Angie Book, manager of the Old Spanish Trail Arena (OSTA), presented the facility’s proposed 2026 budget to the Grand County Budget Advisory Board on Sept. 26, 2025, and described persistent staffing shortfalls, rising maintenance demands, and several capital needs that could require county funding or external grants.

Why it matters: OSTA hosts community events, ball leagues and regional equine competitions. Budget decisions affect public-safety preparedness for large events and the arena’s ability to host revenue-generating competitions.

Staffing and overtime

Book told the board her team is “extremely overwhelmed” and described staff burnout from weekend events and emergency responses. She said the arena had budgeted overtime in prior years but that ongoing extra shifts — for event setups, emergency responses and facility needs — are putting pressure on maintenance funds.

Personnel-services director Tess Farber (personnel services) told the board that a fully loaded new maintenance technician would cost roughly $104,000 including benefits; Book and board members discussed whether adding a full-time maintenance hire would reduce overtime and long-term costs.

Training, accreditation and travel

Book described a planned accreditation and professional training for arena staff that she said would make OSTA more competitive for higher-level equine events. She said the accreditation could help attract out-of-state events; some training is out of state (for example, a conference in Nashville), and air travel is a key reason travel costs are higher than past years. Board members pushed to preserve at least a modest travel allowance so staff can pursue the accreditation and training.

Stage partnership with city, certification and costs

OSTA houses a large portable stage the county purchased with a city partnership. Book said the stage now requires recertification and that training four operators and having certifying technicians inspect and recertify the stage could cost between $8,000 and $10,000; she also described additional upgrade needs, including sidewalls and floor extensions with a combined estimated cost around $8,500. Book and board members discussed whether the city’s share of the stage partnership should cover part of these maintenance and certification costs in accordance with the existing interlocal MOU.

Fire-suppression system concerns

Book reported that state fire technicians who recently inspected the arena’s fire-suppression system found corrosion on piping entering the ground and recommended bidding replacement of the buried pipe as part of any larger system replacement. She estimated the additional work to replace the buried pipe could add $30,000 to $50,000 to an overall replacement package and said the system’s antifreeze pressures were already low, reinforcing the need to address the system in 2026.

Inventory, stage components and capital equipment

Book listed a range of capital needs that had been deferred in prior budget rounds: additional chairs and implements, a roller implement for arena-floor compaction, a rock screen, laser level attachments, and other arena implements. She said inventory purchases in prior years ranged from $12,000 to $20,000 depending on planned projects.

Software and operations

Book said OSTA would cancel EventPro (a reservations software) to save $1,500 if necessary, but board members warned that losing the reservation system would increase staff administrative workload and might interfere with stall and event management. She also noted rising equipment maintenance costs for specialized equipment, and the need to replace some UTV parts and implements.

Board discussion and next steps

Board members recommended seeking an itemized accounting of city usage and staff hours tied to the stage so maintenance and certification costs could be invoiced or shared with the city as appropriate under the existing MOU. Book said she would compile invoices and a clearer breakdown of stage-related staff time to pursue reimbursements or a better cost-sharing arrangement.

Quotes used in context

- Angie Book, manager, OSTA: “My staff is extremely overwhelmed and... they’re experiencing burnout.”
- Tess Farber, Personnel Services director: new maintenance technician full cost estimate “roughly a 104,000.”

Ending

Book closed by urging the board to consider the arena’s deferred capital needs and to coordinate with the recreation special service district and the city for capital funding. The board requested follow-up details for cost-sharing with the city and a prioritized capital list for 2026.