EDWARDS, Colorado — The Eagle River Fire Protection District board of directors didn’t talk about its efforts to condemn land in Avon during the open portion of its meeting Thursday.

The district went into “executive session,” out of the public’s eye, to talk about condemnation and land acquisition.

Earlier in the meeting, the board voted to “accept” a new draft of a study that examines potential locations for new fire stations within the district, which covers Red Cliff, Minturn, Avon, Edwards, Cordillera and Bachelor Gulch.

The Nottingham Road area is the best of several possible locations for a new Avon fire station, says the report, prepared by consultant Almont Associates. The 1-acre piece of land that the district has targeted for condemnation, owned by Jim Pavelich, is on Nottingham Road.

Pavelich has vowed to fight the condemnation efforts.

The district offered $2 million for the land — an offer that Pavelich rejected — before it started the condemnation proceedings.

Eminent domain powers allow governments to take land for public uses, paying “just compensation.”

Chief Charlie Moore recently said the district is still trying to find land to buy so it can avoid using eminent domain powers.

The Avon station is getting squeezed out in a planned redevelopment, and the current location of the station is too congested, officials say.


Staff Writer Edward Stoner can be reached at 748-2929 or estoner@vaildaily.com.