The Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) adopted a resolution Tuesday morning to allow the “lawful possession of firearms in Garfield County government buildings”.

The resolution is a direct response to Senate Bill 24-131, passed by the Colorado General Assembly in May 2024, banning firearms in government buildings in Colorado. Local governments are allowed to opt out of the bill. Other counties on the West Slope that have opted out include Mesa, Routt, Moffat, Gunnison, Montrose and Delta. Front Range counties and municipalities have also opted out of the bill.  

Part of GarCo’s resolution mistakenly substituted “Douglas County” for “Garfield County.” Douglas County adopted the exact same resolution last year. 

Garfield County’s document also refers to the “general safety and welfare of the residents of Garfield County” and how the BOCC has “the duty and authority to establish regulations to administer, protect and maintain county buildings and property.” Commissioners did not address how allowing someone to legally carry a concealed gun in county government buildings does or does not protect the buildings or the safety and welfare of county residents. 

In 2019, the BOCC declared Garfield County a Second Amendment Preservation County in response to HB 19-117, also known as the Red Flag law.

The morning session also included approval of the consent agenda, an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the University of Colorado regents, an IGA with Rio Blanco County for mental health services and improvements to wastewater treatment facilities in Carbondale and New Castle.

The BOCC heard from Mountain Valley Developmental Services and were introduced to longtime Roaring Fork Valley resident Maura Masters, the nonprofit’s new development director. “It’s a pleasure to be here where kindness reigns,” she said about her job. 

Michelle Muething, interim director of Windwalkers Therapeutic Riding Center, Program Director Beth Gusick and Dee Stiers, the executive director of the Riding Institute for Disabled Equestrians (or RIDE) in Silt, talked about their respective nonprofits, extolling the virtues of all things equine. “This is the first time I’ve had over 17 employees with four legs and manes,” said Muething. 

Luis Yllanes Zoomed into the BOCC meeting to announce that this year would be his last as the executive director of 5 Point Film Festival. Yllanes, who now lives in Florida, has been working remotely for the organization. Carbondale hosts this year’s flagship film fest April 24 to 27.

Sharon Longhurst-Pritt, director of GarCo’s Department of Human Services, told the BOCC that January’s government benefits disbursements, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP), totaled $1,142,732.75. 

The BOCC signed a letter of support for a state Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment grant application from Pathfinder Broadband and discussed changes to leases and bond requirements at the Rifle Garfield County Airport.

Commissioners also approved an update to the county’s Colorado Open Records Act policy, including new prices as well as new language for requesting records from the county’s Department of Human Services. Hourly fees have jumped from $30 to $41. Paper copies are now 25 cents per page. 

Commissioners spent the afternoon hunched over their notes and computer screens during a raft of land use change permit hearings. They approved Satank resident Annie Perry’s request for a split lot permit at 55 South Cedar Street and denied a permit for a contractor’s yard on County Road 100 north of Highway 82.

The final hours of Tuesday’s meeting were taken up by an application for a permit to make substantial changes to Colorado Extreme’s youth ice hockey facility at 2340 County Road 100, two miles east of Carbondale. Presentations by county and Colorado Extreme staff and engineers included the long-term vision of an extensive athletic facility on the property. Commissioners approved phase one, which includes a temporary outdoor facility, ice rinks and a summer training area.

You can watch archived county commissioner meetings on the Garfield County website.