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County approves $25,000 toward Taylor Kennedy mining-claims conservation and signs IGA with Silver Plume
Summary
The commission approved a $25,000 county contribution to help the town of Silver Plume buy and place a conservation easement on the Taylor Kennedy mining claims, authorized an intergovernmental agreement, and approved a supplemental appropriation from the county open-space fund to cover the expense.
The Clear Creek County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 6 voted to add $25,000 to the county's contribution toward the Town of Silver Plume's purchase of the Taylor Kennedy family mining claims for permanent open-space protection, and approved an intergovernmental agreement with Silver Plume to complete the acquisition.
Open-space staff said the project has grant support from GOCO (an amount cited on the record as roughly $300,000) and that a separate NOCO grant award was reduced to about $37,000 from an original request of $110,000, leaving a funding gap. Staff and municipal volunteers said other partners have committed money (including Freeport and the Bighorn Sheep Society) and that the county contribution will help close the remaining acquisition financing.
Cindy Neely, a volunteer on the project, thanked the board and noted broad partner support for the conservation work. The board approved resolution R26-02 authorizing the $25,000 contribution and then approved the intergovernmental agreement with Silver Plume that outlines shared responsibilities and the conservation-use covenant. Finance staff presented a supplemental appropriation to draw the money from the county's open-space fund and to adjust the TABOR reserve; the board approved that supplemental appropriation as well.
Commissioners discussed the grant relationship and whether NOCO's executive committee allocations could change; staff said they would continue to pursue additional GOCO and partner funds and that the county's contribution will be used specifically for the Taylor Kennedy acquisition and related closing costs.
Next steps: the town's trustees will consider the IGA at their next meeting, staff will finalize closing logistics and the conservation easement, and partners will continue fundraising for trail and stewardship work promised in the project plan.
