Commission approves land exchange with nonprofit to clear space for new court and public‑safety building

San Juan County commissioners approved a resolution authorizing an exchange of county property with the San Juan County Community Fund to secure land adjacent to the county public-safety building for a new court and public-safety administration facility.

County staff described the trade as swapping a one‑acre parcel near the fairgrounds — to be created from foundation property — for a parcel the foundation owns adjacent to the public-safety building. Staff said the site near the public-safety complex will accommodate a new attached court and administrative building that reduces structural changes to the existing jail; designers had warned heavy perforation of existing walls could trigger seismic upgrades and raise costs.

Staff noted utilities and access issues: the fairgrounds site has nearby power stubs from recent RV pad work, and the county will work with the foundation on water and sewer connections. Staff said the foundation agreed to handle removal of an existing structure on the fairgrounds parcel as part of the exchange. Commissioners voted 3–0 to approve the resolution.

No construction contract or final site plan was approved at the meeting; the resolution authorizes the property exchange that county staff said will enable future design and construction steps.