> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.westernslopetrellis.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Western Slope civic week ahead: Budgets, a data center pause and a Montrose council appointment - URL: https://www.westernslopetrellis.com/western-slope-civic-week-ahead-budgets-a-data-center-pause-and-a-montrose-council-appointment/ - Published: 2026-10-06T15:51:32.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-06T15:51:32.000Z - Description: Grand Junction considers a data center pause and about $10 million in budget adjustments, Montrose is expected to fill a council vacancy, and Mesa County weighs new paratransit buses. Your October 5–11 guide to public meetings across the Western Slope, with hearing dates and ways to weigh in. - Author: Western Slope Trellis Staff - Tags: Civic Budget season is underway across the Western Slope. Grand Junction City Council discusses its 2027 budget Monday afternoon, then on Wednesday considers initial approval of a data center pause, a roughly $10 million supplemental appropriation and a Highway 6 & 50 rezone. Hearings on all three are set for October 21\. In Montrose, City Council is expected to fill an empty seat and cast final votes on a Locust Road annexation Tuesday night. Mesa County commissioners begin their FY2027 budget briefings Tuesday morning and will decide on $758,691 for three new paratransit buses. ## Monday, October 5 ### Garfield County commissioners **Monday, October 5, 8 a.m., Room 100, Garfield County Administration Building, 108 8th St, Glenwood Springs.** Agenda times are approximate. County Clerk and Recorder Jackie Harmon opens with an election update, and then the commissioners work through a string of funding requests. The largest is $600,000 toward the Parachute MOVES reconstruction of 1st Street and US 6. Commissioners are also asked to approve $150,000 for the county's 2027 Garfield Clean Energy membership, $200,000 in 2026 funding for the Parachute Area Transit System along with that system's 2027 request. A separate request would appropriate $43,200 for a 12-month Madison AI subscription for county staff, with the contract awarded to Carahsoft Technology Corporation. The Colorado River District gives its annual update, including the Shoshone Water Rights Preservation project. There is also a public hearing on the 2027 proposed budget for the Garfield County and Traveler's Highland Public Improvement District, and the board will consider its 2027 meeting calendar. ### Montrose City Council special meeting **Monday, October 5, 10 a.m., City Council Chambers, Elks Civic Building, 107 S Cascade Ave, Montrose.** Council will meet in executive session on a personnel matter, the mid-cycle reviews of the Municipal Court Judge and the City Attorney. The city's usual Monday work session was canceled. ### Grand Junction City Council workshop **Monday, October 5, 4 p.m., Fire Department Training Room, 625 Ute Ave, Grand Junction.** This is a workshop, so council will talk but not vote. The [workshop](https://trim22-web.gjcity.org/GJ%5FWebDrawer/RecordHtml/1174023?ref=westernslopetrellis.com) covers the City Manager's recommended 2027 budget. Staff is presenting a balanced plan, built in response to a structural imbalance: ongoing costs have been climbing faster than the recurring General Fund revenue. The agenda doesn't include dollar totals. ## Tuesday, October 6 ### Mesa County commissioners **Tuesday, October 6, 9 a.m., Public Hearing Room, Mesa County Old Courthouse, 544 Rood Ave, Grand Junction.** The big-ticket item is a $758,691 purchase of three 26-foot compressed natural gas paratransit buses for Grand Valley Transit. Commissioners will also vote on a $441,014 Colorado Department of Transportation planning grant for 2027 and a 2026–2031 agreement with Colorado State University Extension, shared with Delta, Montrose and Ouray counties. A $15,000 change order for design work on the Justice Center North Addition sits on the consent agenda. The rest of the morning is budget briefings, which are presentations and not votes. Commissioners will hear the proposed FY2027 budget for the county and for seven special districts, among them the Upper Grand Valley Pest District and several public improvement districts. ### Grand Junction Historic Preservation Board **Tuesday, October 6, 4 p.m., City Hall Auditorium, 250 N 5th St.** The board elects a new chair and vice chair, then discusses the Lincoln Park Barn and a structural assessment of the Plaza Urrutia Fronton. ### Montrose City Council **Tuesday, October 6, 6 p.m., City Council Chambers, Elks Civic Building, 107 S Cascade Ave, Montrose.** Council is asked to appoint Adam Woodden to the vacant District IV seat, and he would be sworn in at the meeting. Council also interviews seven applicants for the 2026–2027 Youth City Council. The main business is a pair of second readings, which means final votes, on the Locust Road Addition: Ordinance 2731 to annex it and Ordinance 2732 to zone it R-2, Low Density. Both items include public comment. Council will also consider renewing its NeoGov human resources software for $68,812.98 and a three-year firewall agreement with Optiv at $80,767.64 a year. ### New Castle Town Council **Tuesday, October 6, work session 6 p.m. and regular meeting 7 p.m., 450 W Main St, New Castle.