[{"_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",6497119,"mediaKeyId","5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0","parentId",5456326,"title","Monte Vista council approves arena renaming, coordinates November election, appoints substitute judge and confirms library board pick","audioSeconds",443,"startMs",4192000,"endMs",4635000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0&start=4192&end=4635","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0/thumbnail_4192000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6497119/Monte-Vista/Rio-Grande-County/Colorado/Monte-Vista-council-approves-arena-renaming-coordinates-November-election-appoints-substitute-judge-and-confirms-library-board-pick","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6497119-ec2e306a1611e5376d10b45147ec5d7d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775203728&Signature=Uwq-cu55~vG7~9JsMnO7UmE496xh5017wr1ZFSHQmeS-SNXHp15XEl6pTxoS8tTHqFhYcKgVh01zcxowSg8unAVqXLzfUnv3QTShN73PWHVUmUWrRyVwnVkIC7acKorf5J41~FWuoZDMX8VL2UBrqqvTV7HCovAiUvCDM3CJEwWHBQiR3x4Xn7BPfcxNBjF8t16hM37tQF5evGYRAzxQ-tNPDkZDLSsjkQbp3S-rSYLM-lMsDtqAueuhWFOfl2T9tQibGO~3b2DoZ6j~BrmDLQu1oTXApOZ5-yGABcFjpbMvol3MmIwkQXfYAlMcOB4h2F1djOI-NAFlw5ZiTYIJkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Monte Vista","date","2025-07-23T15:57:06.29Z","article","Monte Vista City Council members on the evening’s agenda approved four formal actions: renaming the Sky High Arena to honor Charlie Byrd, authorizing the city to participate in the county-coordinated November 4, 2025 election, appointing an alternate municipal judge, and confirming Mary Lynn Hawthorne to the Rio Grande County Library Board.

The votes were taken by roll call. Council recorded five aye votes to approve the arena renaming and the coordinated-election resolution and to appoint a substitute municipal judge. The library-board appointment passed with four yes votes and one abstention, according to the record.

The resolution to rename the Sky High Arena as the Charlie Byrd Arena was introduced by Brandon Rogers of the Sky High Stampede, who described a surprise presentation at the rodeo and asked the council to give its “blessing” to the dedication. The council moved and seconded the resolution and, after a roll call that recorded affirmative votes, the measure passed.

Separately, the council approved Resolution 2025-14 to coordinate the city’s municipal election with the Rio Grande County Clerk and Recorder for Nov. 4, 2025. The resolution notes that the ballot will include the mayor’s seat and two city council positions and authorizes the county to administer the election on the city’s behalf.

Council also approved Resolution 2025-15 appointing the Hon. James McDonald as a substitute/standby municipal judge for Monte Vista Municipal Court. The resolution cites provisions of the Monte Vista Municipal Code and Colorado Revised Statutes referenced during the reading and was adopted after members said the city needed reliable judicial coverage for matters such as bond hearings.

The council confirmed Mary Lynn Hawthorne’s appointment to the Rio Grande County Library Board after hearing a brief statement from Hawthorne about her background in education and long connection to the valley. The minutes show the motion carried with four yes votes and one abstention.

No litigation or other conditions tied to any of these items were recorded as part of the motions. Several council members and city staff spoke during the roll calls and introduction of the items; full excerpts of the meeting record are available in the meeting transcript.

Votes at a glance
- Resolution 2025-13 — Rename Sky High Arena to Charlie Byrd Arena: outcome — approved (roll-call ayes; tally recorded during roll call as five ayes). Motion moved and seconded; no amendments recorded.
- Resolution 2025-14 — Coordinate municipal election with Rio Grande County (11/04/2025): outcome — approved (roll-call ayes; five ayes). Motion moved and seconded.
- Resolution 2025-15 — Appoint James McDonald as substitute municipal judge: outcome — approved (roll-call ayes; five ayes). Motion moved and seconded.
- Appointment — Mary Lynn Hawthorne to the Rio Grande County Library Board: outcome — approved (four yes, one abstain). Motion moved and seconded.

