[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6056234,"mediaKeyId","3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b","parentId",3310887,"title","Commissioners approve $45,000 emergency grant for Silverton Family Learning Center; pledge contingency to affordable housing project","audioSeconds",430,"startMs",7363000,"endMs",7793000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b&start=7363&end=7793","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b/thumbnail_7363000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6056234/San-Juan-County/Colorado/Commissioners-approve-45000-emergency-grant-for-Silverton-Family-Learning-Center-pledge-contingency-to-affordable-housing-project","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6056234-f45ed2058ae435e043ff92720d1db814/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963153&Signature=QHbjZZFU1ApXy38lQN4Bdty-dZts6KI57X9yqQmLU8cyGX0LR~QKWztqrVWf~WDnw97ITXnTaCSC9qQoyusp3O8q9MqtKUcFUKTXdE6rOSIwdLBaPFG335mW61QeMkKzPbLDPtvLBzcyeM3N7yo720~84Bf4l9rT4B-a5445b~Y2mQeMG6gqIBF4kQVYBumjMJTmVYAD6UctpAD0jL791-W5NwzDbSKkzXVygAZqy2TD5o7aNRZvTg0~GXAqLvYJBS~FbnGuIFbbEu97VRhaW32hnfPh~ycbdkYm9P44L3H5wQ2ljMRkZKxBV6ihntC6BJcnbh0lXt5s9mU17dRHGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","San Juan County","date","2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","article","San Juan County commissioners took two funding actions tied to locally provided social services and housing on the night’s agenda: they approved an emergency, installment‑based grant of $45,000 to the Silverton Family Learning Center (SFLC) and committed to reimburse the San Juan County Housing Authority up to $100,000 if a pending private foundation award does not arrive.

Preschool emergency funding: SFLC leaders told the board they faced a shortfall that could force closure in early summer absent bridge funding. Commissioners approved $45,000 to be paid in monthly installments, conditioned on SFLC regular reporting and the county’s ability to match or reimburse portions if other grants materialize. County and SFLC leaders characterized the award as a short-term, emergency measure intended to keep a full-time early-childhood center operational while new leadership and fundraising plans are developed.

Housing contingency pledge: The Housing Authority presented a predevelopment package for a nine-unit infill project (two four‑plexes and one single-family unit) designed to meet the county’s and state’s affordable-housing goals. The authority reported it had secured $616,000 in state Division of Housing funds contingent on closing a remaining gap; it sought a contingency commitment from the county of $100,000 in case a $450,000 private foundation grant does not come through. Commissioners agreed to a conditional reimbursement pledge — up to $100,000 to be made available over time if the housing authority demonstrates need and the private funding is not received. The county emphasized that the pledge is contingent and intended to be leveraged to secure larger, permanent capital.

Natural resource damages and river-corridor support: Commissioners also agreed to pursue and support Natural Resource Damages (NRD) funding to restore and enhance the Animas River corridor, and they authorized a letter of county support for related projects led by the town and partner organizations. The county’s stated intent is to pursue a $150,000 NRD award on a county application while coordinating with the town’s larger $1.75 million corridor proposal; commissioners authorized staff to provide the requested letter of support.

Why this matters: the SFLC provides year‑round childcare and preschool slots that local employers and families rely on; an abrupt closure would disrupt parents and the local workforce. The housing project is tied to the county’s commitment under state programs and is meant to create affordable, permanently restricted homes for year‑round residents. NRD funding would help restore river habitat and improve public access without harming sensitive areas.

