On the table: restructuring, divestiture or continued county involvement
The Fairfield Center and Apartments are generally structurally sound but face significant repair and modernization needs, consultants told Rio Blanco County commissioners during a Sept. 29 special meeting.
The assessment stems from the county’s strategic plan goal of responsible stewardship of county assets and infrastructure. According to Commissioner Callie Scritchfield, the board is reviewing Fairfield alongside other county facilities, including fairgrounds, airports, roads and bridges, to determine whether restructuring, divestiture or continued county involvement best serves residents and taxpayers.
In the meeting, County Administrator Vicky Edwards outlined the complex’s history, beginning with its construction through the Freeman E. Fairfield Charitable Trust. The facility opened in 1974, combining 24 senior housing units, a library and community space.
The Meeker Colorado Civic Improvement Corporation, incorporated in 1973, originally held title to the property. Plans called for transferring ownership to the Town of Meeker once construction debt was retired, but the town declined.
MCCIC transferred the property to Rio Blanco County in January 2001. The county leased the apartments back to MCCIC, which agreed to pay $30,000 annually and manage daily operations. The county assumed responsibility for major repairs and capital improvements.
Financial support initially came from MCCIC, the Fairfield Trust, the town and the county. Over time, the trust shifted toward funding specific projects, and the town reduced its contribution in 2010, citing county offices moving into the center. Town support later ended, leaving the county responsible for ongoing operations, maintenance and capital needs while MCCIC continued managing the apartments.
Rosenfeld Design and its engineering team assessed the complex, which now includes community space, county offices, and senior apartments. Consultants identified aging roofs, heating and electrical systems, accessibility barriers and fire safety improvements. Sprinkler coverage is limited to the center’s basement. Inspections were visual, leaving some concealed building conditions unverified.
Accessibility improvements would be particularly challenging in the apartments, where narrow interiors and existing entrances could require substantial renovation. Separating the apartments and center would also require addressing shared utilities and parking.
No decision was made regarding the properties’ future. A public engagement work session is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m. in the Fairfield Center’s M&M Room. Residents and interested members of the public can ask questions and provide input. According to the press release issued by the county, no decisions about the facilities’ future are planned at that meeting.
In other business, commissioners approved cybersecurity and senior nutrition grant applications, designated Commissioner Jennifer O’Hearon as the county’s Colorado Counties Inc. Legislative Committee voting representative and Commissioner Callie Scritchfield as alternate, and accepted the county’s 2025 audited financial statements.
The audit received an unmodified opinion, with no internal control findings or findings in the federal Airport Improvement Program reviewed. The cybersecurity grant would provide continued monitoring at an estimated county cost of $3,356.66. The senior nutrition grant application covers 2027–2029, with an initial projected allocation of $32,748.