Rico advisory committee reviews survey on reuse of former church building

The Rico advisory committee met to review results from a recently distributed survey about community preferences for reuse and programming inside the former Rico Community Church building. The meeting, held Feb. 3, 2026 at Rico Town Hall, centered on potential community uses, storage and equipment needs, and early next steps for turning resident feedback into an actionable plan.

The temporary advisory body was created by the Town of Rico to guide planning, fundraising, and operational strategy over a one-year term. Committee Focus: The committee will work to identify funding opportunities, assess structural and facility needs, and develop operational and policy recommendations to support the long-term use of the church building. The goal is to position Town staff to begin implementing recommendations within one year. Those objectives make the committee’s work a linchpin for whether the former/historic church becomes a community hub, storage and program space, or retains a different role in Rico’s small-town fabric.

Membership and process are built into the Town notice. The Town of Rico is seeking local residents to serve on a temporary advisory committee focused on the future of the historic Rico Church building. Committee Structure: • Seeking Rico residents to serve • Includes representation from the Board of Trustees, Rico Historical Society, and Rico Center. Meeting Schedule & Responsibilities: • Meets 1–2 times per month at Rico Town Hall • Meetings will be publicly noticed in compliance with Colorado Open Meetings Law • The committee will appoint a Chair and Secretary at its first meeting • Meeting minutes must be taken and maintained • The committee will provide monthly updates and quarterly written reports to the Board of Trustees.

The panel’s review was based on a recently distributed survey intended to capture community preferences for reuse and programming. While the committee "met to review results from a recently distributed survey about community preferences for reuse and programming inside the former Rico Community Church building," no numeric response totals or ranked preference outcomes were released at the meeting. Committee members "discussed options for possible community uses, storage and equipment needs, and next" [truncated], leaving specifics about public priorities and trade-offs unreported for now.

The notice package includes evidence of local interest. An applicant letter excerpt reads: "16 August 5, 2025 Dear Manager McCarthy, I am writing to express my interest in serving on the advisory committee for the historic Rico Church. As a full-time resident of Rico, and a neighbor living directly next to the church, I care about preserving this iconic structure and thoughtfully shaping its future use. I have attended the [...]" [truncated]. The public posting itself bears email artifacts such as "1/2 18 View this email in your browser" and the ambiguous string "16 August 5, 2025" exactly as shown, which suggest the notice originated as a town newsletter and that date formatting should be clarified by town staff.

For Rico residents, the committee’s work will determine what services and events the former church can host, what equipment and storage will be required, and how the town will pursue funding and policy changes to support reuse. Expect ongoing public meetings at Rico Town Hall, monthly updates and quarterly written reports to the Board of Trustees, and a one-year timeline aimed at shifting recommendations into Town operations.