Re-purposed church building uses, fee schedule, improvements and 2026 budget proposed

above photo
Patrick Bailey begins "Welcoming and Sharing the Light" ceremony at Winter Solstice Celebration
December 21, 2025
> photo by Joanna Yonder

by Allyn Svoboda
Publisher

More than 35 Rico community members gathered at the Rico Community Church building to celebrate the winter solstice Sunday afternoon, December 21.

Town of Rico purchased the church building and next-door manse house earlier in 2025. Rico Board of Trustees first discussed the purchase at a special meeting January 30, 2025, and approved an ordinance to authorize the real estate transaction at meetings February 19 and March 3.

At its August 20, 2025 monthly meeting, Trustees appointed a Community Church Advisory Committee ("church committee") consisting of community members and representatives of the Rico Historical Society and the Board of Trustees.

The committee held its first meeting September 8 at Town Hall, and proposed the Winter Solstice event at its December 8 public meeting.

Winter Solstice Celebration

Agenda

• Gathering
• Welcome and Introduction
• Prayer/Meditation
• Solstice poem by Joanna Yonder
• Ritual: "Welcoming the Light, Sharing the Light" (passing the flame from candle to candle)
• Song: "Morning Has Broken"
• Blessing: "Hope for the light to come"

. . .

above photos by Joanna Yonder

"Afterwards we all enjoyed mulled wine and cookies around a bonfire provided by Gerrish Willis, and Mayor Pat and town staff went up to the belfry and gave the bell a good ring," commented church committee member Joanna Yonder a few days later in a correspondence to Ore Cart. "It was clarion and festive and full of the stories of Solstices past!"

Solstice Poem

by Joanna Yonder

It is winter, and your presence is requested.
In the winter, when it’s time to go
deep, deep inside yourself and find the stillness,

You may be the quiet snowbank, waiting.
You may be the whisper of the icy winter wind.
You may even be the bleached bone in the field,
the misty ring swirling around the clouded moon.

During this time, do not forget
that beneath the surface of the frozen stream
is still a gushing torrent. Inside
the stark and silent aspen,
sap is green and vivid.
Full of life.

While you may go inward, this remember:
That the stillness and the later blooming
are not enemies, but friends.
That dormancy exists in service
of eventual flourishing.

"Morning Has Broken" lyrics

[Chorus]
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world

[Verse 1]
Sweet the rain's new fall, sunlit from Heaven
Like the first dewfall on the first grass
Praise for the sweetness of the wet garden
Sprung in completeness where His feet pass

[Verse 2]
Mine is the sunlight, mine is the morning
Born of the One Light Eden saw play
Praise with elation, praise every morning
God's recreation of the new day

[Chorus]
Morning has broken like the first morning
Blackbird has spoken like the first bird
Praise for the singing, praise for the morning
Praise for them springing fresh from the world

Listen
Morning Has Broken
> Cat Stevens - 1972

Facility revenues, expenses and improvements considered

Community Church Advisory Committee meeting December 8, 2025 at Rico Town Hall. Committee members (left-to-right) Jill Jordan, Patrick Bailey, Jim Baron, Joanna Yonder and Deanna Drew. Attending members not shown in photo: Emily Nolan and Cristal Hibbard.

Ore Cart photo
December 8, 2025

The December 8 church committee meeting agenda included a public presentation of potential uses, fees, and a 2026 budget for the facility. Spaces and Amenities described in the committee's report are main hall, kitchen and two bathrooms.

Fee and deposit payments would be to Town of Rico. The report includes a 3-page Rico Community Center - Use Application form.

PROPOSED USES

• Low-impact (10 or fewer participants)
• Groups over 10 participants
• Instructors, Paid Classes
• Governments, Public Entities
• Funeral and Memorial Services
• Sales, Fundraising, Money-Making Events
• Private Events

PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS

• folding chairs - 100
• folding tables, 6 ft length - 20
• portable PA (public address) system speaker(s) and microphone
• propane heaters - 2

2026 BUDGET CATEGORIES

Income

• facility use fees
• fundraising and donations
• grants

Expenses

• heating fuel
• electricity
• septic pumping
• water/sewer

Revenue and expenses included in the December 8 church committee report are not listed here, as these are estimates that require future approval by Rico Board of Trustees.

Dove Creek and Dolores County community services

Rico church committee obtained details of community services provided at Dove Creek which are partially-funded by Dolores County property taxes.

Dove's Nest Day Care at Dove Creek provided a description of childcare services, staffing and challenges. Dolores County Quality of Life Mill Levy annual revenue covers 40 - 45 percent of Dove's Nest annual budget, and costs are rising. Full-time staff is 3 teachers and 1 director. Cook and cleaning are part-time. Cost is $22 per day for a full-day for children up to 3 years age, $20 per day for older than 3 years if potty-trained. Dove's Nest is a non-profit organization with 5 board members. Enrollment is full at 20 children, waiting list is 10.

Dolores County Senior Services (DCSS) described senior services provided at Dove Creek and Egnar. Expansion of similar services to Rico would require additional funding. The 2025 Dolores County Quality of Life Mill Levy funding for DCSS was $95,000, about 1/8 of the DCCS expenses. Other funding sources are Colorado Department of Transportation, Colorado Commission on Aging via the Older Coloradans Act, and foundation grants. Annual budget is about $700,000. DCCS has 15 employees, 2 full-time with benefits, 3 part-time.

more info
Dolores County food pantry opening soon at Rico Town Hall
> Ore Cart - June 8, 2025

• Seniors homechore, homemaker, "emergency call button" services
• County senior meals service at Dove Creek could be delivered to Rico
• On-demand public transportation

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