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Chaffee County votes to withdraw from regional SWAT IGA; asks sheriff for 30‑day transition plan
Summary
The board accepted the sheriff's request to terminate participation in the regional SWAT intergovernmental agreement with Salida and Buena Vista, approved written notice and asked the sheriff to provide a 30‑day plan describing how municipal partners will continue to receive support.
The Chaffee County Board of Commissioners approved staff recommendation to terminate the county's participation in the regional SWAT intergovernmental agreement (IGA) formed in 2023 with the City of Salida and the Town of Buena Vista.
County staff explained the sheriff requested the withdrawal and intends to retain ownership of a jointly purchased tactical vehicle for use outside the formal IGA. Commissioners discussed mutual‑aid continuity and whether municipal partners would be left without resources; county staff said routine mutual‑aid partnerships and informal responses historically continue outside the contract terms. Several commissioners asked the sheriff to provide a written 30‑day plan outlining how municipal responses and any fiscal impacts would be handled after withdrawal.
A motion to provide written notice to partner municipalities and to work with their leadership on closeout and transition details passed by voice vote. Commissioners noted the IGA originated primarily to cost‑share a vehicle purchase and that operational mutual aid had often preceded the IGA.
