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Rio Blanco approves 2026 master fee schedule, awards Old Meeker landfill contract and updates planning/oil & gas fees
Summary
After a detailed section‑by‑section review, commissioners adopted the 2026 master fee schedule (keeping many building/planning fees status quo, clarifying oil & gas administrative review at $47/hr), approved drill cuttings increases for landfill, and awarded the Old Meeker Landfill project to CRC Inc.
Following a recess, Rio Blanco County commissioners conducted a section‑by‑section review of the proposed 2026 master fee schedule and approved it Dec. 9 after clarifying several department items.
Building fees: Commissioners debated moving from variable fees to flat rates for roofing, mechanical and solar permits but ultimately kept the status quo after comparing three‑year averages and expressing concern that flat fees could under‑charge very large projects.
Planning and oil & gas: The board removed proposed planning changes from the current amendment and agreed to leave planning fees status quo while pursuing a separate approach for future reimbursement structures. Staff clarified that oil & gas administrative review would be charged at $47 per hour; planning administrative review rates remain unchanged in this approval.
Fairgrounds and other fees: The board streamlined fairgrounds pricing to simpler categories and discussed allowing small clinics or limited uses to reserve hourly per‑person rates as a note in the schedule.
Solid waste: Commissioners approved updated landfill charges, including drill cuttings and drill mud increases to reflect state changes, and set a minimum per‑load charge at roughly $5.25 (transcript discussion noted tax components). Road & Bridge and other departmental fees remained largely unchanged.
Old Meeker Landfill project: The board voted to award the 2025–2026 Old Meeker Landfill branch project contract to CRC Inc., noting local preference evaluation (5%) and that CRC’s bid remained the lowest after preference adjustment.
Outcome: Commissioners approved the master fee schedule by roll call (one abstention recorded in the transcript) and awarded the landfill contract; staff will publish the schedule and implement the new landfill rates and contract administration steps.
