During the recent Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting in Huerfano County, significant discussions centered around contract approvals and funding requests aimed at enhancing community services and infrastructure.

One of the key topics was the approval of an addendum to the Code Red contract, which will now include SMS text messaging capabilities. This change is crucial as AT&T and T-Mobile will no longer support email-to-text messaging for delivering alerts. The addition of SMS text messaging is expected to improve the county's ability to reach residents during emergencies. The cost for this enhancement is $10,540.28, which will be allocated for the remainder of 2025. The contract will remain in effect until December 31, 2026. The motion to approve this contract was unanimously passed by the commissioners.

Another important discussion involved a request for authorization to apply for funding from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. This funding is intended for a pilot program focused on asbestos and lead remediation at parks near Walsenburg. The estimated cost for the abatement is $175,000, with a request not to exceed $200,000 to cover potential additional expenses. This initiative is part of a broader effort to address environmental hazards in the area, particularly in light of ongoing construction projects. The commissioners also expressed intentions to seek further grant funding in the future to cover the full costs of remediation.

Additionally, the meeting included a motion regarding vendor payments, specifically a payment of $291,015 for services rendered, which was also approved without opposition.

Overall, the discussions at the BOCC meeting highlighted the county's commitment to improving public safety and environmental health through strategic funding and contract management. The approved measures are expected to have a positive impact on community well-being and infrastructure resilience in Huerfano County.