City Council Charter Amendment Discussion Meeting Schedule
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 – 6:00 PM (Special Meeting)
• Moving City Elections from April to November (even years)
• Term Limits: Lifetime 8-year limit for all seats; removing the 6-year at-large consecutive limit so it aligns with the 8-year total limit without a required break
Monday, August 3, 2026 – 10:00 AM (Regular Work Session)
• Changing the Municipal Judge residency requirement from Montrose County to a reasonable distance, to expand the candidate pool
• Removing the possibility of Ranked Choice Voting by amending the charter to allow only the current district election structure
• Updating "he/she" language in the charter to be title-specific
• Returning the Chief of Police's hiring, firing, and accountability authority from sole City Manager authority to a joint Council-Manager process (pre-2014 status)
• Returning the City Clerk's hiring, firing, and accountability authority from sole City Manager authority to a joint Council-Manager process (pre-2014 status)
• Moving City Elections from April to November (even years)
• Term Limits: Lifetime 8-year limit for all seats; removing the 6-year at-large consecutive limit so it aligns with the 8-year
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 – 6:00 PM (Regular City Council Meeting)
• Returning the Chief of Police's hiring, firing, and accountability authority from sole City Manager authority to a joint Council-Manager process (pre-2014 status)
• Returning the City Clerk's hiring, firing, and accountability authority from sole City Manager authority to a joint Council-Manager process (pre-2014 status)
Thursday, August 13, 2026 – 6:00 PM (Special Meeting)
• Changing the Municipal Judge residency requirement from Montrose County to a reasonable distance, to expand the candidate pool
• Removing the possibility of Ranked Choice Voting by amending the charter to allow only the current district election structure
• Updating "he/she" language in the charter to be title-specific
Tuesday, August 18, 2026 – 6:00 PM (Regular City Council Meeting)
• 1st Reading for each ordinance/potential ballot measure
Tuesday, September 1, 2026 – 6:00 PM (Regular City Council Meeting)
• 2nd Reading and final Vote for each ordinance/potential ballot measure
We Support Montrose Classical Academy!
MCSD June 23 Meeting Misinformation from Public Comments- by Leah Vandersluis as submitted to the Montrose Mirror Opinion/Editorial June 29, 2026
As I listened to the Community Input from several people at the last Montrose County School Board Meeting, I heard the same misinformation as at previous meetings. It’s the same adage Hitler used. His “Big Lie” basically states that if you say a lie often enough, people will believe it. Let me address some of them.
- “Charter schools are more expensive than a neighborhood public school.”
First of all charter schools are public schools. They have to be creative in raising funds for costs that are not covered by the $12,400/per pupil revenue (PPR) from the State of Colorado minus the 5% the District receives. The staff and maintenance, busing, furniture, etc., mentioned by the speaker does not create a burden on the District as Montrose Classical Academy (MCA) will be responsible for those costs. To clarify this issue, reference C.R.S. § 22‑30.5‑106 “…the district cannot deny the application solely because the charter would reduce district revenue.”
- More than one person brought up the fact that all this “trouble” was for only 200 students.
What they do not understand is that usually charter schools start with five to six grades and add a grade each year. MCA might begin with 200 students, but as they add higher grade levels, that number will expand annually.
- The question was asked: “Who paid for the MCA registration gala?”
MCA’s Board and supporting individuals held and paid for a community celebration where families could meet their teachers, look at curriculum, ask questions and tour the new facility along with games, food, etc. The District had no financial involvement.
- A speaker asked about the cost of refurbishing the old Montrose Press building in order to be ready for this Fall semester.
Why be concerned about the cost? MCA is responsible for this, not the District. Again, these concerns aren’t real because they do not affect the District’s finances. The oversight of the Vista Charter School in the District was transferred to the Charter School Institute was objected to by a speaker because it works with the Farmer, Miller & Carlson Law Firm. The fact is that oversight of Vista was greatly lacking, and regardless of the law firm used, CSI has a good record overseeing charters. MCA is still under District authority.
- One speaker complained about the Board’s legal fees.
