Commission approves Charcoal Burner Race lodgers-tax promotion but requires Colfax County seal on shirts

The Colfax County Commission approved a lodgers-tax promotional application for the Charcoal Burner Race, conditioning approval on the use of the Colfax County seal on promotional shirts.

Gus Hong of Vermeil Park presented the event application and displayed last year’s shirt, saying the organizers have used local printers and county tourism materials to promote the event. Hong told the commission the race is in its fourth year and that locally produced shirts and printed tourism guides have helped reach participants.

Staff confirmed the application met the requirements of the county’s lodgers-tax ordinance. Commissioners debated whether the county seal or an alternate logo (referred to in the discussion as 'wild divide') should appear; the commission directed that the county emblem should be the most prominent marking and that promotional material should indicate sponsorship by the Colfax County Lodgers Tax program.

A motion to approve the application with the condition that the Colfax County seal appear on shirts passed on roll call 2–1 (Commissioners Kern and Trujillo recorded yes; Chairman Carmen Tatum recorded no). The commission also discussed procurement rules noted in the packet: the transcript includes a reference that anything over $5,000 requires three bids, and a commissioner asked staff to clarify those thresholds for future applications.

Gus Hong said the shirts were produced locally and emphasized word-of-mouth promotion: "This is the shirt that we printed last year. We got them printed here local... Colpacs County logo is right there." The transcript spelling 'Colpacs' is inconsistent; the commission record and county materials use the official name Colfax County, and the commission directed use of the Colfax County seal on promotional materials.

The commission’s action preserves promotional funding for a small local event while clarifying county-branding expectations and reminding applicants of procurement thresholds when higher-dollar purchases are involved. The commission asked staff to confirm final artwork and compliance with lodgers-tax rules before issuing funds.