City of Cortez Makes Offer on Old High School Property

The Cortez City Council took the first steps Tuesday toward a possible purchase of the site of the former Montezuma-Cortez High School. The council unanimously approved a resolution authorizing an offer of $354,000 for the 14-acre parcel. The offer is contingent on the city’s receiving a state GOCO grant toward the purchase and the school district’s completely removing the old high school. The city intends to turn 11 acres into a park and sell 3 acres to the Montezuma Housing Authority for affordable housing. City Manager Shane Hale noted that city residents surveyed during a master-plan update identified a park on Cortez’s south side as a high priority.