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PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
September 2, 2025
STATE OF COLORADO )
) ss.
COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA )
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday September 2, 2025 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
Stephen Tarnowski, County Attorney
Kim Percell, County Clerk
CHAIRMAN CANDELARIA opened the meeting of September 2, 2025 with the Pledge of Allegiance
MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, held on Tuesday, August 26, 2025 as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.
PUBLIC HEARING: It being the time set aside a public hearing is held for review and determination regarding a proposed Subdivision Amendment Application to Lots 4 & 5 of the Hartman Heights Subdivision, 1st Amended, submitted by Mark Hedges Trust & R Trust; agent: Julie Suckla, on properties located at 9595 & TBD Road 24.3, Cortez, CO, consisting of 5.56 acres & 5.71 acres, more or less, both located south of Road K.3, west of Hwy 491, both situated in Section 27, Township 36N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M. The roll was called, the public notice read, and the proceedings were recorded for the record. Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented the details of the application and the findings of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Commissioner Candelaria opened the hearing to public comment. Hearing no public comment, that portion of the hearing was closed. After hearing all the evidence presented Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the application to Lots 4 & 5 of the Hartman Heights Subdivision, for Mark Hedges Trust & R Trust; agent: Julie Suckla, on properties located at 9595 & TBD Road 24.3, Cortez, consisting of 5.56 acres & 5.71 acres. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. Commissioner Candelaria closed the hearing at this time. (See attached)
PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment was made by Lenetta Shull.
CONSENT AGENDA: No items included within the consent agenda
BUDGET REQUEST: Human Resource Technician, Dennis Bugg along with Finance Officer, Miranda Warren met with the Commissioners to present a Supplemental Budget Request and the proposed iSolved Payroll Software Contract. Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the Supplemental Budget Request 2025, pursuant of 29-1-106 and 29-1-109 Colorado Revised Statutes, in the amount of $102,850.00. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)
DISCUSSION: Human Resource Technician, Dennis Bugg, Finance Officer, Miranda Warren and Bentley Colbert met with the Commissioners to discuss a proposed move of the Worker’s Comp, Insurance to Acrisure. Commissioner Lindsay moved to table the discussion and possible decision related to Insurance Brokerage Workmen’s Comp until September 15th at 1:30p.m. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)
SOCIAL SERVICES: Director, Kelli Hargraves met with the Commissioners to present the State of Colorado Intergovernmental Agreement Modification Amendment #6 Promoting Safe and Stable Families spending authorization, for fiscal year 2025, in the amount of $200,000.00. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Agreement Modification Intergovernmental agreement amendment #6 between the Colorado Department of Early Childhood and Montezuma County Department of Social Services for fiscal year 2026, in the amount of $200,000.00. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)
PUBLIC HEALTH: Public Health Assistant Director, Laurel Schafer met with the Commissioners to present for approval, the Montezuma County Gant Application Submission Form for the (OPHP) Office of Public Health Practice Preventive Block Grant Request. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Montezuma County Gant Application Submission Form for Montezuma County Public Health Department for the (OPHP) Preventive Block Grant through CDPHE, in the amount of $25,000.00 with no cash match. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)
BOARD APPOINTMENT: County Attorney Tarnowski presented letters of interest from Douglas Muscanell, Dustin Noyes, Rick Newby, Michael Higman and Bill Blackmer to be appointed to the Lewis-Arriola Fire Protection District Board. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to appoint, to the Lewis-Arriola Fire Department Board, Douglas Muscanell, Dustin Noyes, Rick Newby, Michael Higman and Bill Blackmer, until a special election can be held to fill this Board. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)
COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: Attorney, Stephen Tarnowski discussed the court schedule, the Leaf Property case, a scheduled jury trial and Rule 31.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson discussed the Dolores County VSO Intergovernmental Agreement, the attended Town Hall meeting in Dolores regarding the Sherriff’s Contract, Rule 31, an FBI request to use the County range, the cancelled Congressman Hurd’s meeting and the collective bargaining issue.
COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: County Clerk, Kim Percell mentioned the State Election training that she and Deputy Diana Smith had attended.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners’ reports included:
Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended Southwest Water Conservation Board meeting, Shoshone water rights, project funding, Water Smart Grants and repairs to the Narragguinep dam.
Commissioner Lindsay discussed the cancelled Congressman Hurd’s meeting that turned into a community meeting and the attended Cortez City Council meeting.
Commissioner Candelaria discussed the cancelled Congressman Hurd’s meeting and addressed current Social Media misinformation.
EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to Attorney Tarnowski’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 Tarnowski and Clerk Percell. Topics for the executive session were legal advice on the Town of Dolores Contract for law enforcement services. Commissioner Lindsay moved to go out of executive session, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)
EXECUTIVE SESSION Pursuant to Attorney Tarnowski’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 Tarnowski, Clerk Percell and Dennis Bugg. Topics for the executive session were legal advice on Human Resources policies and oversight. Commissioner Lindsay moved to go out of executive session, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)
MOTION TO ADJOURN: Commissioner Lindsay moved to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.
CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: the September 2025 newsletters from Montezuma County Senior Services and the August 2025 Emergency Management Situation Report. (See attached)
ADJOURNED: 11:10 a.m.
___________________________ ____________________________
Clerk September 2, 2025 Chairman