Ending: Commissioners said they will treat the grants as short-term interventions and asked both nonprofit partners to return with reporting and progress updates. The county’s support aims to stabilize locally critical services while residents and nonprofits pursue longer‑term funding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","San Juan Board of County Commissioner Meeting | May 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Facing a near-term cash shortfall, the board approved a $45,000 installment-funded emergency grant to keep the Silverton Family Learning Center operating this summer and agreed to a conditional county pledge of up to $100,000 to backstop a local housing authority’s 9-unit affordable housing project if a private foundation grant falls through.","taxTitle","San Juan County, Colorado","taxId",73427,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6056239,"San Juan National Forest ranger warns staffing cuts will shrink services, lean on partners for trails and toilets",541,8857000,9398000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b&start=8857&end=9398","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b/thumbnail_8857000.jpg","/articles/6056239/San-Juan-County/Colorado/San-Juan-National-Forest-ranger-warns-staffing-cuts-will-shrink-services-lean-on-partners-for-trails-and-toilets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6056239-99ead588ca098821f7780971ff412219/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963154&Signature=l11PjseZxwgYzPx4uoNfEOxED0KbuqguZ0pcOW6hBkSRtlwqw9TgQQN9~PYg1ZUDWaarLCromanHGkdT5dOKHj7oy9-LpuDC9~g98qVPkdbOO5CXbXbIMtI8J8d1f875J5bMKk8cmtFLroP8NTmtQjpukR8tT4kV6py6riGD3Zvm7HMkfI-Ptk3TmidsF8NgPpSHNPoP-YqBryzgi~WTex7A8P2iuWrIy7rt-5zT0bOOebo1zBRMeabLYWpV5bBK5vapSchHj7oIAbc7YH8Es1-SxTboAATEKmTONSIv~QNzZrlLNz2NJdYPSfmeAggA6u56fP1rLv9k5zejZm0AKw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Juan National Forest officials told San Juan County commissioners they are operating with sharply reduced non‑fire staff and expect service levels for trail maintenance, toilet pumping and other recreation stewardship to be curtailed this summer.

District Ranger briefing: the ranger reported the district has lost a large share of non‑fire employees because of retirements, early-retirement offers and agency reorganizations. The district’s Bayfield front office staff is reduced and open only on limited days; seasonal-hire limitations and hiring freezes have left trail crews and developed-site staff short-handed. The ranger said some duties will be filled by partner organizations, the Southwest Conservation Corps and volunteer groups, but that the Forest Service will rely heavily on partner funding and donations for portable toilets and pumping contracts.

Why it matters: in recent years high public use of alpine trailheads has increased demand on vault and pump‑out systems. Forest staff gave cost estimates for toilet pumping and porter facilities, described outreach to nonprofit partners (San Juan Mountain Association, Mountain Studies Institute, National Forest Foundation and Durango Trails), and said SJMA had already pledged four portable toilets for Ice Lakes. The ranger described a diminished administrative support capacity (for permitting and planning), which will slow large‑scale planning projects in the district.

Emergency response and fire staffing: the ranger said fire‑management staffing had not been cut; the main shortfalls are in non‑fire administrative, recreation and range‑management positions. The forest will therefore prioritize timber, fuels and energy work directed by recent executive guidance, while high‑use recreation maintenance will be met primarily through partners and one-off funding solutions.

Next steps and asks: Forest Service staff asked the county to coordinate where appropriate, and staff said they will share updates as funding offers and partnership agreements crystallize. The district ranger also said that if the county or partners can identify funding to keep toilets pumped or to provide short-term seasonal crews, the forest can direct available resources to priority trailheads.

Ending: the ranger emphasized that the forest service remains committed to managing high-use sites but that diminished staffing will require expanded partner roles and new funding or volunteer solutions to meet public‑use needs this year.","The district ranger told the county commissioners a wave of retirements and agency staffing reductions has left the local Forest Service office thin-staffed and likely to reduce services this summer, requiring heavy reliance on partners and donations for trail maintenance, campground toilets and other recreation stewardship work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6056244,"San Juan County social services report: March finances positive; commissioners approve Colorado Works MOU",359,269000,628000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b&start=269&end=628","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b/thumbnail_269000.jpg","/articles/6056244/San-Juan-County/Colorado/San-Juan-County-social-services-report-March-finances-positive-commissioners-approve-Colorado-Works-MOU","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6056244-61ca6db1518876edc497e6cc510efc08/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963154&Signature=LoN19wzmGO-HQood0d0kqV7ik3W1TWaOjx8RS20L-3f90~Syo7R7GnuOwm4dP3gxy0Kuvk7TKBkYYjXqro50lsfIDmzRrHOdl6wfQZqquWd5njYk2ffykzauy4jf9nmuiFdkeNDkvR9v7kxTGjg0BV-~y5tCaLf6uZ~A0DAmq8qj79MGE8vX6lXKDM0ZEt6YpRnB00nRua-Bus69SY345e2iIjpIyespzW7BQTFOeweMz7NOaVABBbLxLAbAmFRLgmzj80rlL9rHoK76EgESI2LRGTkOAQpLr8s6uLNxtCmKXeeclCLph88mH1ctf~SZEE1Sjdt8xQvYH7Uxk9NV0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Juan County social services staff told commissioners that March financials were stronger than recent months after property-tax receipts boosted the office’s bottom line, and the board approved a standard memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Colorado Department of Human Services to continue participation in the Colorado Works program through June 30, 2026.

