Greetings!

The Routt County Fair is a wonderful event that highlights the hard work of local youth, celebrates the traditions of the Yampa Valley, and provides a showcase for the varied talents of our citizens. Maintaining a tradition for over a century is no small feat, and it’s important to recognize everyone who worked tirelessly to put on the 112th Routt County Fair. Staff and volunteers contribute hundreds of hours and help in so many ways.

The 2026 Routt County Youth Livestock Shows were an incredible success thanks to the hard work of our volunteer superintendents, 4-H and FFA staff and educators, Routt County Fair staff and volunteers, Fair Advisory Board, and of course, our 4-H and FFA parents and members. Kudos to all of our youth for the hard work and commitment they put into each of their animal projects!

Thank you, too, for the community members who came out to support our youth at the shows, the Bobby Robinson Memorial BBQ, and the Junior Livestock Sale. We served more than 900 people at the barbeque for free, thanks to sponsors Alpine Bank and Rhinehart Oil and the volunteers who smoked beef all night and helped prepare sides. Because of the hard work put into the sale by our youth and the volunteer Junior Livestock Sale Committee, and due to the generosity of our buyers, this year’s sale proceeds exceeded last year's, bringing in nearly $500,000 for our 4-H and FFA members. Many thanks to Pinnacle Buildings for their continued sponsorship of the Junior Livestock Sale.

The success of this year’s Fair speaks to the dedication of all of those involved. So, for everyone who participated and volunteered thank you. Great job, and we’ll look forward to seeing you at the 113th Annual Fair.

General Updates

YVHA Launches Executive Director Search: The Yampa Valley Housing Authority has officially launched its search for a new Executive Director, with a position description and further details available now on the YVHA website. This is an outstanding opportunity for a forward-thinking, strategic leader to shape local affordable housing development and programs at a pivotal moment of growth and change across the Western Slope. A successful candidate will bring a genuine commitment to YVHA’s mission, sound technical judgment, and exceptional communication skills to guide the organization through its next phase of growth, operational excellence, and community impact. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, and we urge prompt response to this opportunity while available. More information is available online.

CAP Open House: Since the 2021 adoption of the CAP our regional governments and over 70 community leaders have been working collaboratively to partner on CAP implementation. Join on September 9 from 5:00-7:00 pm in Bud Werner's Library Hall to hear updates on progress made on lowering Routt County's carbon emissions and learn about the CAP's plan to increase building electrification and decarbonization, including the installation of 10,000 heat pumps in Routt County. The event is free and all are welcome to attend. Beverages, including non-alcoholic and Mountain Tap beer, and light snacks will be served. Childcare and English-Spanish translation will be available. Please register in advance and email questions to info@routtclimateaction.com.

Powered by Care: The Routt County Child Care and Workforce Summit Join elected officials, business leaders, community partners, parents, and advocates for a community conversation about the future of childcare in Routt County. Together, we'll explore why childcare is critical to our workforce, local businesses, and flourishing communities, and what we can do to build lasting, community-driven solutions. The summit will feature a keynote by Dan Wuori, a nationally recognized author and early childhood thought leader followed by a panel discussion on local challenges, opportunities, and policy solutions. The event will be Monday, September 21, from 10:00 am-1:00 pm at Colorado Mountain College. Find more information and register online. Contact Meaghan Franges with any questions.

Healthy Her: Join this FREE, one-day women’s health forum on Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm at The Hayden Center – Hayden, Colorado. All women are welcome to attend! So, be sure to share with friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Residents from Routt, Rio Blanco and Moffat counties will hear from experts on longevity and vitality, cancer and injury prevention, and advancements in women’s preventive health. Stop by our Health Resources Expo Hall to visit with local health care providers and support organizations. Learn how to access community health resources for yourself and family members. Free health screenings will be provided on-site by Northwest Colorado Health: full cholesterol panel, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, BMI (Body Mass Index) and personalized prevention tips based on results. Coffee, snacks and lunch included. Participants with dietary restrictions, food allergies, or specific dietary preferences are encouraged to bring their own meals or snacks to ensure your needs are met.

Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council is offering 25% of Home Evaluations through September!

