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Votes at a glance: county approves conservation easement funding, Forest Service comments and small settlement
Summary
The San Miguel County Board of County Commissioners on May 1 unanimously approved scoping comments to the U.S. Forest Service on proposed Telluride Ski Resort work, appropriated $35,000 from the county Land Heritage/Open Space fund to help secure a 5,720‑acre conservation easement, and accepted a $2,500 attorney‑fee settlement in a related election lawsuit.
The San Miguel County Board of County Commissioners on May 1 approved several items by unanimous votes, including asking the U.S. Forest Service to accept scoping comments on proposed improvements at Telluride Ski Resort, allocating funds to a private land conservation project and settling a small attorney-fee claim connected to a post‑election challenge.
The board voted unanimously to direct staff to submit scoping comments to the U.S. Forest Service (GMUG/Forest Service scoping notice) on the resort’s proposed improvements, including expanded dining and on‑mountain infrastructure. Commissioners cited the need for the Forest Service to analyze potential effects on lynx habitat, wetlands, noxious‑weed management and public access during construction.
Separately the board approved a $35,000 appropriation from the county Land Heritage/Open Space fund to help Colorado West Land Trust complete a conservation easement on three parcels totaling about 5,720 acres near Disappointment Valley. The county’s scheduled contribution will be used to help pay transaction costs; the land trust reported the owner is donating a large portion of the conservation value and that the project expects to leverage state tax‑credit proceeds.
The board also accepted a $2,500 settlement offer in a suit that had named the county in a challenge to a separate special‑district election. County attorneys had sought recovery of fees after the county was dismissed from the litigation; commissioners authorized accepting the modest payment and releasing further claims.
The meeting record shows the consent agenda and the other measures passed unanimously. No votes recorded in the public transcript showed dissent.
What passed - Forest Service scoping comments: approved unanimously. Commissioners asked staff to submit comments addressing wildlife habitat, wetlands and construction permitting. - Conservation easement funding: approved unanimously. County to contribute $35,000 from the Land Heritage/Open Space fund toward transaction costs for a 5,720‑acre easement in Disappointment Valley with Colorado West Land Trust. - Attorney‑fee settlement: approved unanimously. County will accept $2,500 to resolve outstanding claims related to a ballot‑measure lawsuit.
What did not change - No new taxes or levies were approved at this meeting.
Votes at a glance is a roundup of formal actions recorded at the May 1 San Miguel County commissioners meeting.
