Fremont Search and Rescue reviews 2024 operations; county awards $590,580 contract for East Main SAR/EMS building

Fremont Search and Rescue presented a year‑in‑review to the Board of Fremont County Commissioners on Dec. 10, describing accreditation, mission count, volunteer hours and recent equipment and grant support. Later in the meeting the board awarded a construction contract to build a dedicated Search and Rescue (SAR) and emergency management facility on East Main.

"We are a nonprofit 501c3. We've been established since 1969," said Dustin Elliott, commander of Fremont Search and Rescue, as he outlined the group's structure and 2024 operations. Elliott and Captain Randy Swords told commissioners the team is Mountain Rescue Association (MRA) accredited, currently has about 23 active members, and had conducted 27 missions year to date, including lost and injured hikers, ATV rollovers, dementia wanderings, swift-water responses and high‑elevation rescues.

Elliott provided operational metrics: the team reported a total of 6,278 volunteer hours in 2024 so far — 743 hours on missions, 2,813 hours on training, and roughly 1,881 hours on fundraising and community events. He described equipment needs and recent grant support: a $23,000 grant from the Keep Colorado Wild fund to replace a UTV, donations of additional all‑terrain vehicles from a neighboring county, and a grant that allowed the team to update outdated laptops and office equipment.

Commissioners and county staff lauded the group's professionalism and noted that volunteer SAR operations free up deputy resources for law‑enforcement duties. County officials also pointed out interagency training with Canyon City Fire and neighboring search-and-rescue teams.

Contract award for East Main facility

Later in new business the board considered bids for a project to build a separate Search and Rescue facility and additional county storage on East Main. Fremont County Engineer and project manager (identified in the meeting as Jay Bunder Center)…