In a letter sent to Grand County voters last week, Commissioner George questioned my oversight of the finances of Colorado Headwaters Land Trust (CHLT) in 2024, my final year as Executive Director.
The “loss” he claimed was actually the planned expense for a major capital project we worked on for over six years: the Granby Highlands-Trails Conservation Easement. While he directed this claim at me, by referencing the land trust he also implicated my past board of directors, all dedicated and respected community members.
Below is an email sent yesterday by CHLT's past President and Treasurer to Commissioner George, asking him to publicly correct his statement. I am sharing this email with permission from Stewart and David to protect the reputation of the board, our supporters, and the land trust.
You can read the land trust’s 2024 public 990 IRS form here.
Commissioner George voted in favor of funding this easement during his first term. He also understands that large projects take years to complete. Just like our county government, nonprofits hold money in reserve for major long-term projects. Spending those reserved funds can appear as a deficit on paper, but it is a planned investment, not a loss.
Jeremy speaking at the ribbon cutting of the Granby Highlands-Trails Conservation Easement, June 2025
I raised around $2,000,000 from public grants, agencies, companies, and private donors for this project. The investment was for the land trust to conserve and steward over 740 acres of wildlife habitat, recreational trails, and scenic views in and around Granby, including 2 miles of the Colorado River. This easement protects a historic ranch and borders the C Lazy U conservation easement as well as public lands, creating an area of thousands of acres of protected land in the heart of our county.
During my time as director we helped protect over 2,000 new acres of open space, from town parks in Granby and Hot Sulphur Springs to family ranches in the Fraser Valley and hunting properties in the Gore Range. From our founding in 1994 to our merger with Colorado Open Lands in 2025, CHLT had conserved over 10,000 acres in Grand County.
I have strived to run an honest, transparent, and respectful campaign. I had hoped that Commissioner George would do the same.
We face real challenges, from expanding housing options and diversifying our local economy to protecting our land and water. We deserve a commissioner focused on common-sense and common-ground solutions, not political games. Grand County is a small community and attacking each other benefits no one.
If you have questions about this or any other issue as you mark your ballot, please reach out to me directly. I look forward to working with you.