The council’s actions will be reflected in the city’s minutes and transmitted to the appropriate county and judicial offices for implementation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Monte Vista City Council Meeting 7/17/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Monte Vista City Council members on the evening’s agenda approved four formal actions: renaming the Sky High Arena to honor Charlie Byrd, authorizing the city to participate in the county-coordinated November 4, 2025 election, appointing an alternate municipal judge, and confirming Mary Lynn Hawthorne to the Rio Grande County Library Board.","taxTitle","Monte Vista, Rio Grande County, Colorado","taxId",52033,"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},6497107,"Sky High Stampede organizers report attendance, praise new LED lights; council hears arena dedication plans",463,582000,1045000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0&start=582&end=1045","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0/thumbnail_582000.jpg","/articles/6497107/Monte-Vista/Rio-Grande-County/Colorado/Sky-High-Stampede-organizers-report-attendance-praise-new-LED-lights-council-hears-arena-dedication-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6497107-3f69c990578412b67e7970c1c848dc99/orig.mp4?Expires=1775203728&Signature=ozMEpjwiWWNDmiRpVMmvBmXmhdwWDKeGzpoP5axrmnurvy-9yOeYDLsYvDl19QRu8e1p-r2ZAvtpfgbecukJMawhRVhJQAh2AedZ29pgkSsW82nwLCuRjVzIkB4ARRIdHY-IEOgjgnOmSn0yDscZt9rdf9y5-hI0flqaeFx47VVPOaG4rVTvQQCP7Vn9iLBDtf6CWtCzx6fX86mQ44GwvAc7qNYnsN66KSxLKjIUrUCkw9NY5s0mWkrssHE21KSxaUIci9OIkkd-FWwimECUBOhNCdhT34ocbWjfBn6-q5~iuUgXLqO9FbXF-YD0xt~O9y9O4HnSNoK4WmcGnJMtMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Brandon Rogers, president of the Sky High Stampede, and Sky High management provided a recap of the weekend festival and asked the council to approve a resolution dedicating the arena to Charlie Byrd.

Rogers said the committee surprised Charlie Byrd with a sign at the rodeo and requested the council’s formal blessing to rename the Sky High Arena the Charlie Byrd Arena. The council subsequently adopted a resolution to rename the facility (see votes roundup).

Asked to provide event metrics, Sky High staff (DJ) said AI-based geofenced counts showed approximately 20,500 unique individuals entered the Sky High property over the weekend and about 33,600 total visits across four days — figures slightly below 2024 metrics. The staff presentation said the concert day counted about 6,800 people on the property versus about 7,300 the prior year.

Stampede organizers also thanked the city for grant funding that supported a new LED lighting system at the complex. Staff and organizers said the system helped during a lightning event on Saturday night because the lights resumed quickly after a brief outage; organizers told council that old halogen lights would have taken longer to return and could have created a safety problem with animals in the arena.

Facility staff reported the Stampede team contracted cleaning and operations and that, for the first time in recent Stampede events, they received no calls about restroom supplies or major messes during the weekend. Sky High staff said they are booked for many events in 2025 and are preparing for upcoming fair activities.

Council and staff thanked organizers and volunteers and noted the newly announced Cobblestone Hotel development and other facility investments that city staff say will help capture more tourism spending in future years.","Sky High Stampede leaders told the Monte Vista council the festival drew tens of thousands to the Sky High Complex over the weekend, praised a new LED lighting system and asked the council to approve naming the arena for Charlie Byrd.",{"_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},6497111,"Independent auditors give Monte Vista an unmodified opinion on 2024 financial statements; single-audit compliance clean",890,3162000,4052000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0&start=3162&end=4052","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0/thumbnail_3162000.jpg","/articles/6497111/Monte-Vista/Rio-Grande-County/Colorado/Independent-auditors-give-Monte-Vista-an-unmodified-opinion-on-2024-financial-statements-single-audit-compliance-clean","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6497111-fbb926419cc93c1729b1e18fcc2ee626/orig.mp4?Expires=1775203728&Signature=mplnt5hDek0LzxElDzS9jH13LzU~b8l0PXGV7BKdVl4PhkrUQktS9ueQrRQuhD2t1c-LjsF8L2CJnrjT9hvClU7O5PVQ8TvklV8iAKEFQFbWS8w6zI6xyWDO4QsO2DKUwPfv7IljnDXIIVbMekhK-McLOLWN6Z0qV-kS~MFfc0tc7zqxshGGXx9U6Kirwv4s62PnkV9q9YQtPqrEiZBt2WdBkA6WiemjSP8NslyKU9Tf256M79E-0oH3r8axemdDshJtFRUYoVvB6MUShYHwqraOclBh01IGdFecm8q3qtmJGt0bnLBLUWcgu4oqTmbmuPqel73zEzgoBim2Od8PrA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Auditors from Wall Smith Bateman presented the city’s 2024 audit results to the Monte Vista City Council and reported an unmodified (clean) opinion on the financial statements for the year ended February 2024.

Lead presenters Kim Temple and Beverly Martinez told the council that the city’s financial statements fairly presented its financial condition, and they highlighted that the audit included single-audit compliance procedures because the city expended nearly $2 million in federal awards for the year. The auditors tested the Airport Improvement Program as the major federal program and reported no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal control or compliance for that program.

