BOCC Minutes August 22 2023

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

August 22, 2023

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday August 22, 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 August 22, 2023 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, for Tuesday, August 15, 2023 as presented.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan reported that the application for review and determination of a General Planned Unit Development, and AR35+ Rezoning Application submitted by Elevated Smoke, LLC, agent: Cole Clark, on property located at 7231 Road 25, Cortez, CO, consisting of 35 acres, more or less, located north of Road G, west of Road 25, situated in Section 3, T.36N, R.16W, N.M.P.M., had been withdrawn.  Commissioner Candelaria closed the public hearing.

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures of a Mylar of an Amendment to the Jason’s Single Lot Development, submitted by Clay & Sara South, on property located at 23286 Road T, Dolores, CO, consisting of 3.28 acres, more or less, and Summer Camp Cattle, LLC, on property located at TBD Road T, Dolores, CO, consisting of 70.61 acres, more or less, both located east of Road 23, north of Road S, situated in Section 21, Township 37N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M..

Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for signatures of a Mylar of a 2 Lot Moderate Subdivision and AR3-9 Rezoning Application submitted by Nelda Jones, on property located at 31522 Road W, Dolores, CO, consisting of 17.50 acres, more or less, located south of Road W, east of Road 31, situated in Section 2, Township 37N, Range 15W, N.M.P.M..

PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment was made by Lenetta Shull.

BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MONTHLY REPORT: It being the time set aside, the Board of Social Services was conducted.  Director, Kelli Hargraves and Finance Officer, Lori Higgins were present.  (See attached)

VETERANS SERVICE: Veteran Service Officer, Frank LoBue met with the Commissioners to give a monthly report.  A copy of the Colorado Division of Veterans Affairs, County Veterans Service Officers Monthly Report, for July 2023 was presented for the record.  Other topics discussed included; the July 2023 financial report, a review of office activities,  claim highlights, pending claims, statistical data and the indirect income to Montezuma County.  Officer LoBue presented for the record, a copy of the August 2023 Newsletter and reported that the Montezuma Stand Down for Veterans Event is scheduled on September 16, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  (See attached).

SENIOR SERVICES & MONTEZUMA COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (MCCO): Director, Jennifer Morris met with the Commissioners to give a monthly report on both departments.  Senior Services: Director, Morris gave an update on the Mancos Senior Center remodel project and a proposal to use the Grange during the duration of time that the Center is unavailable.  Other topics discussed within the Senior Services report included; the Annex cleaning deposits for county employees, an overview of program funding by (AAA) Agency on Aging and the Dolores Senior Center.  Topics discussed with the MCCO Transit report included; funding for the new van, an update on the14 passenger van purchase, the new transportation services to the Town of Rico, monthly ride numbers, public service announcements and staffing.   

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

DISCUSSION: A Letter of Support addressed to the Colorado Broadband Office, Advance-CPF Grant Program related to the Farmers Telephone Capital Project Funds Grant was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to sign the letter of support for Farmers Telephone Communications for the Back 40 Project.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached) 

RESOLUTION 17-2023: Attorney MacLaren presented Resolution 17-2023, a resolution declaring the intention of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, Colorado, to create a Local Improvement District within the County, to be designated as Montezuma County Local Improvement District #2023-1, (Upper Road 42), adopting details and specifications therefor, and ordering publication and mailing of notice of hearing to the owners of the property to be assessed for improvements in said District.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve Resolution #2023-17, declaring the intention of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, Colorado, to create a Local Improvement District within the County, to be designated as Montezuma County Local Improvement District #2023-1, (Upper Road 42), adopting details and specifications therefor, and ordering publication and mailing of notice of hearing to the owners of the property to be assessed for improvements in said District.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The discussion related to the request for a secondary/backup vehicle for the Coroner’s office was held.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to keep the secondary vehicle for the Coroner’s office.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

IT: IT Director, Jim McClain met with the Commissioners to present for approval, the Bead Program, Sign on Letter Calling for Alternatives to Letter of Credit Requirement. Commissioner Lindsay moved to sign the letter regarding the Bead Program.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)  

NATURAL RESOURCES, PLANNING & PUBLIC LANDS: Resource Director, James Dietrich, met with the Commissioners to give his weekly report.  Topics of the discussion included; the attended FEMA Flood Plan Workshop, Fluvial Hazard mapping, the Essential Federal Lands 70% design review for the Paths to Mesa Verde Project, the scheduled stakeholder’s Wildfire meeting, the Saulter Vegetation Management litigation, wildfire mitigation, identification of CFLRP areas within Montezuma County, the Community Wildfire Defense Grant and the open project’s quarterly reports. 

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Ian MacLaren gave an update on the Ellis Lewis Land Use case, discussed the attended Fair Board meeting and CORA requests.

ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: County Administrator, Travis Anderson reported he had been out of town a couple days last week.

PAYABLE EXPENDITURE REPORT: Administrator Anderson presented for approval, the month of July 2023, Accounts Payable Expenditure Reports, in the amount of $4,812,586.25.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the payables in the amount of $4,812,586.25.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.   (See attached)

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners reports included: Commissioner Koppenhafer reported that he had discussions with several constituents related to road striping.  Commissioner Lindsay discussed the Dolores / Montezuma County’s combined campground tour and the scheduled Cortez City Council meeting. Commissioner Candelaria discussed the completed blade patch work on 526 Road, the Dolores / Montezuma County’s combined campground tour and completed improvement projects at the Fairgrounds.

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

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted:

MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:15 a.m.

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Clerk                          August 22, 2023                       Chairman