PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

June 13, 2023

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday June 13, 2023 at the Montezuma County Administration building in Cortez, Colorado, there were present:

Jim Candelaria, Chairman

Kent Lindsay, Vice Chairman

Gerald Koppenhafer, Commissioner of Deeds

Travis Anderson, County Administrator

Ian MacLaren, County Attorney

Kim Percell, County Clerk

CHAIRMAN CANDELARIA opened the meeting of June 13, 2023 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, for June 6, 2023 as presented.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures of an Exemption submitted by Van Keuren Living Trust & Akina, LLC, on properties located at 12403 Road 22, Cortez, CO, consisting of 35.73 acres, more or less & 12525 Road 22, Cortez, CO, consisting of 70 acres, more or less, both located east of Road 22, south of Road N, situated in Section 7, Township 36N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M.

CONTINUANCE FROM JUNE 6, Planning Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for discussion and approval of an amended Variance Application submitted by Leslee Ham, on property located at 9340 Road 29.25, Cortez, CO, consisting of 3.45 acres, more or less, located south of Hwy 160, situated in Section 28, Township 36N, Range 15W, N.M.P.M.  Mr. and Mrs. Ham were present.  A discussion related to the change of the application from a variance to a PUD amendment process was held.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to deny the variance application submitted by Leslee Ham, on property located at 9340 Road 29.25, Cortez.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment were made by Mary Dodd, James R. Meyers, Lindsay Yeager, Ernie Guilliams, and Dawn Hauser Ham.

VEHICLE MAINTENANCE: Road & Bridge Equipment Manager, Shane Higman met with the Commissioners to give a monthly report.  Manager Higman presented for approval the bids for the Emergency Manager’s replacement vehicle purchase.  Bids received included: $42,144.00 Morehart Murphy (Durango), $45,140.00 Larry H. Miller (Salt Lake), $45,085.00 Larry H. Miller (Denver), $44,555.00 Auto Nation (Colorado Springs), $43,173.00 Performance Ford (Salt Lake), 43,076.00 Auto Nation (Denver).   Commissioner Lindsay moved to authorize the Fleet Manager to purchase a Chevy 1500, 4×4, from Morehart Murphy in Durango.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

GROUNDS AND BUILDINGS: Maintenance Supervisor, Dustin Sattler met with the Commissioners to give project updates on the grounds and buildings.  Projects discussed included; filter changes and belt checks, Annex III painting, grass planting, weed maintenance, a proposed HVAC Units Replacement Plan, the replacement of detectors and miscellaneous budget items for the jail.

IT: IT Director, Jim McClain no report given.

GIS MAPPING: GIS Manager, Doug Roth along with Mapping Specialist, Nolan Notah, met with the Commissioners to give a demonstration of the new Open Data Portal on the County website.  Specialist, Notah also demonstrated a soon to be released, interactive, Montezuma County Recreational Trails Story Map.   

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

DISCUSSION: The Montezuma County 2022 payment of $115,172.57 from the Secure Rural Schools Funding was presented for disbursement approval.  The three school districts were in agreement to a split of 50% to the School Districts and the other 50% to the County.  The split for the school districts will be in accordance to student enrollment.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to disburse the funds as, 50% to the schools and 50% to Montezuma County from the Secure Rural Schools funding.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The Public Health, CDC Infrastructure Contract, Task Order #23FAA00035, in the amount of $274,926.00 was presented for approval.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the CDC Infrastructure Contract, Task Order #23FAA00035.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached) 

DISCUSSION: A discussion was held related to a proposed update to the Montezuma County Official Travel Reimbursement Rate.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to upgrade the travel rate reimbursement, to the GSA allotted funds rate.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.   (See attached)

CEMETERY APPOINTMENTS: Administrator Anderson presented a letter of interest from Rachel McWhirter for the appointment, to a full 6 year term, to the Mancos Cemetery Board.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to nominate Rachel McWhirter to the Mancos Cemetery Board.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)  

LETTER OF SUPPORT: A letter of support addressed to the Division of Transit & Rail, Colorado Department of Transportation, relating to the Community Connections, Inc.’s application seeking 5310 Federal Transit Administration funding, was presented for discussion.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to sign the letter of support for Community Connections supporting their endeavor with the Division of Transit & Rail, through the Colorado Department of Transportation.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

NEW BUSINESS:

LIQUOR LICENSE: Deputy Clerk, Jerri Frizzell, presented for approval a Special Event liquor license application for the Montezuma County Fair Board, event to be held at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, 30100 Hwy 160 Cortez Co., scheduled July 21, July 25^th and July 28, 2023.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the liquor license application for a Special Event at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, presented by the Montezuma County Fair Board, Mary Bramwell, as a Fair Board member, to be held at 30100 Hwy 160 Cortez Co.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)

PUBLIC LANDS:

Bureau of Land Management, Tres Rios Field Office Manager, Derek Padilla gave updates to the Commissioners on the following topics; the Lands for Disposal discussion, the Public Lands Rule and the comment period deadline, the Aqueduct Trail parking lot and the addition of future parking areas throughout the County.

Canyon of the Ancients National Monument Manager, Ray O’Neal reported that the Visitors Center has been going through a floor stabilization project and will re-open on June 24^th along with the Indigenous Market special event.  Other topics discussed included; renovations at Painted Hand.  Manager, O’Neal reported that the visitation trends included; 150,000 yearly visitors to the monument, 30,000 to the Visitor Center, 35,000 to the Sand Canyon Trail head, Lowry Pueblo around 40,000, Painted Hand about 9,000 and the upper Sand Canyon Pueblo the Interpretive Trail about 9,000.  A ten year increase of visitors with a peak in 2021 everywhere but the Visitor Center.

NATURAL RESOURCES, PLANNING & PUBLIC LANDS: Resource Director, James Dietrich, met with the Commissioners to give his weekly report.  Topics of the discussion included; an update on the Paths to Mesa Verde project, the OREC Study, a reappointment to the BLM Southwest RAC, the BLM rule changes, FLPMA and the scheduled (CFLRP) Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program meeting.

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Ian MacLaren no report given.

ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: County Administrator, Travis Anderson discussed preliminary budget presentation meetings, a discussion held with Steve Bowman related to the Fairground’s fire suppression system, constituent calls related to road concerns, a budget committee meeting with the Sheriff and the Town of Dolores, Proposition HH and the new Department of Social Services Director. 

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics discussed within the Commissioners reports included: Commissioner Lindsay reported that he had several constituent discussions related to the hospital Birthing Center closure and discussed the Dolores River Canyon meeting with Senator Bennet.  Commissioner Lindsay also thanked the Ute Mountain Rodeo crews for the excellent job done and said they put on a great show.   Commissioner Koppenhafer reported that he had served as the Veterinarian on duty for the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo, had several discussions related to the hospital Birthing Center closure and reported on the discussion with Senator Bennet on water issues. Commissioner Candelaria discussed the attended TPR meeting, gave an overview of the 2023 legislative report, and the rafting trip down the Dolores River Canyon, the Monday Workshop, the scheduled Hospital Birthing Center meeting and attended preliminary budget hearings.  

MOTION TO ADJOURN: Commissioner Lindsay moved to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted:

MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:42 a.m.

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Clerk                                 June 13, 2023                       Chairman