• The SJWCD board reiterated and expanded upon its opposition to the potential sale of Running Iron Ranch by PAWSD at its Dec. 2 meeting.
Following an executive session convened to discuss the sale of the ranch, Jones commented that the board has publicly stated its objections to the sale of the ranch and that selling the property without “knowing more” would not be consistent with the mission of the SJWCD.
She added that the board rejected a specific purchase offer which purported to include the construction of a reservoir.
However, Jones stated that the offer did not include a commitment to building a reservoir and provided the buyer “for no additional consideration” with water rights owned by the SJWCD that were conveyed to it by the Southwestern Water Conservation District.
• On Dec. 3, the town council, acting as the Pagosa Springs Sanitation General Improvement District board, approved the second reading of Ordinance 20, allowing the issuance of tax-exempt revenue bonds in an amount not to exceed $4.8 million.
• In early December, it was revealed that canvass board members in seven Colorado counties, including Archuleta County, voted against certifying the 2024 general election results, citing a recent password leak from the Secretary of State’s Office as the reason.
Members in Archuleta, Boulder, Eagle, El Paso, Gilpin, Jefferson and Larimer counties refused to certify the results of the Nov. 5 election, which is an administrative task to determine that the number of votes cast and votes counted is equal.
• On Dec. 6, the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) board awarded a $420,000 grant to the town to expand public river access along the San Juan River’s eastern gateway.
The funding will help the town ac- quire and improve a 4.3-acre property adjacent to the San Juan River. The project aims to expand public river access and recreational facilities while preserving the natural beauty of the area.
• The Pirate basketball teams hosted the Wolf Creek Classic Dec. 5-7 to open their 2024-2025 seasons.
After a closely contested loss to the Delta Panthers on Dec. 5, the Pirate basketball team rallied Saturday to defeat the Gunnison Cowboys.
The Lady Pirates enjoyed two wins.
• The Lady Pirate wrestling team opened its season by competing in the Girls’ Wolverine Classic in Bayfield on Dec. 7.
Coach Dan Janowsky highlighted that the team has doubled its roster compared to the previous year.
The Lady Pirates finished fourth out of eight teams at the tournament. Laykyn Baxstrom and Bella Jackson each took first place in her respective weight classes. Kylie Matyniak placed second in her weight class, with Maddie Stretton and Aspen Salazar finished third in their respective weight classes.
• The Pirate boys’ wrestling team began its season at the Wolverine Classic on Dec. 7.
The Pirates finished eighth out of 11 teams.
Colton Lucero earned first place in the 150-pound weight class, Taylor Hancey took third in the 165-pound weight class, Antonio Quezada placed third in the 285-pound weight class, Anthony Manzanares finished fifth in the 118-pound weight class, Stetson Osborn placed sixth in the 132-pound weight class and Tucker Jacobson finished in sixth place in the 138-pound weight class.
• In a Dec. 9 opinion, the Colorado Supreme Court sided with a local attorney in a 2020 case with Archuleta County involving access to public records.
In the ruling, the court affirms that attorney Matt Roane’s status as a litigant against the county did not preclude him from requesting re- cords related to the litigation from the county under the Colorado Open Records Act. It also sets precedence for future similar situations.
The case was argued before the Supreme Court on Sept. 24.
• October sales tax collections increased by nearly 14 percent com- pared to the previous year’s figures, according to reports released Dec. 9 by Archuleta County Finance Director Chad Eaton.
The 13.83 percent increase from the previous year accounted for an additional $226,368.658.
• During a Dec. 10 work session, the BoCC heard a presentation from Troy Bernberg, a financial director with Northland Securities, which provided a property analysis to aid in the county’s consideration of purchasing land for the construction of a new administration building.
• Following an executive session during its Dec. 12 meeting, the PAWSD board voted unanimously to have the district’s lawyer file a lawsuit requesting declaratory judgment concerning the terms of the district’s three-way agreement with the SJWCD and the CWCB that outlines how the Running Iron Ranch will be managed.
The board then discussed whether to make a formal declaration that the ranch is for sale, with PAWSD board member Gene Tautges moving to declare that PAWSD is selling the ranch and Walsh seconding.
Hudson noted that the board was now involved in litigation and asked Tautges whether it would be better to make a decision on the sale after the litigation is resolved or to make the decision now.
Tautges replied that “the other parties made it crystal clear their intention, and I think we owe it to them to make our intentions crystal clear, as well.”
Walsh added that the district also should make its intentions clear to its customers that it is seeking the “highest and best offer” for the ranch.
The board then voted unanimously to declare its intention to sell the ranch.
• The Lady Pirate swim team started the season with a bang on Dec. 13 in Delta, with the team qualifying for state in the 200-yard medley relay.
• Community members joined the Veterans for Veterans of Archuleta County at Hilltop Cemetery on Dec. 14 to honor local veterans at the annual Wreaths Across America ceremony. Attendees then placed remembrance wreaths on the graves of veterans at rest in the cemetery.
• During its Dec. 17 meeting, the BoCC approved a conditional use permit for Keyah Grande to operate a commercial shooting range on its property. The decision was made with a split vote of 2-1 with commissioners Warren Brown and Ronnie Maez voting in favor and Medina opposing.
• The home of Archuleta County’s future administration building took another turn on Dec. 17 when the BoCC approved a property located at 2901 Cornerstone Drive.
• On Dec. 17, LPEA announced the arrival of its new transformer to be used in its first new substation since 2008 — a critical infrastructure investment aimed at increasing reliability and strengthening the electric grid for the Pagosa Springs community.
This represents a $6.5 million investment and is expected to significantly improve LPEA’s operational flexibility while providing redundancy to reduce the impact of potential power outages in the region.
• The Pirate wrestling team traveled to Grand Junction to compete in the annual Warrior Classic tournament on Dec. 20 and 21.
The Pirates finished in the middle of the 56-team field.
Manzanares was the highest-placed Pirate for the second consecutive week, earning second place.
The Lady Pirates took 10th out of 31 teams at the tournament.
Three Lady Pirates placed in the tournament, with Baxstrom leading the way by taking second place.
• The holiday spirit hit Pagosa Country throughout the month of December, with numerous holiday events held, including the Festival of Trees, concerts and the Old Fashioned Christmas Celebration.
