Commissioners delay enforcement questions as county weighs wildfire-code adoption

Dolores County commissioners held a focused discussion on whether to adopt the state-recommended wildfire code and when the county should begin enforcing it. A committee member noted the state's timeline — an April 1 adoption deadline and a July 1 start for enforcement — and said the county could adopt the code but treat enforcement as a recommendation until state guidance and resources are clearer. "We're not going to be able to enforce it. That's just going to have to be a recommendation," the committee member said.

Commissioners voiced concerns about legal exposure and practical capacity if the county adopts the code but lacks staff or contractors to carry out property assessments or enforcement. One commissioner said homeowners should bear primary responsibility for mitigation (defensible space, fire-resistant materials), and questioned whether the town or the fire district would handle enforcement tasks. The discussion repeatedly flagged funding uncertainty: speakers said it was unclear whether the state would provide money or other support to smaller counties to implement the code.

Given those constraints, commissioners suggested a lighter, county-appropriate version of the code for jurisdictions without inspection infrastructure and proposed revisiting the item monthly to monitor state action and funding developments. "I think we just keep it on the table. I think we discuss it again in April and then May," a commissioner said. Staff (Shayla) was asked to keep the item on future agendas for updates.

No formal motion to adopt the wildfire code was made at this meeting; the item remains under discussion.