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Huerfano County tables Thorn Ranch hunting lease after questions about terms and price
Summary
Commissioners postponed action on a proposed hunting lease for the Thorn Ranch after residents questioned whether the $2,000-per-year rate is appropriate for the roughly 1,700-acre property and asked for comparable lease data.
Huerfano County commissioners on March 25 voted to table a proposed hunting lease agreement with Colorado Mountains and Plains Outfitters covering a portion of the Thorn Ranch, saying staff should return with additional information and comparable numbers.
The lease under consideration would have allowed commercial outfitter activity on about 500 acres (public comments characterized the ranch more broadly as roughly 1,700 acres). Valerie Eisman, a LaVita resident, told the board she was concerned the county was considering a commercial outfitter agreement of just $2,000 a year for a property she described as “1,700 plus acres.” Eisman said that an outfitter could reasonably command materially higher fees, perhaps $20,000 to $30,000, and asked the board to consider whether the proposed rate matched market value and the county’s goals.
Board action and rationale A commissioner moved to table the hunting lease agreement to allow staff to gather comparable lease data and to clarify which portion of the ranch the agreement would cover. The motion was seconded and carried by the commissioners present. Commissioners said the item will return once staff has provided comparable leases and other clarifying data.
Context and next steps Board members noted that the county did not solicit the lease through an RFP and that the current request addresses only a segment of the larger property. Staff will provide a memo with acres covered, comparable rates and any limitations (commercial vs. agricultural use) before the board considers the item again.
Ending The hunting lease was tabled; commissioners instructed staff to return with more information on comparable leases, acreage covered and the policy rationale for commercial outfitter use of county property.