She said the District is “financially hemorrhaging” due to the amount of hours this Board is racking up with the law firm. Let’s get a reality check about numbers. In 2023-2024, the previous MCSD Board spent approximately $25,000 on legal fees, and $56,000 in 2024-2025. If we compare that to Delta County School District, which is much smaller than MCSD, they spent $43,000 in 2023- 2024, and $46,000 in 2024-2025. Is this truly “financial hemorrhaging”?
- MCA “was driven by outside interests.”
This is absolutely not true. Parents and community members (including myself) pursued looking into starting a Classical Charter School in Montrose because we saw a need. There is no school offering a classical curriculum here, and many families were interested in this for their children. We reached out to several individuals with expertise and experience in the development of charter schools.
- A speaker said that MCA “was forced down our throats.”
MCA went through the proper procedures to become a charter school. They jumped through dozens of hoops, and the previous Board denied their application twice (using $12,000 of legal hours just for the State Board appeal) until the State Board remanded the application back to the District with a vote of 8-1. Only then did the previous Board vote for approval. MCA went above and beyond what was required because of the immense opposition they received.
- “Will MCA meet their targeted regarding enrollment?”
That is up to MCA and should not be a concern to anyone. MCA is doing daily and weekly check-ins with the District and sends updates upon every request and scheduled date. They send progress summaries in good measure even when not required. They have already met eight of nine opening conditions. The remaining milestone is the achievement of e-occupancy (Condition 6), with construction underway, and tracking towards the August 1 deadline. MCA should be given a chance to succeed, because of the families who desire a classical education for their children. It appears that certain people do not want anyone to have this opportunity.
- “Public education is the foundation of a strong community.”
First of all, MCA is part of public education. I would reframe her statement and say that GOOD education is the foundation of a strong country.
- More complaints were aimed at hiring the Farmer, Miller & Carlson Law Firm regarding Miller saying that he is a “Board whisperer.” Miller is not involved with our Board and what Director Balleck said before still holds true: the Board tells the attorney its decision and not the other way around. Director Balleck does not make decisions on her own; decisions must be voted on by the whole Board. Boards vote as a whole; there is not an individual who makes decisions. Remember, it takes the Board to vote on different issues, and the Board voted 5-2 to hire Farmer, Miller & Carlson.
In conclusion, people who have opposed MCA and the hiring of the Farmer, Miller, Carlson Law Firm refuse to accept the fact that MCA has been given the opportunity to establish itself in Montrose and the only way the law firm will “go away” is if it doesn’t do a good job for the Board.
For more info, go to Montrose Classical Academy's website.
Concerned about what's been going on in our school district?
Superintendent Carrie Stevenson is making it challenging for our new conservative school board members and creating quite the drama. Let's continue to support them, along with our local students and teachers. Watch some community members discuss some current issues going on within our district:
Sheriff Information
Follow Montrose County Sheriff Department on Facebook!
"Montrose County Sheriff’s Office – “For Your Information”
Beginning in 2026, the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office will begin sharing information with the public to better explain how our local justice system works and how it impacts community safety.
Across the country, courts are increasingly using lower bonds and personal recognizance releases to reduce jail populations. While these approaches may serve some communities well, their effects can look different once they reach the local level. Here in Montrose County, we are seeing how those decisions play out in day-to-day life.
When individuals are released shortly after arrest, victims and residents may feel unsettled, especially when they encounter the same people back in the community soon after an incident. That experience can feel like revictimization and can influence how safe people feel going about their daily routines.
Law enforcement makes arrests based on probable cause and available evidence. From there, charging decisions move beyond law enforcement and ultimately rest with the District Attorney’s Office, while bond decisions are made by the courts. Once a bond is set and posted, the Sheriff’s Office is legally required to follow that order.
Public safety isn’t just measured in statistics or headlines. It’s measured in whether families feel secure at home, business owners feel confident opening their doors, and neighbors feel at ease in their own community.
This effort is about providing clarity, accountability, and keeping the public informed about how these decisions affect Montrose County."
