During its regular meeting held on Tuesday, March 18, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) unanimously approved a purchase and sale agreement for the property located at 2901 Cornerstone Drive for the purpose of constructing a new county administration building.
According to the agreement attached to the meeting’s agenda, the county will pay a total of $2,525,480 for approximately 5.5 acres of land.
At the beginning of the meeting, Commissioner Veronica Medina stated that she is a licensed real estate broker in Pagosa Springs, and “if the commission decides to make a decision on property today, ... I will not financially gain from such transaction if the commission votes on it.”
Commissioner John Ranson also acknowledged that he lives in the Aspen Village subdivision, where the Cornerstone property is located, noting that he was part of an original investment group for the area, but that he has not been a part of that since 2006, stating he would not gain anything financially from the decision.
The BoCC entered into an executive session which lasted approximately 20 minutes before returning to vote on the agreement.
County Attorney Todd Weaver explained that there are “a number of deadlines” for the seller to provide additional documents to the county, and if the county is not satisfied, it can opt out of the agreement with the option to void the contract “at basically no cost to the county.”
Ranson motioned to approve the agreement, with Commissioner Warren Brown seconding the motion, which was followed by a brief period of discussion amongst the three commissioners.
“There are still hoops to jump through with this contract,” Ranson said,explaining his reasoning for voting in favor of this agreement is because “there are not many places left that’s gonna have the electric.”
He added, “I don’t think we’re gonna find property reasonable and ready to build going forward at this kind of price.”
He noted it is a “good investment for the county.”
Ranson also stated that the future administration building will be connected to other county buildings in the area, noting that a road is slated to connect Aspen Village and Harman Park.
Brown explained his reasoning for voting in favor of the agreement includes that the property is the “most shovel ready with the most knowns that are available to this board, in my opinion.”
He also noted that the county began this process more than two years ago and has explored multiple different properties with varying aspects related to size and infrastructure availability.
Brown also commented that the BoCC has been interested in what the public wants.
“I believe this board has been interested in what the public wants,” he said, noting it is the taxpayers’ money and adding that “spending money wisely the first time, I think is incumbent on us.”
Brown also noted the importance of planning for the future in order to avoid going through this process over and over again.
“And I think that this place, this location makes the most sense for the money that is to be spent,” he said.
Medina also offered comments alluding to future community meetings to inform the public about specifics of the project.
“We will be having more informed community interaction,” she said, noting that additional data will be presented in regard to what county departments will occupy the new building, along with the expected size and cost of the building.
“We will have more information to provide and to help with those community meetings because we do want community buy-in,” she said.
Medina also mentioned she does not want to use a certificate of participation (COP) as a funding mechanism for the new building.
“We want to do this with the blessing, as much as possible, with the community and not do a COP,” she said, explaining that the community needs to be involved in order to avoid using a COP.
Medina explained that staff has been directed to gather information related to the cost of the building, noting, “Right now, we don’t have those numbers.”
She explained that “the goal now” is to start having community meetings to present additional information and receive community input.
“Because the COP, in my opinion, is not an option. It is not an option,” Medina said.
Ranson also stated that he is in favor of the agreement due to the county having the flexibility in the contract while being able to extend its lease of space in the former county courthouse located at 449 San Juan St.
“We do have that flexibility, it sounds, like if we need the extra time,” he said.
Former courthouse lease
Prior to entering the executive session, the commissioners addressed the option of possibly repurposing the Pagosa Springs Middle School building to serve the county, with Medina also indicating that the county has the option to extend its lease of space in the former county courthouse.
The BoCC sold the building in April 2022 to Ronnie Urbancyzk for $550,000 and five years of free rent, valued at $80,000.
During the March 18 meeting, Medina stated that communication with representatives of Urbanczyk confirmed that the lease could be extended past the initial five-year mark.
“Obviously under different terms than we currently have,” she stated.
Ranson commented that he liked the idea of repurposing the middle school building, but noted there is a reason the school district is looking to get out of that building.
“My main concern is parking,” he said, adding that he does not believe there would be enough room to bring all of the county departments into that building.
Brown also mentioned that it wouldn’t be any less expensive for the county to repurpose the building than it would be for the school district.
Brown addressed comments he received from the public expressing a desire to keep the county departments downtown.
“I certainly get that,” he said, adding the middle school building is not a “viable” location.
Medina stated that she shared similar concerns as her fellow commissioners, stating, “There are some concerns with the traffic there.”
She also mentioned there have been talks of the Town of Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County working together to find ways to use the middle school building for other purposes.
Ranson added that the school district also does not have a set timeframe for its plan, noting that it could be three or four years before the district builds a new school or renovates an existing building.
“We don’t even know if they’re gonna move,” he said.
clayton@pagosasun.com
