BOCC Minutes October 22 2024

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

October 22, 2024

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday October 22, 2024 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 October 22, 2024 with the Pledge of Allegiance

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, for Tuesday, October 8, 2024 as presented.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PLANNING:  Planning Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures of an After-The-Fact Setback Variance, submitted by Laurie Kain, on property located at 41845 Road J.75, Mancos, CO, consisting of 3.37 acres, more or less, located north of Hwy 160 and east of Road J.75, situated in Section 28, Township 36N, Range 13W, N.M.P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment was made by Eleanor McFarland and Landan Wilson.  (See attached)

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)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

DISCUSSION: There was no action taken for the Aspen Wood Products Inc. request for a Tax Abatement, since a decision regarding the abatement was reached on Monday.

GRANT DISCUSSIONS: County Grant Coordinator, Robert Dobry met with the Commissioners to discuss the following:

DISCUSSION: The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Keep Colorado Wild, Backcountry Search and Rescue County Allocation Grant Award was presented for approval.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to authorize the Chairman to sign the budget allocation for the Backcountry Search and Rescue County Grant Award.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The proposed Hazard Mitigation Plan Grant increase request was presented for discussion.  No action was taken at this time.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The Public Health Department, Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) Grant was presented for approval.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the Emergency Food and Shelter Program Food Pantry Grant. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached) 

LETTERS OF SUPPORT: Administrator Anderson presented for approval, letters of support addressed to the Colorado Broadband Office, for the following internet service providers Nimbus Solutions, Farmers Telephone Company, Clearnetworx’s, and Emery Telecom, for their applications seeking Broadband Equity Access and Deployment funding.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to sign the letters of support for internet service providers seeking broadband Equity Access and deployment funding from the Colorado Broadband Office, Emery Telecom, Nimbus Solutions, Clearnetworx’s, and Farmers Telephone Company.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The discussion related to the Inmate Health Services Renewal was postponed to a future date.

DISCUSSION: The VFW request for use of the Annex I facility was tabled at this time.

APPOINTMENTS: Chairman Candelaria proposed to appoint Jim Mitchell, Bobbie Hunter, Felicia Herrmann, and Amanda Higgins, to 4-year terms, along with the appointment of two alternates Devonne Kingery and Logan Hindmarsh.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to appoint these names to the Fair Board.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to Attorney MacLaren’s suggestion, Commissioner Lindsay moved to go into executive session for a conference with the attorney for the purpose of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions under C.R.S. Section 24-6-402(4)(b).  Seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  Included in the session will be, Commissioners Candelaria, Lindsay and Koppenhafer, Administrator Anderson, Attorney MacLaren, Assistant County Attorney Stephan Tarnowski and Clerk Percell. Topics for the executive session were legal advice on the Sheriff’s budget.   Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to go out of executive session, seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.   (See attached)

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Ian MacLaren discussed the Unemployment Benefits Case, the Road & Bridge Road 41 fencing project, the training held for Appointed Board Members, an additional training scheduled for November 12, 2024, the Newman jail death case, the Severance Tax lawsuit, the Ironwood case and the Dollar Store case.

ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: County Administrator, Travis Anderson discussed administrative duties, the Chicken Creek issue, financial reviews, securing the Landfill range, the attended CIP Transition meeting and the re-posting for the Veterans Service Officer position.   

PAYABLE EXPENDITURE REPORT: Administrator Anderson presented for approval, the September 2024 Accounts Payable Expenditure Reports in the total amount of $3,933,632.08.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the payables for the County, in the amount of $3,933,632.08.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.   (See attached)

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners reports included:

Commissioner Lindsay discussed the Fair Board interviews and the scheduled Cortez City Council meeting.

Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended Southwest Water Conservation Board meeting and the Chicken Creek land claim.

Commissioner Candelaria: mentioned the Fair Board interviews, the Chicken Creek land claim, and attendance at the Colorado Fire Commission meeting.

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

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: The Wildfire Adapted partnership in Montezuma County.

MEETING ADJOURNED:  10:49 a.m.

____________________________                            ____________________________

Clerk                     October 22, 2024                             Chairman