Huerfano County commissioners approve appointments, grants and contracts in consent and action items

The Huerfano County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve multiple appointments, grant acceptances and contracts during the Feb. 25 meeting.

The actions included appointments to county and regional boards, acceptance of a U.S. Forest Service community wildfire defense grant, membership for the dispatch office in APCO (Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials), multiple task orders and purchase orders, and approval of the county’s property insurance invoice.

The commissioners approved Resolution 25-10 appointing Ryan Geiss to the Huerfano County Building Authority Board through Dec. 31, 2027. They approved Resolution 25-11 appointing Carlton Croft as the county’s representative to the Southern Colorado Economic Development District board through Dec. 31, 2026.

The board accepted a Community Wildfire Defense grant through the U.S. Forest Service — a reimbursement grant with no county match — with the transcript stating the project term runs through Aug. 31, 2027 and the total grant amount described in meeting remarks as $180,000 (the motion called the grant amount “$120,000” when moved; the recorded motion as stated was to accept the grant in the amount of $120,000 and the motion carried). The commissioners also approved an annual membership in APCO for the dispatch staff in the amount of $1,012.

Other approved items included a not-to-exceed task order for KLJ Engineering for GIS assessment services (amounts discussed: task order not to exceed $25,000; a later motion referenced not to exceed $50,000 and was approved), approval of the budget for a backcountry search-and-rescue grant (total described in staff remarks as $18,828; a motion referenced $18,020.20 and passed), a purchase order for governmentjobs.com applicant tracking services for $7,068.99, and a change order/payment for SC Group on the county comp plan for $2,100. The board also approved the county property insurance invoice in the amount of $407,558.

All motions on the consent and action agendas were called and recorded in roll-call votes; for the items listed the transcript records unanimous affirmative votes by the commissioners present.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25-10: Appoint Ryan Geiss to Huerfano County Building Authority Board through 12/31/2027. Motion: adopted. Recorded roll call: all present voted yes. - Resolution 25-11: Appoint Carlton Croft to the Southern Colorado Economic Development District board through 12/31/2026. Motion: adopted. Roll call: all present voted yes. - Letter of support to Laura Jane Musser Fund for Museum of Friends rural arts initiative. Motion: adopted. Roll call: unanimous yes. - APCO membership for dispatch (annual fee $1,012). Motion: adopted. Roll call: unanimous yes. - Community Wildfire Defense grant (USFS), project term through 08/31/2027. Motion to accept grant (motion text referenced $120,000). Motion: adopted. Roll call: unanimous yes. - Task order for KLJ Engineering (GIS assessment), not-to-exceed amounts referenced ($25,000; motion referenced $50,000). Motion: adopted. Roll call: unanimous yes. (Staff noted task order to assist over the year; exact ceiling clarified in discussion.) - Backcountry search-and-rescue grant budget approval (staff stated total $18,828; motion referenced $18,020.20). Motion: adopted. Roll call: unanimous yes. - Purchase order 2025041 to governmentjobs.com ($7,068.99). Motion: adopted. Roll call: unanimous yes. - Purchase order 2025043 to SC Group (county comp plan change order, $2,100). Motion: adopted. Roll call: unanimous yes. - County property insurance invoice ($407,558). Motion: adopted. Roll call: unanimous yes.

Context and next steps

County staff said some grant awards are reimbursement grants and that certain budgets had previously been approved, with the current motions approving line-item budgets or accepting award documents. Multiple items originate from departmental requests (described by staff during the action item period). The board scheduled additional workshops later the same day (an emergency manager workshop and a workshop with a Caterpillar representative). The commissioners called for an executive session after the public meeting; they stated no further public action would be taken immediately after the executive session.

The meeting record contains the motions, roll-call confirmations and staff remarks; department staff will proceed with contract execution and grant administration consistent with the approved items.