The lede: Social services reported a March transmittal total of $10,746.79 and said a larger-than-usual inflow of property taxes — about $6,000 into the social-services account — produced a positive month-end balance of about $3,438 on the county’s internal trend report.

Why it matters: Colorado Works is the state’s cash-assistance program for low-income families with children; the annual MOU sets county and state responsibilities. County staff emphasized that Colorado Works includes a statutory county maintenance-of-effort requirement — the county pays 14.77% of the allocation, meaning a $10,000 allocation requires $1,477 of county match — and staff described the program as a good return on limited county dollars because federal/state allocations cover most case costs.

Staff also updated the board on multiple federal- and state-funded programs that feed local services. The county’s Community Services Block Grant allocation for holiday assistance was frozen this year and remains only $2,000 pending federal decisions; the county’s Area Agency on Aging allocation covered a shoveling/yard-work program that was about $15,500 for the current year but is projected at $8,190 for the next year — a near 50% reduction. Staff said reductions at the state level have already reduced some provider payments across the region and warned that proposed federal changes to TANF, the Social Services Block Grant or SNAP matching requirements could reduce local funding or increase required local matches, which would increase workload for staff doing verification and compliance checks.

Commission action and next steps: Commissioners approved transmittal number 3 (the March payment batch) and approved the Colorado Works MOU through June 30, 2026. Social services staff said they would forward drafts of any revised state–county MOU language as it is developed, and county staff asked commissioners to consider advocacy steps should federally proposed cuts narrow TANF or social-service block-grant funding.

Ending: Social services staff urged the board that if the county is alerted to specific legislative proposals affecting local programs, staff would share details so commissioners or the county could coordinate advocacy with neighboring counties and state legislators.

","County social services reported better-than-expected March finances after property-tax receipts, and the board approved an annual memorandum of understanding with the Colorado Department of Human Services for the Colorado Works program. Staff warned of possible federal and state funding cuts that could increase caseloads and workloads.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6056249,"San Juan County approves Silver Cloud Lodge PUD with conditions after extended public hearing",6983,1473000,8456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b&start=1473&end=8456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3310887-e66201abcd09cdcf26503079fa16561b/thumbnail_1473000.jpg","/articles/6056249/San-Juan-County/Colorado/San-Juan-County-approves-Silver-Cloud-Lodge-PUD-with-conditions-after-extended-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6056249-73cb088f34db8aa4fa3fc01a55f66544/orig.mp4?Expires=1770963154&Signature=VRwVaJE2DRIaEdl-7dk~fahRE2EtYMZzKpiqLYxDFZ9XNwse6vfgatCd~UAL5cub1AXRrEyDpoDZG72PAPzQJ6uG2BkyLGgv7XGj50vRWYrVFNER3DG1gjEfc7q0CLb~g463rthO5TR-Pha7gU26qmwW2MvlSZY27YDYRZFc~FXq9drCpsifb9gSPEZ-WlT-dzNiCyHFepIbslAdqop0XjYvw~Qy5et43EXOHLQM3ljuvRROx40qS59x4tW~jFbk8eK6qUlBZl6gQZrp1ngUzxRde6KdSEIZclAFtaXRtqB9HOGfyrpiyDfo1ju8TWEi-HifjnfMGbsqap0ukwFAog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","San Juan County commissioners voted to approve the final planned-unit development (PUD) application for the Silver Cloud Lodge after a lengthy public hearing and several changes requested by staff and the planning commission.

