Custer County commissioners approve pay adjustments, buy three patrol vehicles and accept $49,250 forest‑mitigation chipper grant

The Custer County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 13 approved a series of personnel, public‑safety and capital actions, including pay adjustments to address wage compression, the purchase and lease financing of three patrol vehicles, and acceptance of a $49,250 state grant to buy a tow‑behind chipper for neighborhood wildfire mitigation.

Why it matters: The actions move county staffing and fleet toward a multi‑year replacement plan, provide a new equipment tool for community fuel‑reduction work tied to local volunteer programs, and reallocate reserve funds the board says were previously earmarked but not moved into the proper accounts.

The board approved a one‑time series of pay adjustments intended to reduce internal compression in several departments. Human Resources Director Robert Smith told commissioners he had identified positions where long‑tenured employees earned less than more recently hired staff in comparable roles. The board approved adjustments totaling $34,320.20; the increases will be reflected in departmental budgets and funded from cash reserves. Commissioner Lucas, Commissioner Paul and Commissioner Candace voted in favor.

Public safety and fleet: Sheriff’s staff presented a plan to buy three 2020 heavy‑duty Chevrolet police pickups being offered at a substantial discount due to hail damage, outfit them for patrol and phase out several higher‑mileage vehicles in the current fleet. The board authorized the county to acquire three new vehicles through a five‑year lease (the county will own the vehicles at lease end) with an estimated annual payment of about $26,004.22 and directed staff to market and sell selected surplus vehicles to offset payments. Commissioners moved and seconded the purchase and sale plan and voted to approve it. Sheriff’s staff said the purchase would allow the office to retire the most‑worn units and restructure remaining vehicles as posse and utility trucks.

Forest mitigation equipment: The board accepted a Colorado State Forest Service Forest Restoration and Wildfire Risk Mitigation grant of $49,250 to buy a tow‑behind diesel chipper that will be managed by the county’s OEM office and used on community mitigation projects. Robin (county OEM/forestry liaison) said trained county staff or trained mitigation volunteers will operate the machine; volunteers and operators will be covered under the county’s insurance when acting under county direction. The board approved accepting the grant and agreed to provide the required local match (approximately 50 percent of the grant package as noted in application documents) to place the equipment into service. The county will store and maintain the chipper, and the Veterans Rescue Ranch has agreed by MOU to take appropriate chipped wood for veteran fuel‑wood programs.

Veterans and staffing: The board approved the county’s CVA‑26 stipend submission for the veterans service officer and accepted a motion to authorize the stipend payments. Veterans Service Officer Dominic reported year‑to‑date annualized veteran benefit increases of roughly $1.75 million flowing into Custer County from newly awarded or upgraded VA claims; he also reported that an assistant VSO, Courtney Shank, will start Monday to handle intakes and help expand claims work. Commissioners approved using LATCF (federal/state ARPA/COVID‑era) funds this year to support the assistant VSO position; future funding will be evaluated during budget planning.

Finance, audit and reserves: Finance Director Vernon and the treasurer’s office reported on completion of internal cleanup work to move previously earmarked dollars (for housing, contingency and landfill expansion) into separate funds. Treasurers’ figures cited at the meeting: beginning balance for a disclosed period of $9,605,006.73 and an ending balance of $9,347,082.99; staff summarized approximately $1 million in general‑fund reserves available as spendable cash, plus additional reserves in capital and road & bridge funds. Vernon told the board he is preparing internal audit materials ahead of the county’s auditor visit and working with department heads to implement new accounts‑payable, payroll and credit‑card policies and training to reduce long‑standing “material weaknesses” flagged by auditors.

Human resources and payroll: HR Director Robert Smith said payroll administration has recently moved from finance to HR, and recommended eliminating a hybrid “salary non‑exempt” pay code that caused some double‑pay events in the county’s payroll system. Smith said department heads support converting those employees to standard hourly classification so hours are entered directly and the double‑payment risk is removed; the board noted the change will require staff and employee communications and will not affect employees classified as exempt from overtime.

Other approvals and budget moves: The board approved a series of routine and grant‑related resolutions and transfers: a transfer of $54,745.32 from general fund landfill receipts into the landfill expansion fund, and a supplemental appropriation of $50,000 from the capital improvement fund to cover airport fence and gate work (the airport project includes grant reimbursement). The board also approved a written letter of support for Veterans Rescue Ranch’s grant application.

Meeting context and next steps: Commissioners discussed temporary speed‑feedback trailers and other non‑enforcement signage as lower‑cost tools to supplement enforcement in problem corridors; staff said a basic radar‑equipped trailer runs roughly $14,000 and that Colorado Department of Transportation Highway Safety grants could be pursued for purchase. Finance staff will present any required budget amendments and procurement documents at upcoming meetings. The county also scheduled follow‑ups on HR policy workshops, an RFP plan for select insurance lines, and additional fleet and capital‑replacement planning.

Votes at a glance: the board (three commissioners present) recorded these approvals during the Feb. 13 meeting: approval of minutes (02/13/2025), treasurer’s report for Dec. 1–31, 2024; acceptance of CVA‑26 stipend for the veterans service officer; wage adjustments totaling $34,320.20; authorization to acquire and finance three patrol vehicles and to sell specified surplus vehicles; acceptance of Colorado State Forest Service chipper grant ($49,250) with local match; resolution 25‑05 (landfill receipts transfer $54,745.32); resolution 25‑06 (capital appropriation $50,000 for airport fences/gates); and a letter of county support for Veterans Rescue Ranch. Where an individual vote was recorded the minutes show unanimous approval by Commissioners Lucas, Paul and Candace.

What we do not know yet: several budget appropriations described will be formalized in resolutions or budget amendments at the next meeting; the exact schedule for chipper deployment and the long‑term funding source for the assistant VSO beyond the current LATCF award were discussed but not finalized.

The board adjourned after setting follow‑up workshops on HR policy, audit readiness and an RFP schedule for selected insurance contracts and vendor bids.