Editor’s note: This article has been edited to make clear that Ouray County had four members of the administration team and one employee leave their positions in 2025. County Manager Connie Hunt resigned in February, Interim County Manager Kara Rhoades resigned in October, around the same time Ouray County 4-H Center Manager Cassidy Knotts resigned and Deputy County Attorney Marita Robinson resigned. Previous Ouray County 4-H Center Manager Erin Stadelman left her position in April.

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Ouray County Attorney Leo Caselli received a near-perfect annual performance review score from two county commissioners who reviewed his performance earlier this month.

Caselli scored 99 out of 100 points, one point higher than last year when he scored 98 and the year before when he received a 97. He retained “truly distinguished” marks across the board for areas such as initiative, teamwork/working relations, quality of work product and job knowledge.

He received a nine out of 10 in judgment/decision making.

Caselli was evaluated during a public meeting Feb. 10 by Commissioners Jake Niece and Michelle Nauer. Commissioner Lynn Padgett was not at the meeting, and Niece said her evaluation of Caselli would be added separately to his personnel file.

However, the Plaindealer requested Padgett’s review, two weeks after the meeting, and Caselli said there was no record of it.

During the meeting, Niece and Nauer praised Caselli’s work, thanking him for taking on additional duties in 2025, especially in the last several months when four members of the county’s administrative staff, including County Manager Connie Hunt, left their positions. The deputy county attorney also resigned.

“Everyone covered additional responsibilities (during that time) through the administrative staff turnover,” Niece said. “You expanded your scope, and your dedication is extremely appreciated. Thank you for your dedication to your community and the organization. You truly did go above and beyond when we needed legal guidance with a positive attitude and willingness to fill the gaps. Saying you went above and beyond is a little cliché, but I mean it.”

Nauer agreed and said, “We appreciated your ability to guide us through contentious times. Your ability to keep track of everything is incredible.”

Caselli was hired in fall 2021, after the county decided to hire an in-house, full-time attorney after using contract attorneys. Since then, commissioners added another full-time position to support him, with a full-time deputy county attorney position first hired in May 2024 and rehired for the position in November 2025.

Both told Caselli now is the time to step back from additional work, return to county attorney duties and find a better work-life balance to stave off burnout.

“It’s time to let off the gas, reduce your stress levels, spend time with your family and pursue personal goals,” Niece said. “You are really dedicated to the county. … I want to avoid that burnout that we have talked about before.”

Caselli’s list of 2025 accomplishments included working on 11 court cases or appeals, 173 contracts in 2025 compared with 158 in 2024, and 93 Colorado Open Records Act and Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act requests.

He helped every county department with projects and led the effort to recruit a new county manager, drafted a successful lodging tax ballot measure and finalized the affordable housing administrator project, according to the list.

Caselli said he looked at the commissioners’ goals for 2026 and tailored a top 10 list of goals for himself. They include:

• Attending trainings for continuing education and training staff.

• Working on revenue generators such as potential property, sales and use tax questions for the November ballot to help fund Emergency Medical Services and Road and Bridge.

• Providing technical support to update data retention policies and other policies.

• Helping with potential mergers such as the fire department and emergency medical services;

• Updating personnel policies and land-use codes.

• Changing county ordinances to comply with state requirements, especially on wildfire mitigation and onsite wastewater treatment systems.

• Providing major project support.

• Helping with code enforcement and issues with water.

He asked for the board’s indulgence to allow him to catch up on projects requested by other departments that were put on the back burner in 2025 because of other issues that needed immediate attention.

“Absolutely, for your sanity, I share that understanding of having all that stuff piled, and it’s eating the elephant one bite at a time,” Nauer said. “We have to recognize that you need that breathing room.” Caselli said Deputy Attorney Bob Perry is adjusting to the position and providing the support Caselli needs. Perry was hired in November after Marita Robinson resigned after a little more than a year.

“It was a tough year, but we all got through it together,” Caselli said. “I am grateful to … the administration team for stepping up. I couldn’t have gotten us through those transitions without them.” Plaindealer reporter Lia Salvatierra contributed to this report.

Deb Hurley Brobst is a longtime, award-winning journalist. Email her at deb.hurley.brobst@gmail.com.