The Capital Development Committee unanimously recommended support for Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s proposed fee-title purchase of a 19.6-acre property at 250 Jackson County Road 6 in Cowdrey for $720,000 to serve as a work center for the northern portion of State Forest State Park.

Kim Rogers, real estate section manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, described the site as including a resident’s shop and shed that would support park operations and the North Sandhills off-highway vehicle area. CPW said it is negotiating a management agreement with the Bureau of Land Management for the North Sandhills area; the agreement is currently in the attorney general’s office.

Ryan Crabbe, the State Forest State Park manager (online), said the site is not contiguous with the park’s main leasehold because private property sits between them, and the proposed location gives CPW administrative access to a part of the park subject to a winter wildlife closure. "They're aware of it. They're gonna lose roughly $2,000 a year in property taxes," Crabbe said, referring to Jackson County’s estimate of lost tax revenue if the land transfers to state ownership.

Crabbe said Jackson County was one of the sponsors of pursuing the acquisition to reduce county costs for fire and EMS coverage in the area. Jackson County is one of two counties that receives $2 from daily park vehicle pass fees under a surcharge option that counties may petition for; CPW staff said that option was enabled by recent legislation (Senate Bill 2359). CPW told the committee the county’s forecasted gain from fee revenue would exceed the estimated $2,000 in annual property-tax loss.

Senator Mullica moved the recommendation. The clerk recorded a roll-call vote: all six committee members voted in favor. The motion passed on a unanimous vote of 6 to 0.