At its Sept. 16 meeting, the Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) approved transferring 11 county-owned parcels in the Trails subdivision to the Archuleta County Housing Authority (ACHA) for the development of deed-restricted affordable housing.
The board officially committed the lots to the ACHA on July 16.
The Sept. 16 action approved quit claim deeds for the 11 lots, which are all located on Bonita Drive.
Clifford Lucero, speaking on behalf of the ACHA, thanked the BoCC for working with ACHA before the BoCC unanimously approved the deeds.
At the same meeting, the BoCC:
• Appointed Randy Betts as the chief building official for Archuleta County.
• Approved a letter of support for a Wolf Creek Ski Area grant application to the Colorado State Forest Service.
The ski area is preparing a grant application for the 2025-2026 Restoration and Wildlife Risk Mitigation Grant Program, with the meeting’s agenda explaining, “This grant would provide funds critical to enhancing their years-long mission to reduce wildfire risk in and around the permit area” of the ski area.
The letter states in part:
“Wildfire poses a significant threat to our local environment, economy, and infrastructure. Wolf Creek Ski Area (WCSA) is taking action to protect the land, water, and critical infrastructure along Wolf Creek Pass, an area where the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests meet the Continental Divide. This project is essential for safeguarding our community from the devastating impact of a wildfire.
“The next phase of mitigation will focus on two key areas. The first is a 500-acre section of national forest above the Alberta Lake Reservoir. This reservoir, which feeds a sub-watershed of the Rio Grande River, was recently rebuilt by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) at a cost of nearly $6 million. According to CPW, a fire in this area would be devastating to the watershed. The second area is adjacent to a vital communications tower that serves multiple organizations, including the ski area. It also lies across from a Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) facility crucial for maintaining year-round operations on Wolf Creek Pass.
“These efforts not only protect the natural landscape and the recreation industry we support, but also the economic well-being of our local communities. A significant portion of WCSA employees live in a socially vulnerable region, making the project’s economic protection a critical priority. Safeguarding our infrastructure is a vital step in preserving both the environment and the economic stability that so many local families depend on. Thank you for your consideration.”
• Approved a letter of support for a grant application by the Town of Pagosa Springs.
The town is applying for the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Non-Motorized Trails Grant to help with the Town-to-Lakes Trail from 10th Street to Great West Avenue, according to the agenda.
“The Board is enthusiastic about this project’s potential and considers this grant a key step forward. This initiative will not only benefit Pagosa Springs and Archuleta County, but it will also contribute to the larger goal of improving interconnected transportation options throughout Colorado. Thank you for your consideration,” the letter states in part.
• Awarded additional funds from Archuleta County Main Street Business Grant.
Archuleta County Accountant Allison Wylie explained to the commissioners that the county had received 21 applications, with 19 of those awarded.
She indicated a little over $40,000 remains in the fund.
randi@pagosasun.com