** The work session is a tour of the police department plus council photos. The regular meeting includes presentations from the Garfield County RE2 ballot issue committee and the Maintain Our County Libraries committee, updates from area pastors, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado and Garfield Clean Energy, and a discussion of the 2027 budget. Monthly bills of $760,381.54 are on the consent agenda. ## Wednesday, October 7 ### Montrose County commissioners **Wednesday, October 7, 9 a.m., 3rd Floor Board Room, Suite 360, 320 S 1st St, Montrose.** ### Grand Junction licensing authorities **Wednesday, October 7, Municipal Hearing Room, City Hall, 250 N 5th St.** The Cannabis Licensing Authority meets at 1:50 p.m. on a single renewal, for The Garage at 545 Colorado Ave. The Liquor Licensing Authority follows at 2 p.m. with 11 license renewals, one renewal filed 20 days late (Koi Ramen & Sushi, 2880 North Ave), a retail establishment permit, and a new beer and wine license for LV Spa and Nails at 2412 Patterson Road. ### Grand Junction City Council **Wednesday, October 7, 5:30 p.m., City Hall Auditorium, 250 N 5th St, Grand Junction.** Several major proposals are on the [consent agenda](https://trim22-web.gjcity.org/GJ%5FWebDrawer/RecordHtml/1174008?ref=westernslopetrellis.com), where one vote approves a group of items. The data center pause, supplemental appropriation and rezone are up for first reading, with public hearings scheduled for October 21. **Data center pause (first reading, hearing October 21).** The ordinance would stop the city from accepting and processing applications for new data centers for up to 365 days, or until council adopts permanent rules, whichever comes first. October 7 is only the introduction. A data center is defined as 1 megawatt or more of projected electrical load at full build-out, and facilities on neighboring parcels under common control are counted together. Equipment rooms serving an existing lawful use, telecommunications facilities and basic utility facilities are excluded. [KKCO reported September 30](https://www.kkco11news.com/2026/09/30/mesa-county-approves-one-year-moratorium-data-centers/?ref=westernslopetrellis.com) that Mesa County commissioners voted unanimously for a 12-month pause in the unincorporated county. **Supplemental appropriation (first reading, hearing October 21).** The ordinance appropriates $10,015,201 across 12 city funds. That figure includes transfers between funds and an accounting reclassification of about $1.08 million for Visit Grand Junction, so it is not all new services or purchases. The biggest piece is $3.5 million for the Insurance Fund, because the packet says 2026 health insurance claims are running 20 to 25 percent above budget. The General Fund share is $4,728,480, including $2.9 million labeled insurance reinvestment and about $393,000 for police and fire vehicles. The First Responder Fund would get $441,825 for community paramedic vehicles and equipment. **Rezone, 2324 Highway 6 & 50 (first reading, hearing October 21).** The request would change 2.88 acres from I-1 (light industrial) to CG (general commercial). The site is an auto sales lot now, and applicant RAMS 1 Ho LLC proposes retail and office development. The Planning Commission recommended approval 7 to 0. **Annexation, 2911 D 1/2 Road (hearing December 16).** Anthony Properties wants to annex 14.88 acres of vacant land for an apartment complex, with MU-2 zoning. The parcels fall under the Persigo Agreement on city and county sewer service, and approval would take effect January 17, 2027. On the regular agenda, council considers a resolution adopting its 2026–2027 Legislative Policy. ## Thursday, October 8 ### Grand Junction Planning Commission workshop **Thursday, October 8, noon.** The city's portal lists a workshop. No agenda is posted yet and no location is given. No other meetings are included in this preview for Friday through Sunday. Glenwood Springs City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays, so it skips October 8\. Its next work session and meeting are October 15. ## How to weigh in **Grand Junction City Council.** You can comment in person, by GoToWebinar with registration, by phone message at 970-244-1504, or through the online form. Phone and online comments close at noon October 7. **Mesa County commissioners.** Attend in person, or join by Zoom (meeting ID 839 8918 1814) and email comments to mcbocc@mesacounty.us. To speak virtually, the county wants its sign-up form by noon the day before, which means noon Monday. Public comment is limited to three minutes. **Garfield County commissioners.** On Monday, comments on non-agenda items open around 8:05 a.m. and may be limited to five minutes. The [county's Zoom link](https://www.garfieldcountyco.gov/board-commissioners/meetings/?ref=westernslopetrellis.com) is listed for October 5\. Tuesday's rules weren't available, so call 970-945-5004 before you go. **Montrose City Council.** Participation is in person, generally three minutes each, and the meeting is livestreamed. Written comments are accepted any time through the [city's portal](https://montroseco.portal.civicclerk.com/?ref=westernslopetrellis.com). **New Castle.** Join by Zoom with meeting ID 709 658 8400, or call town hall at 970-984-2311. **D51, Fruita and Montrose County.** D51: 970-254-5100\. Fruita: 970-858-3663\. Montrose County: 970-249-7755.