PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

April 19, 2022

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday April 19, 2022 at the Montezuma County Administration building in Cortez, Colorado, there were present:

Jim Candelaria, Chairman

Kent Lindsay, Vice Chairman

Gerald Koppenhafer, Commissioner of Deeds

Shalako Powers, County Administrator

Ian MacLaren, County Attorney

Kim Percell, County Clerk

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the minutes of the Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners Montezuma County, Colorado dated April 12, 2022, as presented.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan reported that the discussion for the approval of a Variance submitted by Ruben & Pauline Jasso, Lot #50 of the Summit Lake West Unit l Major Subdivision, at 14517 Road 35.9, Mancos, CO, consisting of 1.21 acres, more or less, located south of Hwy 184, west of Road 35.9, situated in Section 33, T.37N, R.16W, N.M.P.M. was postponed to a future time. 

Director, Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented an Exemption Application, submitted by Adam & Shelly Redder, on property located at 31589 Hwy 160, Cortez, CO, consisting of 2.42 acres, more or less, located south of Hwy 160, situated in Section 23, T.36N, R.15W, N.M.P.M.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the exemption application submitted by Adam & Shelly Redder, on property located at 31589 Hwy 160, Cortez.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

Director, Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures, a Mylar for a 2 Lot Minor Subdivision and AR10-34 Rezoning Application, submitted by Michael Chenard & Jerrod Chenard, on property located at 10455 Road 20, Cortez, CO, consisting of 43.34 acres, more or less, located south of Road M and west of Road 20, situated in Section 23, T.36N., R.17W., N.M.P.M.. 

PUBLIC COMMENT: Mike Lynch discussed the County’s Dominion contract and election equipment.  Trent Bishop and John Godbout discussed the Ironwood property.  Ingrid Ward discussed the Planning and Zoning process.  (See attached) 

LIQUOR LICENSE: Deputy Clerk, Jerri Frizzell presented a liquor license renewal for Echo Basin Ranch LLC., located at 43747 Road M, Mancos.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the retail liquor or fermented malt beverage license renewal application for Echo Basin LLC., at 43747 Road M, Mancos, Co.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.   (See attached)

COUNTY CORONER: Coroner, George Deavers met with the Commissioners to give a monthly report.  Coroner Deavers reported that in 2022, there had been a total of 55 calls.  The year to date statistics included: 4 suicides, 4 motor vehicle deaths, 5 overdose deaths, 6 homicides and 69 completed autopsies with another scheduled Thursday.  Coroner Deavers reporting that the statistics included 7 children within the last four months, which was a substantial increase from past years.  Other topics discussed included; alcohol related deaths and the age range of the children. 

COUNTY SHERIFF’S MONTHLY REPORT: Sheriff, Steven Nowlin met with the Commissioners to give his monthly report which included the Calls for Service Report, a quarterly calls for service breakdown, the Jail Report, the Year to Date Transport Report, the Perdium and Cost for Travel Report, the Total Monthly Inmate Report, the Monthly Arrests Report, the Dolores County Billing Report, the City of Cortez Billing Report, the DOC Holds Report, the July Operational Expense Report the Monies Paid to the General Fund Report and the Inmate Cost Per Day Report.  Other topics discussed included: booking charges, a proposed increase to hold charges, development of a process to address pay increases for the completion of certification, requests for a culvert and gravel and the attended community meeting with residents to discuss the Ironwood property.  (See attached)

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:  Emergency Manager, Jim Spratlen met with the Commissioner to give a monthly update.  Manager Spratlen presented the Monthly Situational Report for discussion and review.  Topics discussed included: updates on the drought report, McPhee reservoir, the Avian Influenza HPAI, wind advisories, relative humidity, a current fire report, fire protection / evacuation plans, (Prepare, Plan and Practice), moisture and precipitations outlooks, a seasonal temperature outlook, a COVID update, the Ironwood property, training updates, completed certification, burn ban monitoring and the Landfill’s cleanup event scheduled for the entire month of May.  (See attached)

UNFINSHED BUSINESS:

County Attorney, Ian MacLaren presented for approval, the Fairground’s Race Track Lease agreement.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the changes in the lease agreement and sign it.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

Attorney MacLaren presented for approval the Notice of Environmental Use Restrictions imposed by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment for the Carver Field at the Landfill.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve and accept the Notice of Environmental Use Restrictions imposed by the Colorado Department of Public Health on the Landfill for the Carver Field.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

Attorney MacLaren presented for approval the Easement Agreement for Dolores Bike Trail for Richard Gantman and Brenda Naish, Legato Investments LLC., and Dry Fork, LLC.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the easement agreements, terms and conditions, with Richard Gantman and Brenda Naish, whose address is PO Box 1493 Dolores, also between Dry Fork, LLC, and Montezuma County, their address is 673 Riverside Ave. Mancos, Legato Investments LLC., and Montezuma County, their address is PO Box 2213 Dolores, Co.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Ian MacLaren gave an update on the 2021 Walmart tax appeal, the attended Lower Dolores River NCA meeting and the Planning & Zoning discussions regarding a CDOT access to a Summit Lake subdivision. 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator, Shak Powers, no report given.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics discussed within the Commissioners reports included: Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended Lower Dolores River NCA meeting, the attended Mancos Town Board meeting and installation of the new Mancos Town council.  Commissioner Lindsay discussed the attended Cortez City Council meeting, installation of the new City council, the Monday Workshop and Department Head meetings, along with a reminder to participate in the weekend’s scheduled Gun Show at the Fairgrounds.  Commissioner Candelaria discussed the attended Southwest TPR meeting, a State Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, the Presnell benefit dinner, the Department Head meeting, the Monday Workshop and the installation of the new Town of Dolores council.

NATURAL RESOURCES, PLANNING & PUBLIC LANDS: Resource Director, James Dietrich, discussed the attended Energy and Environment Symposium, proposed grant funding for the Mesa Verde Trail pathway, a benefit costs analysis, DOLA grant applications, the MMOF funds, proposed alternative routes off the highway corridor and working with  the new Grant Writer, Nichole Glasser. 

COUTNY CLERK & RECORDER: County Clerk, Kim Percell discussed the current Special District, Election for the Montezuma County Hospital District.  Clerk Percell reported that the District was conducting their own election and ballots were to be dropped off at Attorney Kelly McCabe’s office at 22 E. Main St. Cortez Co. 

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: Fax received from Steve Morgan. (See attached)

MOTION TO ADJOURN: was made by Commissioner Lindsay, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:40 a.m. 

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Clerk                               April 19, 2022                     Chairman