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Sand Flats committee considers paying state rangers for extra patrols; debates MOU vs cooperative agreement
Summary
Sand Flats staff reported gaps in law-enforcement coverage during busy seasons and shared a draft state MOU. Staff proposed funding additional ranger hours (initial state estimate $28,000; staff proposed $20,000 for a shorter term); county counsel said a Cooperative Agreement and Title 17 changes may be required.
Andrea Brand, Sand Flats Director, reported that state rangers have limited funded hours during the busy spring and fall seasons and that Lieutenant Brody Young suggested the Park might transfer funds to the state for additional ranger coverage. Brand described ranger duties as visible patrols, speed enforcement at trail exits, registration checks, and responding to accidents and emergencies. "He is visible to people and has reception so he can do his reports. He goes out on trails and patrols, checking registration, helps with accidents, emergencies, issues in the campgrounds, etc.," Brand said.
Brand said an initial state estimate was roughly $28,000 for eight hours per week; she proposed a reduced pilot of 17 weeks at eight hours per week for $20,000. Committee members asked whether other county mechanisms could be used. Cristin Hofhine of the Grand County Attorney’s Office suggested exploring modifications to Title 17 so the county sheriff could assume more enforcement responsibilities and noted that because the state would be party to any funded arrangement, the correct instrument may be a Cooperative Agreement rather than an MOU. The committee agreed to table the proposal to research costs, agreement language, and county approval steps before committing funds.
