was moved, seconded and approved during the meeting.

Clarifying details recorded in the meeting included the stated effective time for Resolution 8-2025 (6:00 a.m. July 2, 2025) and the board's direction that green-waste landfill fees be waived for county residents while the ban is active. The law-enforcement agreement amount was read in the meeting as "$10.05," and participants briefly questioned that figure; the transcript does not supply a corrected or alternate amount.

The board adjourned the session and said it would reconvene for the board of health at 1:30 p.m. on a later date.