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Dolores County approves KCW-funded side-by-side for search-and-rescue
Summary
The Dolores County Board approved end-of-year spending to acquire a side-by-side response vehicle funded through Keep Colorado Wild (KCW) allocations, with staff describing procurement and reimbursement steps and an estimated purchase cost of about $57,000.
The Dolores County Board of County Commissioners voted on June 22, 2026 to approve spending end-of-year and KCW (Keep Colorado Wild) funds to purchase a newer side-by-side response vehicle for local search-and-rescue operations. The board's brief expenditure meeting included a staff presentation describing why the vehicle is needed and how the KCW funding will be used.
A Search and Rescue member told the board KCW provides roughly $44,000 a year to the county and that those funds must typically be spent within two years or risk being returned. "We get about 44,000 a year from that," the Search and Rescue member said. The presenter explained KCW payouts vary based on factors such as number of rescues, hours spent on rescues, team size and county size, and described a procurement process that requires an approved budget, a purchase order and documentation (invoice, copy of check and photos) before reimbursement is released.
Board members heard operational reasons for replacing the older vehicle: the presenter said the existing side-by-side had limited ground clearance and an aging engine that constrained response speed and exposed volunteers to cold conditions during long missions. "It's got increased ground clearance, and it's got heating," the Search and Rescue member said, arguing that a newer vehicle would improve response capability and reduce wear on larger trucks.
The presenter gave a rough cost estimate for a replacement vehicle at about $57,000 and described planned outfitting (stretcher mounts, chainsaw storage, and a weather top). The board approved the spending at the meeting; staff discussed logistics for obtaining signatures and completing KCW paperwork so reimbursement can be processed.
