Commissioners approve agreements for Whetstone and land conservation

The Board of County Commissioners met on Nov. 3 to hold their regular meeting and approve agreements regarding the Whetstone Housing Project and public lands. 

The board unanimously approved the Oct. 6 and 20 meeting minutes and approved the consent agenda except for item 6, subdivision exemption and boundary line adjustment, which was pulled because a physical signature was needed, but after confirming that it could be signed later that day, was approved unanimously as well. 

County Manager Matthew Birnie reported substantial progress on the Whetstone project. The county closed on the parcel needed for the roundabout after more than three years, and work on the surface crossing was set to begin after CDOT verbally approved the permit. Buildings 9 and 10 now have geothermal heat, flooring work is underway, and appliances are next. Sidewalks and scheduled paving were completed, and the county was nearing readiness for tours and eventual occupancy, though there was not a firm turnover date.

Public Works presented a $791,000 construction management agreement with HDE Engineering Inc. for the Brush Creek Roundabout project. The firm will act as the county’s representative during construction, overseeing project delivery, federal funding compliance, materials testing, contractor submittals, and audit documentation. The county reported they lack the staff capacity and specialized expertise to handle this work internally.

The county received four competitive bids and selected HDR for its federal-project paperwork and submittal expertise. The contract was included in the project budget, is eligible for grant reimbursement, and came in below the roughly $1 million anticipated cost. The board approved the agreement unanimously.

The board also unanimously approved a $200,000 grant agreement for Phase Two of the Stirrup Bar Ranch conservation easement, in partnership with Trust for Public Land, mostly in Delta County, with portions extending into Gunnison County near Somerset and Crystal Creek. Closing is expected in December. The board welcomed the effort’s benefits for connected landscapes, watersheds, and wildlife.

“This is something that we were looking at last year, and it’s really exciting to see this progress,” said Commissioner Liz Smith. “We’re trying to strategically conserve land where it makes the most sense and where we know the lasting impact is going to be beneficial for ongoing generations.”

There was no public comment. 

The board shared updates on regional work and upcoming policy issues including the Colorado River Map Group’s community workshops, support for the Gore Act and related public-land legislation, and ongoing Crystal River Wild and Scenic Coalition discussions, which are focused on gathering information and process rather than making policy decisions. Commissioner Puckett Daniels reported gathering data from an early-childhood provider survey to inform possible county initiatives. 

Other updates covered potential state discussion of local pesticide regulation, climate resilience and forest-management efforts, road-funding principles, and a planned comment on the accelerated prairie dog hunting rulemaking. Puckett Daniels’ proposed comment urged a careful, professionally informed process, noting that development and plague were identified as greater threats to prairie dogs than hunting. Commissioner Jonathan Houck reported that a few Public Works employees were able to get down to Archuleta County and Pagosa Springs to help in their time of need during mass flooding.

“I think that's the total Gunnison County way. We help our neighbors, and we ask for help when we need it,” said Houck. “I just wanted to publicly say thanks for finding the opportunity to get some folks down there to help them out.”

The board adjourned the meeting to move into executive session for legal advice and negotiation strategy concerning two Gunnison County Parcels, with county leadership, counsel, Public Works, Community and Economic Development, and planning staff. The next meeting will be held on Nov. 10.