Revelations of Fiscal Irresponsibility: How Montrose County's Former Commissioners Rushed a $500,000 School Purchase, Abandoned It, and Pushed Through

North Campus to Sidestep Incoming Scrutiny

In the quiet West End of Montrose County, Colorado, a seemingly straightforward decision to purchase an old school building in Naturita has unraveled into a textbook case of fiscal malfeasance and political maneuvering. A recently obtained transcript from a July 30, 2025, Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) work session reveals how former Commissioners Sue Hansen, Roger Rash, and Keith Caddy (now actively involved in efforts to recall current Commissioner Scott Mijares) rushed into buying the dilapidated structure without proper vetting. They then shelved the project to fast-track the controversial North Campus expansion, ensuring it was approved before the new board, including the skeptical Mijares, could intervene. This pattern of hasty decisions and deferred accountability is emblematic of deeper issues plaguing the previous administration, with new details emerging daily about their misdeeds.

The Rushed Purchase: A $500,000 Gamble on a "Bargain" Building

The story begins in early 2024, under the Hansen-Rash-Caddy board. Facing urgent pressure from mold issues in the West End sheriff's office, the commissioners seized on the opportunity to buy the former Naturita school from the local district for $500,000 (a price touted as a steal at roughly $22 per square foot for the 20,300-square-foot facility). The intent was noble: consolidate county services like the sheriff's office, clerk and recorder, courts, and health and human services into one community hub, avoiding the higher costs of a new build in Nucla.

However, the transcript paints a picture of reckless haste. No comprehensive due diligence was conducted prior to the purchase. Amy Lalone, an architect with Wold Architects and Engineers (the firm contracted for related designs), confirmed that her team's building assessment (covering structural, mechanical, electrical, and code compliance issues) was performed during the county's consideration phase but not used to solicit a formal recommendation on whether to proceed. When pressed by current Commissioner Mijares (identified as Speaker 1 in the transcript) on whether the county consulted Wold about the building's condition before buying, Lalone clarified: "We completed the assessment and we didn't... ask for your recommendation." To be clear, Wold is not currently under contract with the county as their contract ended on June 30, 2025 and the BOCC has not yet taken action to renew the contract as of the date of August 4, 2025.

Finance Director Cindy Dunlap echoed this, noting her office's peripheral understanding was that the purchase would involve minor "cosmetic renovations" like paint and carpet (not the multimillion-dollar deferred maintenance nightmare it turned out to be). "There definitely wasn't an understanding from the finance department that we're really looking at a building that had all this deferred maintenance," Dunlap stated. The assessment revealed severe deficiencies: non-functional HVAC systems (requiring three-phase power upgrades), outdated electrical panels, non-compliant fire alarms, ADA violations, and potential asbestos abatement. Initial estimates from FCI Constructors pegged bare-bones fixes at $4.6 million, with full renovations potentially pushing costs to $8 million or more, a figure that is likely to exceed the original $9.4 million estimate for a new Nucla facility.

Commissioner Sue Hansen defended the urgency, citing the sheriff's mold crisis: "Had we waited for a brand new building, we wouldn't have had a place to move the sheriff into immediately." Yet, this "sense of pressure" led to a purchase without geotechnical studies, full drawings (only partial 1996 addition plans were available), or a long-term capital plan. The result? A building with "good bones" but riddled with problems, now straining the county's budget as departments like the sheriff's office limp along with window AC units and makeshift evidence storage.

Abandoning the West End: Pivoting to North Campus to Preempt the New Board

The transcript exposes how the previous board abandoned the West End project mid-stream to prioritize the North Campus  (a $24+ million endeavor that had drawn criticism for its scale and cost). In October 2023, with designs for the Nucla new build 40% complete (costing the county $287,570 in fees to Wold), the Hansen-Rash-Caddy board halted work, instructing Wold to "focus just on North Campus so that we can get that project out for bid." This pause, per Lalone, was to redirect resources, but it conveniently aligned with the upcoming January 2025 board transition.

Incoming Commissioner Mijares had publicly expressed skepticism about North Campus during his campaign, viewing it as an overreach amid tight budgets. By rushing North Campus approvals in the lame-duck period (finalized just before the new board convened), the previous commissioners ensured the project was locked in, preventing Mijares and others from voting it down. Facilities Director Jennifer Murray confirmed the timeline: "In the fall of 2024... the county came to us and said we would like Wold to really focus just on North Campus... and let's slow down a little bit on the West End."

This either/or dilemma (West End vs. North Campus) was ignored, as Dunlap noted: "We choose projects, not do all the projects." Yet, the pivot left West End in limbo, with the school purchase becoming an afterthought. Current discussions reveal a county now grappling with phased renovations amid budget cuts, as departments like the clerk's office endure "computer lame" outages from unreliable San Miguel Power and makeshift voting setups in libraries.

The Recall Connection: Misdeeds Coming to Light

The former commissioners' actions on West End and North Campus are part of a broader pattern of fiscal irresponsibility, fueling their push to recall Mijares (who has been vocal in scrutinizing these decisions). Hansen, Rash, and Caddy are actively working with a recall committee, but as the transcript suggests, their motivations may stem from fear of exposure. Mijares' questions during the session (probing the lack of vetting, budget awareness, and contract details) highlight the accountability the previous board sought to evade.

This isn't isolated. Other revelations include:

• CRS Violations in Public Health Director Ahmed's Appointment: The previous board bypassed Colorado Revised Statutes in appointing a key official, raising questions of procedural impropriety.

• Ignoring the Either/Or on Courthouse/North Campus: Despite warnings, the board pursued both major projects without a funded plan, echoing the West End fiasco.

As Dunlap warned, "We really just don't have any long-range capital plan... this project is significant." With budgets "staggering" and departments facing cuts, these "shallow-end transgressions" hint at deeper issues. Imagine what's lurking beneath: unchecked contracts, ignored assessments, and political gamesmanship at taxpayer expense.

A Call for Accountability

Montrose County residents deserve transparency. The Hansen-Rash-Caddy era's rush jobs have left a fiscal mess, with West End services in disarray and North Campus as a fait accompli. As the new board, including Mijares, navigates these revelations, one thing is clear: the recall effort against him may be less about governance and more about silencing scrutiny. Voters should demand audits, a robust capital plan, and an end to the cycle of abandonment and haste. The deeds of the previous board are coming to light, day by day, revelation by revelation.

Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”

Michael is a United States Air Force Veteran, father of five and grandfather of three, passionate about this country and the Constitution. 

Editor-in-Chief, Colorado DOGE Report.