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PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
October 14, 2025
STATE OF COLORADO )
) ss.
COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA )
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday October 14, 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 October 14, 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, October 7, 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 & Rezoning Application to Lot 2 of the Lynch Minor Subdivision, 1st Amended, submitted by Paul Abate & Staci Cost, on property located at 14587 Road 29.75, Dolores, CO, consisting of 21.05 acres, more or less, located south of Road R and east of Road 29, situated in Section 33, Township 37N, Range 15W, N.M.P.M. The roll was called, the public notice read, and the proceedings were recorded for the record. Mr. Abate was present. 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 proposed Subdivision Amendment & Rezoning Application for Lot 2 of the Lynch Minor Subdivision, located at 14587 Road 29.75, Dolores, consisting of 21.05 acres. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. Commissioner Candelaria closed the hearing at this time. (See attached)
PUBLIC HEARING: It being the time set aside a public hearing is held for review and determination regarding a proposed 3 Lot Minor Subdivision and Rezoning Application, submitted by Tracy Westfall; agent: Cheyenne Stowers, on property located at 22252 Road 22, Lewis, CO, consisting of 36.54 acres, more or less, located south of Road Z and east of Hwy 491, situated in Section 20, Township 38N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M. The roll was called, the public notice read, and the proceedings were recorded for the record. Ms. Stowers was present. 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 proposed 3 Lot Minor Subdivision and Rezoning Application, submitted by Tracy Westfall; agent: Cheyenne Stowers, on property located at 22252 Road 22, Lewis, CO, consisting of 36.54, as presented. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. Commissioner Candelaria closed the hearing at this time. (See attached)
PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures of a Subdivision Amendment to Lots 1 & 2 of the Phelps Farms Subdivision, submitted by Fred Phelps, on properties located at 24351 & TBD Road T, Dolores, CO, consisting of 6.40 & 3.99 acres, more or less, both located north of Road T, west of Road 25, situated in Section 15, Township 37N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M..
CONSENT AGENDA: No items included within the consent agenda
PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comments were made by Allen Maez and David Paradise.
Item Needing Individual Consideration:
IT: IT Director, Jim McClain met with the Commissioners to present for approval the Montezuma County Grant Application Submission Form for the DHSEM State / Local Cybersecurity Grant Program – Crowd Strike Falcon. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Montezuma County Grant Application Submission Form, for the IT Department, for the project titled DHSEM State / Local Cybersecurity Grant Program – Crowd Strike Falcon. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)
DISCUSSION: Administrator Anderson presented the proposed Sheriff’s Office Taser purchase from Axon Enterprises, Inc., for a 60-month program, total cost of $161,187.60, fiscal year 2026 in the amount of $32,719.82. Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept Axon Enterprises, Inc., out of Scottsdale Arizona, for the purchase of Tasers for the Sheriff’s Office, in the amount of $32,719.82. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)
2026 BUDGET: Administrator Anderson presented the proposed 2026 Budget for review and discussion. (See attached)
COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: Attorney, Stephen Tarnowski discussed Land Use Code enforcement actions, the proposed Solar Regulations, the Hwy 184 / County Road 25 project, county contracts and the Child Protection court docket.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson mentioned working on the proposed budget, a meeting held with the Road & Bridge Department, road signs at Lebanon and County Road P, the parking lot assessments, the Hwy 184 / County Road 25 Project, the Enterprise software and the Town of Dolores Law Enforcement Contract.
COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: County Clerk, Kim Percell, mentioned the recent sale of Dominion Voting Systems to Liberty Vote.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners’ reports included:
Commissioner Lindsay mentioned the recently received rain, the scheduled Cortez City Council Meeting, the scheduled Traveling Town Hall and the Coffee with the County events.
Commissioner Koppenhafer gave a report on the attended Southwest Water Conservation Board meeting.
Commissioner Candelaria mentioned the recently received rain along with outreach to neighboring La Plata and Archuleta County Commissioners related to their flooding issues, a discussion with Congressman Jeff Hurd and the attended Town of Dolores Board meeting.
MOTION TO ADJOURN: Commissioner Lindsay moved to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.
CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted:
ADJOURNED: 9:57.m.
___________________________ ____________________________
Clerk October 14, 2025 Chairman
