DEL NORTE — A resident of the Del Norte school district filed a complaint concerning property sold to a school official. The investigation is now in the hands of the District Attorney’s Office.

Rio Grande County resident, Tom Haefeli has filed an official complaint against the Upper Rio Grande School District (Del Norte) regarding a sale of land connected with the District in the Del Norte area. The filing with the Colorado State Attorney General’s Office and the Colorado Department of Education was submitted Monday. Highlights of the complaint include:

• The district-owned property was sold with “no notice, no appraisal, no Request for Proposal or a bid process” to CFO Angela Velasquez for $15,000.

• Haefeli researched the school board minutes back to May 2018 and the County Assessor deed records. He said that no board minutes reflect information the “proposed sale, discussion, or valuation by the Board of Education to sell this property. This property was donated to the school in 2013 by retired businessman, Anthony Skaff. Part of a subdivision, the parcel had three sub parcels. Collectively, they appraised for $185,000 at the time. The school sold one of the sub parcels in 2016 to a nursing home developer for $42,000. It was noted in the minutes of that Board of Education meeting that they sold this sub parcel at a discount to encourage job and infrastructure development. According to the Deed Record, the remaining two sub parcels had a transfer value in 2016 of $52,500.” Yet, the parcels were sold to Velasquez for $15,000.

• Chris Burr, Superintendent of Schools, told Haefeli that the board discussed the sale to Velasquez at the Jan. 24 meeting. However, Haefeli researched board minutes back to May 2018 and Assessor deed records and found the property was donated to the District in 2013 by retired businessman, Anthony Skaff. Nor is there any discussion in the board minutes on the sale of the property.

• Haefeli said the property was part of a subdivision and the parcel had three sub-parcels. Collectively, he said the property was appraised at $185,000. One sub-parcel was sold in 2016 to a nursing home developer for $42,000. This sale was recorded in the board minutes at a discounted price to “encourage job and infrastructure development.” The remaining two parcels have a value in 2016 of $52,500.

• Chris Burr, Superintendent of Schools, told Haefeli that the sale was discussed and voted on by the board. The discussion and valuation were done during a 65-minute 

closed-door school board session. The regular meeting minutes do not reflect any vote was ever taken concerning the sale of the property.

• Burr assured Haefeli that the board could “amend the [Jan. 24] minutes” to record the vote and sale of the property. However, Haefeli said that at the Aug. 29 meeting, instead of amending the minutes, the board was presented with “Resolution of Ratification” for the sale of the property.

• The complaint also includes a reference to the transfer of surface water rights that the school district-owned. Again, Haefeli said in the complaint that there was “no discussion on the transfer, valuation or vote from the board.”

Haefeli finishes his complaint by saying, “As a school district taxpayer, this whole process looks very, very bad. However, my largest concern is this: Two years ago, this school district was awarded a BEST Grant for $27 million to build a new school campus. To qualify for the BEST Grant, the Community voted to pass a bond issue to raise an additional $18 million. There is a tremendous amount of money flowing to and from the School district through the office of Chief Financial Officer. Why would CFO Velasquez be given such a sweet deal on land? [Also there is an] apparent water right transfer at the sole discretion of the Superintendent?”

Haefeli also sought the assistance of Sen. Larry Crowder and Rep. Donald Valdez in the matter.  In response to Haefeli and Upper Rio Grande School District Attorney, Kristin Edgar, Crowder noted, “I can assure you both we, the state, will get to the bottom of this. It would seem that since a citizen donated land to the school district in good faith, it is incumbent on us all to make sure that this same land is conveyed to a private entity in the same manner in which it was donated. And that is to have the best interest of the public at hand. I am in contact with the Attorney Generals office and will keep you all updated.” Edgar has left the final response up to the board.

Valdez said, “I hope that we can resolve this and find all the facts to connect all communications in this matter.” Haefeli has not commented further on the situation.

Crowder contacted the AGs office Wednesday afternoon, and the issue has been submitted to the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Alamosa for further investigation.

More information on this development is expected to be forthcoming.