Key figures the auditors cited from the presentation include total assets of about $37 million and a net position of roughly $32.3 million at year-end; total governmental expenses were reported as about $7.87 million with charges for services at approximately $3.4 million and capital grants/contributions of about $2.4 million. The auditors told council the city had a positive change in net position of roughly $4.3 million largely attributable to grants reinvested in capital infrastructure.

The management and audit teams found strong documentation from the finance director and staff; the auditors singled out the quality of financial information and the city’s readiness for a single audit after receiving federal grant funds. The audit included routine budget-to-actual schedules and one small over-budget item (about $6,000 in the Kids Connection fund) that auditors recommended the city verify in a year-end amendment.

Council and staff members acknowledged the work of Finance Director Judy and the finance team in preparing for the audit. No audit findings of material weaknesses were reported and the auditors indicated they would provide required communications and a standard letter to the governing body.

No formal council action was required beyond receipt of the audit and the auditors’ briefings.","Wall Smith Bateman reported an unmodified (clean) audit opinion for the city’s 2024 financial statements and an unmodified single-audit opinion for federal awards; auditors and staff highlighted grant-driven capital investments.",{"_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},6497115,"San Luis Valley Development Resources Group presents demographic profile and economic outlook to Monte Vista council",634,1134000,1768000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0&start=1134&end=1768","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5456326-37fcdd8ee87bd3279c1c18521cb6a5c0/thumbnail_1134000.jpg","/articles/6497115/Monte-Vista/Rio-Grande-County/Colorado/San-Luis-Valley-Development-Resources-Group-presents-demographic-profile-and-economic-outlook-to-Monte-Vista-council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6497115-bada82cc658e1cfc5c465f8fc19ac0b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1775203728&Signature=nmg9o~kfp9~qoNNpsNtXHxaw-8lxcmuwVEw~WcftYDqcZHy0NRyjbHBXolAf7QkggKbq1AZbO6~OBfzvZxLyPpvYahHB5r-8GwZYmbpSgY2ZQCoWX4FNDLek5OdWibHiZPnJj4QNbQtzCfAgrvefXINUEWe~sFYz1D9nnAHYbZbdrTOEctrJWHSHnnEI3j29hKf8pyA2-anIAWQthmU3mB00sS8MOHPAmj6Sa1ECK58GkTdhCZUcwDXdLs8P0Cz2FelElR8z19BRiimou99kBLWTMmE-EYHeuT2b7KhHzBPLZ2ex1bS~XjaXY43P2eGzpMClh3wiPP0ENM2WcchBtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sarah Stober, director with the San Luis Valley Development Resources Group and Council of Governments, briefed the Monte Vista City Council on demographic trends and regional economic indicators intended to inform local planning and investment decisions.

Stober said the region remains anchored in agriculture — “in excess of 350,000,000 dollars” annually — and emphasized the sector’s connection to water-security efforts. She summarized recent increases in tourism since the COVID pandemic, noting Visitations to Great Sand Dunes National Park have roughly doubled and lodging-tax revenue remains about 30% above 2020 levels, trends that can extend visitor stays and local spending.

On population, Stober described a long-term decline in both city and county population and raised questions about out-migration among younger people; she pointed to a spike in the 30–39 age cohort and a decline in the 15–30 cohort. She highlighted that roughly 40% of the local population is Hispanic and that 29.3% of county residents have incomes below the federal poverty line, figures she identified as key for service planning.

Stober also reviewed local wage figures and household-income brackets, telling council that the county’s reported average weekly wage was far below the state average and asking whether the city should expand workforce training, pursue certification programs, or partner with nearby colleges to build local capacity. She noted the DRG/COG business loan fund has closed nearly $2 million in loans in the valley so far this year.

Stober closed by listing DRG/COG objectives for 2025 including workforce-strengthening efforts, economic diversification, grant support for infrastructure, and expanded community services to address senior food insecurity and other social needs. She offered to follow up with council members and staff who want to explore partnerships or more detailed data.

Quotes recorded in the transcript include Stober saying she is “kind of a geek because I like all those numbers,” and emphasizing, “We are creating the future of the city by making investments like that in your own backyard,” referring to local facilities such as the Sky High Complex and a new hotel under construction.

The presentation prompted no formal council action at the meeting but the data were presented as context for future budget and policy decisions.","Sarah Stober of the San Luis Valley Development Resources Group and Council of Governments presented population trends, income and industry data to help Monte Vista leaders plan for housing, workforce and services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Monte Vista council approves arena renaming, coordinates November election, appoints substitute judge and confirms library board pick

Sky High Stampede organizers report attendance, praise new LED lights; council hears arena dedication plans

Independent auditors give Monte Vista an unmodified opinion on 2024 financial statements; single-audit compliance clean

San Luis Valley Development Resources Group presents demographic profile and economic outlook to Monte Vista council