Sundance and North Fork district ask county to help fast‑track $3 million well to lift building moratorium

Leaders from the North Fork Special Service District and Sundance Resort briefed the commission on a proposed new well to provide an additional water source for the canyon. Chad Linebaugh (Sundance Resort) said the district currently relies on two springs, has operated under a building moratorium since February 2019, and needs a third source to support future growth and fire suppression. Board chair Dr. Minton described the longstanding decline in spring output and said a well is the most cost‑effective way to increase storage for fire response.

Presenters gave a rough project cost of about $3 million and requested approximately $1.5 million in county funds, paired with state matching dollars. David Stewart, the district's legislative consultant, summarized a developing state portal for ARPA/local match grants and said a $50 million state pot had been set aside for local matches; jurisdictions would be required to sponsor applications and provide local matching funds if selected.

Commissioners asked about the district's capital plans, fee structure, and whether commercial users (including Sundance) are contributing; presenters said the district has raised rates and maintains a capital improvement reserve but that it would take three to four years to accumulate the cash needed to bond for the well without outside support. Commissioners encouraged coordination with state offices and noted the proposal's relevance to drought and fire‑risk mitigation; no formal county funding decision was made during the work session.