Alamosa County to accept Spanish Cemetery deed and lease it to volunteer association if deeded

The Alamosa County Board of Commissioners voted May 27 to accept a deed transfer of the Spanish Cemetery to the county and to enter an agreement to lease the site to the Alamosa Spanish Cemetery Association if the association completes a deed transfer.

The action followed a presentation by Katie Dokson of History Colorado and Boogie Romero, a Spanish Cemetery board member, who said the association recently filled vacancies and voted unanimously to transfer the cemetery deed to Alamosa County. Romero described long family stewardship of the site: “My parents cared for it for 30 years and I have been caring for it for almost 35 years,” he said.

Commissioner Vern Heersink said county ownership could provide a more permanent home for the cemetery. County Attorney Jason Kelly told the Board the association could prepare a quick-claim deed to convey the property and that questions about long-term management would remain for follow-up. Kelly also described the county’s likely role of appointing an advisory board to manage the cemetery while keeping it open for public use.

The Board approved a motion, moved by Commissioner Lori Laske and seconded by Vice Chair Arlan Van Ry, to enter an agreement to lease the property to the Alamosa Spanish Cemetery Association if the property is deeded to Alamosa County. The motion passed unanimously.

Next steps include finalizing a deed from the association to the county and drafting the lease and advisory-board arrangements to clarify ongoing maintenance and public access.