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17cB4gjCov/
2026 Colorado Legislator Sessions Have Begun!
Learn how to give testimony at upcoming SMART Hearings:
Montrose Classical Academy Enrollment Is Now OPEN!
Tuition-Free Classical Charter
OPENING FALL 2026
Grades K-5. One grade per year thereafter will be added until fully reaching K-8.
See website for more info:
Let's Get Involved!
We need Republicans on all our local boards! Can you or do you know anyone who would be a good fit for these open positions?
Montrose County has openings on the following boards:
Airport Advisory Committee
County Housing Authority
Nucla/Naturita Cemetary Board
County Planning Commission
Region 10 Board of Directors
County Weed Commission
Total LGBTQ Expenditures of montrose Regional library
for 2024 to September 2025
Here's the spending breakdown when asked of our library LBGTQ programming, materials and staff time- it totaled $17,208.90!!
Our library will not read Christmas stories at their winter storytime hours. Why? Because they say it might offend people.
Did you know that 90% of Americans celebrate Christmas? Yet the library is worried about offending people with Christmas stories.
Meanwhile, the Montrose Regional Library is proud to host programs and read books during story time that are grooming local kids with LGBTQ education and spend THOUSANDS on the LGBTQ agenda.
Look closely, there's even $2,000 in sponsorships to Montrose Pride along with $450 in Delta Pride Sponsorships. It may help to click on each image for clearer viewing.
Did everyone see our Montrose Republican booth
at the 2025 Home Expo?
Dark Money Onslaught:
Out-of-State Funds Fuel Bid to Oust Montrose County Commissioner
~Michael J Badagliacco, “MJB”
Montrose Classical Academy Wins State Board Appeal!
"We are humbled, grateful, and energized by the Colorado State Board of Education’s 8–1 vote yesterday to remand MCSD’s denial and approve Montrose Classical Academy (MCA).
The board spent nearly five hours with us, asking thoughtful, challenging questions and reviewing the full record. Their careful consideration showed a clear commitment to doing what’s best for Montrose County students and families.
This decision reflects the strength of a local, grassroots initiative, led by parents and educators determined to bring a tuition-free, K-8 public charter school option to our community.
🧡 We’re incredibly thankful to the MCA parents, grandparents, and community members who have stood with us, from those who traveled to Denver to those who tuned in from their home. Your commitment continues to move this vision forward.
And we’re not stopping here. As we’ll teach our students, there’s always more to learn, more to grow, and more to give. We look forward to collaborating with MCSD and together bringing this educational option to Montrose County." ~September 12, 2025
"WE THE PARENTS!"
Just launched!
We're DONE watching Colorado law makers strip away our parental rights! Our mission: elect parent-first leaders who will defend the family, not the state.
NO GORP ACT! Save our land!
"Call Congressman Jeff Hurd. Tell him to pull his name off this bill and stand with rural Colorado.
Phone: (202) 225-4761
Email: https://hurd.house.gov/contact
- ( Edit: I said Gilpin county, should be Hinsdale county) "
Click here to watch Commissioner Sean Pond:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1c6pRvVX8y/
Montrose County needs WE THE PEOPLE active on our many Boards!
Did you know that Montrose County has many Boards, Commissions, and Committees? We need Conservatives in these positions! All County boards, commissions, and committees are established under the authority of the Board of County Commissioners and serve at the pleasure of the Board. The BOCC is responsible for all appointments. To learn more about or to apply to any of these, click below.
Preserving Montrose County's Values: A Battle Over Governance and Family
by Michael J Badagliacco, "MJB"
The recall effort against Commissioner Mijares is not merely about Mijares but represents a broader attempt to shift Montrose County's governance from its conservative foundation toward progressive ideals.
Colorado DOGE website launches!
Be sure to subscribe to stay updated via email and text notifications every Tuesday! Montrose even has its own special section, as other counties are invited to hop on board, too! Spread the word!
Montrose School Board Rejects Charter School: Again
https://www.codogereport.com/copy-of-copy-of-montroseMontrose School Board Rejects Charter School: Again
Stay up to date on the Charter School endeavors! They refuse to give up and why we need a new, local school board!