The proposal, brought by the applicant team for the Silver Cloud Lodge PUD, would create a small, off-grid backcountry lodge, associated employee housing, and limited visitor facilities on roughly 260 acres in the Mill Creek/Chattanooga valley. County planning staff presented the final plan and the planning commission recommendation and outlined required conditions, including an annual submission of the project’s avalanche and life-safety plan and limits on wood-burning devices.

Why it mattered: the application drew sustained public interest and detailed technical review because the sites proposed for buildings sit in avalanche-prone terrain, border sensitive wetlands and riparian features, and would add parking and visitor access along Colorado Highway 550. County staff and the applicant described multiple mitigation measures — a voluntary mine cleanup and erosion control work already completed, a wetlands-creation plan designed by Mountain Studies Institute, a peer-reviewed avalanche-safety and operations plan, and centralized septic and utility strategies intended to reduce wetland disturbance.

The applicant’s team told the board they have reduced the scale of the project since sketch plan approval, consolidated structures (reducing the number of buildings and moving employee housing into a single structure), cut proposed parking from a previously higher figure down to 34 spaces, and designed a wetlands restoration component that planners said would roughly offset any small on-site wetland impacts at a substantially higher ratio. The applicant also presented a completed voluntary cleanup determination from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for legacy mine waste at the primary lodge site.

Public comment reflected sharply divided concerns. Several residents and conservation-minded ecologists urged commissioners to protect rare wetlands and peat-rich fen habitat in the valley and questioned whether new access and parking would generate social trails and more off-trail use. Search-and-rescue and EMS representatives and other commenters likewise stressed that the project’s winter operations occur in terrain where external emergency response can be delayed or dangerous; those presenters asked the applicant and county to set robust, enforceable operational requirements, and asked for commitments to training and a formal MOU with search-and-rescue providers.

County staff recommended approval with a set of conditions that planners and the board described as enforceable: annual submission and retention of the avalanche and life-safety plan, the right for county attorneys to require revisions to the safety plan if post‑approval incidents reveal gaps, limits on wood-burning appliances (with narrow exceptions for emergency or sauna use as specified), a binding affordable-housing agreement tied to county zoning requirements, archaeological stop-work requirements should historic artifacts appear during excavation, and firm limitations on development footprints to avoid high-value wetlands.

Commission discussion focused on whether the avalanche-risk mitigation and annual safety-plan review language were sufficient, whether parking should be reduced further or shuttles required, and how to balance the lodge’s stated environmental restoration commitments (stream reconfiguration, wetland creation, and beaver habitat restoration) against local wildlife concerns (moose and elk calving habitat, black bear activity) and the project’s proximity to Highway 550. Commissioners and staff noted the project’s many iterations and the number of technical studies and peer reviews the applicant supplied.

The board moved to approve the final PUD with the planning commission’s recommended conditions and additional clarifications on safety-plan amendment language and reporting. The motion carried; the planning and enforcement conditions remain attached to the county’s approval, and county staff said they will require the applicant to provide the annual documentation stipulated in the approval.

The county, planning staff and applicant said they expect construction to proceed in phases over multiple years, beginning with the lodge site cleanup and then building out employee housing and utilities in later seasons. The approval does not change state or federal permit requirements; the applicant will still need any required CDOT access permits, Forest Service approvals for road work where needed, and Army Corps/CPW approvals as applicable.

Ending: The county’s final-plan approval ends a multi‑year entitlement process but marks the start of permitting and implementation. County staff said enforcement conditions will be carried forward into building and use permits and that the county retains the right to revisit safety plans if incidents or new information emerge.","After more than two hours of testimony and a detailed staff presentation, San Juan County commissioners approved the final planned-unit development for the Silver Cloud Lodge, imposing conditions addressing avalanche safety, wetlands restoration, and annual safety-plan review.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners approve $45,000 emergency grant for Silverton Family Learning Center; pledge contingency to affordable housing project

San Juan National Forest ranger warns staffing cuts will shrink services, lean on partners for trails and toilets

San Juan County social services report: March finances positive; commissioners approve Colorado Works MOU

San Juan County approves Silver Cloud Lodge PUD with conditions after extended public hearing