EVMD Board Meeting 1/15/2026 Recap
1/15/2026 Board Meeting Recap
This is an unofficial summary of the Jan. 15, 2026 Meeting of the Board of Directors of the EagleVail Metropolitan District held at the EagleVail Pavilion and online produced by EVMD Communications staff. A draft of the minutes will be posted to the EVMD website once they are composed.
Board members present: Chair Hopkins, Vice Chair Laughlin, Director Barcza, Director Copeland and Director Rumford.
Public Comment:
Resident Laurie Mullen asked several questions of staff and the Board including the financial plan for implementing the Parks Master Plan; why the golf course greens continue to be cleared; concern about the chemicals being used on the golf course and whether they are used at the community parks; and a reminder to all to support EagleVail’s newest business, Little Bear Bistro, on Eagle Road.
Resident Kelli Rohrig suggested that her landscaping company has a product that may be better than the chemicals currently being used, and keeping chemicals out of the parks. She also posed that dandelions are good for turf grass.
Introduction:
District Manager Steven Barber introduced Mark Sassi, the new Director of Golf Operations of the EagleVail Metropolitan District’s (EVMD) EagleVail Golf Club.
Driving Range Update:
Golf course expert consultant, Rick Phelps, was asked to take a second look at the proposed driving range/practice facility projects recommended by Kevin Atkinson, also a golf course expert consultant, last November.
Phelps’ slight recommended changes to the projects are to extend the netting along the practice north and south, taking advantage of the existing mounding, which will capture balls that are slicing right and not yet high off the ground. Secondly, Phelps recommends increasing the existing 50’ netting to 80’.
Copeland said that she still supports increased supervision at the practice facility and Phelps responded that the enhanced netting is what will be most effective and the most practical financially.
Barber told the Board he agreed with Phelps’ recommendations and said next steps are to head into RFP process. The process may result in a cost savings due to the lower net height but if costs are over what was approved in the 2026 budget, he would bring it back to the Board.
Barber and Phelps further shared an idea to explore a relatively new concept called Trackman. This technology can notify golf staff when errant shots leave the range through geofencing capabilities. Barber said Sassi brings experience managing driving range operations at facilities comparable to EagleVail that face similar challenges and have used technology to help manage range operations. Sassi said he and his team do plan on having a bigger presence at the practice facility to continue to make any further improvements reducing the risk of golf balls leaving the range.
Hole #9 Discussion:
Phelps reminded the Board that the goal with implementing Phase II of improvements this spring is to provide a viewing corridor with limited tree removal. Barber said that The Exception resident, Led Gardner, who has frequently brought his concerns to the EVMD, is supportive of the project.
Phelps explained that Phase I has been completed and included limbing up trees to the right of the tee box and along the cart path to improve visibility and golfer awareness of the nearby homes.
Phase II is intended to further reduce the likelihood of balls reaching the townhomes by improving the landing area to the left side of the fairway. The design will encourage shots away from the homes on the right. Phase II will involve selective tree removal while preserving the two large spruce trees near the cart path.
Copeland said she was in favor of skipping Phase II and implementing Phase III, which is moving the tee box and cart path. Phelps explained that Phase III is an expensive construction project and wouldn’t result in much relief without implementing Phase II first. If Phase II isn’t satisfactory, discussions around Phase III would occur. Rumford agreed that Phase II is the logical next step in the process.
During public comment, Kelli Rohrig also expressed support for implementing Phase III, and not Phase II, to avoid tree removal.
Wildfire Mitigation Update:
Barber recommended to the Board that the mitigation efforts include work on State Land Board parcels. Barber clarified that Metro District funds can be used on State Land Board parcels. Laughlin asked Barber to ensure we have written permission from the State Land Board, as well as ask them and the School District if they would cost-share.
Communications Update:
Commfluent Inc.’s Kristin Kenney Williams highlighted that Sassi announcement has run in the Vail Daily, the e-blast has a new design, as will the winter newsletter that will be delivered digitally this month. The newsletter will come out quarterly with an additional print version in July.
Management Updates:
Brent Barnum, Superintendent of Golf Courses & Parks, addressed a couple of the questions that came up during Public Comment. Removing snow off greens is occurring because of the elevated temperatures and lack of significant snowpack – removal ensures freeze-to-thaw isn’t occurring and damaging the greens. With regard to golf course and parks treatments, Barnum explained that to avoid any safety or water concerns, it’s all in the application. Barcza asked if Barnum could sample different, organic products and perhaps pilot them in the parks.
Barber gave a shoutout to Brent for overtime work to ensure our course assets are protected.
Barnum said that unfortunately due to the warmer temps this winter, Holland Pond will not likely see ice this year. The new Nordic equipment has been purchased and is ready for operations once we have more snow.
Barber reminded folks that there will be a Parks Master Plan update at the February board meeting. The courts were reopened during the warm weather; a courts-specific survey will occur to help determine potential future projects and cost estimates will be presented as more information becomes available.
Financial Update:
With preliminary Dec. 31, 2025 reports, final sales tax numbers won’t be available until February but expect to still be below budget. Expect to be $200,000 ahead of budget on the expenditure side. Capital projects finished ahead of budget. Golf revenues were above budget, with pool revenues a bit down. The 2025 financial audit will take place mid-March.
Board Action:
Unanimous approval of the 2026 Meeting Schedule, with the correction to move the Oct. 15 to Oct. 8.
Unanimous approval of the 2026 Meeting Posting Place.
EVMD/EVPOA Winter Community Dinner:
- Unanimous approval not to exceed a $1,200 cost-share for food and Pavilion cleaning with the EVPOA for a Winter Community Dinner, Thursday, Jan. 29, 5-7 p.m. It will be a zero-waste event and the EVMD will market the event and ask for a RSVP.
The Board entered into EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO 24-6-402(4)(f), C.R.S. FOR PERSONNEL MATTERS REGARDING STAFF.