• Get yourself ready for wildfire season by scheduling a Home Ignition Zone Evaluation. Our recent local wildfire study shows that the majority of residents would like a one-on-one inspection of their vegetation and structure to better understand vulnerabilities and risk. Cost is $100 ONLY $75 and includes access to our $500 rebate program. Details and a sign-up form are available online. Use Coupon Code "SEPTEMBER"
• Address Signs are available for purchase. Approximately 98% of the address signs in Routt County are non-compliant. Details and an order form are available online. 

Routt County remains in Stage 2 Fire Restrictions: Pursuant to Ordinance No. 2026-001, an ordinance to restrict fires in unincorporated portions of Routt County during periods of high fire danger, Routt County Board of County Commissioners declared Stage 2 Fire Restrictions as of 12:00 pm June 23, 2026. Stage 2 Fire Restrictions will remain until rescinded. Find all details online.

Know Your Zone! In an emergency, every second counts. Routt County has recently established pre-determined evacuation zones to facilitate more timely evacuations. Residents are urged to visit co.routt.co.us/knowyourzone today to locate their specific zone. Find all details online.

Stay informed about local air quality conditions in real time! Visit the Routt County Air Quality Dashboard to view current data and trends. 

News from the municipalities:

• City of Steamboat Springs
• Hayden
• Town of Oak Creek
• Town of Yampa

Stay Connected! There are lots of ways to stay connected to Routt County! For non-emergent news you can sign up for County News, follow Routt County on Facebook, Twitter Instagram or LinkedIn, and of course visit the County website.

Planning Department Update

Wildfire Resiliency Code Implementation 

What: The purpose of this code is to establish minimum regulations for the safeguarding of life and for property protection.

Why: The adoption of codes and standards is a critical response to make our communities safer, more resilient to wildfires, and to maintain insurability of homes.

How: The code applies within the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and uses a fire intensity-based, tiered system to tailor requirements to the specific fire hazard level. This is illustrated by the code map that Routt County adopted the official state-provided map.  Please note, all of Routt County is being classified as Moderate or High Intensity – so Class 2 requirements apply County Wide. The map that is in the code adoption is not the same as the one the State created.

When: 

• A separate WRC site plan is required for all new construction, new decks, additions that increase the footprint of a structure by more than 500 square foot and for Siding replacement or other alterations to the exterior of the building which effectively replace the exterior wall material on more that 25% of the exterior wall surface area. This includes soffit and Facia work.

Public Handout -WRC_Veg Management Guidelines 

Next Steps:

Partnering with fire jurisdictions, which will act as experts, for inspections and enforcement as their capacity allows partnering with fire jurisdictions and the City to develop Educational Guidelines to provide to community members and permit applicants

Public Health Update

National Immunization Awareness Month: National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM) is observed annually throughout the month of August. NIAM is an opportune time to highlight the importance of vaccination for individuals of all ages. Staying up-to-date on recommended vaccines is an important step in keeping yourself and our community safe from vaccine-preventable diseases! 

Remember, Routt County Public Health offers low and no cost vaccines for adults and children. For individuals with private health insurance, we also accept the following plans: Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS), CIGNA, Medicare Part B, Medicaid, TRICARE, UMR, and United Healthcare. Please call our office at 970.870.5341 if you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment with us.  

Road & Bridge Update

Treasurer's Office Update

Employment Opportunities

One Fun Thing

Yampa Valley Regional Airport holds a simulated disaster drill:

This is a requirement by the FAA for airports that serve commercial airline operations, to have a full drill every three years, that simulates a major emergency event. This time, it was a simulated fuel spill on the runway that caught fire. Volunteers were there to help with the emergency exercise.

Emergency personnel from throughout Routt and Moffat counties responded to the fake fuel spill and subsequent fake fire that involved two planes (a United Airlines and Southwest Airlines plane). Gerber held a press conference with Routt County Commissioner Angelica Salinas, Hayden Police Chief Scott Scurlock, and Routt County Sheriff Doug Scherar. Steamboat Radio News participated as media to ask questions at the simulated press conference, which was held at Atlantic Aviation, next to Yampa Valley Regional Airport.

Thank you Steamboat Radio for participating in the drill! See the full report with pictures on SteamboatRadio.com.