PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

April 25, 2023

STATE OF COLORADO           )

) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday April 25, 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 (Absent)

Ian MacLaren, County Attorney

Jim McClain, IT Director

Kim Percell, County Clerk

CHAIRMAN CANDELARIA opened the meeting of April 25, 2023 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES: Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the Proceedings of the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners, Colorado for Tuesday, April 18, 2023 as presented.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures of an Amendment to High Impact Permit #562, submitted by Josh & Gina Boren, on property located at 15865 Hwy 145, Dolores, CO, consisting of 5.02 acres, more or less, situated in Section 30, Township 37N, Range 15W, N.M.P.M..

Planning Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for signatures for a Mylar of a Single Lot Development and AR3-9 Rezoning, submitted by Leonard & Janet Maez, on property located at 23107 Road P, Dolores, CO, consisting of 4 acres, more or less, located east of Hwy 491, north of Road P, situated in Section 32, T.37N, R.16W, N.M.P.M.  .

Planning Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan for signatures for a Mylar of a 2 Lot Moderate Subdivision and AR3-9 Rezoning, submitted by Leonard & Janet Maez, on property located at 22931 Road P, Dolores, CO, consisting of 10 acres, more or less, located east of Hwy 491, north of Road P, situated in Section 32, T.37N, R.16W, N.M.P.M.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  No public comment made.

MONTEZUMA COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (MCCO): MCCO Manager, Jennifer Morris met with the Commissioners to give a monthly report.  Topics discussed included; the March rider count of 762, a quarterly rider count of 2464 which included an increase of 578 riders from 2022, staffing, an update on the new vehicle, a proposed newspaper article, public service announcements and the disbursement of flyers.

VETERANS SERVICE: Veteran Service Officer, Frank LoBue met with the Commissioners to give a monthly report.  A copy of the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, County Veterans Service Officers Monthly Report and Certification of Pay, March 2023 was presented for the record.  Topics discussed included; the March 2023 financial report, a review of office activities, statistical data and the indirect income to Montezuma County.  A discussion was held regarding the length of time it took to receive application decisions.  (See attached).

BOARD OF SOCIAL SERVICES MONTHLY REPORT: It being the time set aside, the Board of Social Services was conducted.  Director, Gina Montoya and Finance Officer, Lori Higgins were present.  Director, Montoya presented for approval, a funding request from the Clara Ormiston Fund.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the expenditure from the Clara Ormiston Fund in the amount of $3501.26.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

CSU EXTENSION OFFICE: Extension Director, Emily Lockard, met with the Commissioner to give a monthly report and to introduce the new 4H Coordinator, Tierney Wilson and Programming Assistant, Todd Gunter.  Coordinator Wilson gave an update on the 4-H 201 Event, the 4-H Question Sessions, the Colorado 4-H Shooting Sports event, the attended San Juan Basin Leadership Conference, participation in the 4 States Ag Expo event, and local educational opportunities within the 4-H program.  Programmer, Gunter discussed the Master Gardner Program, the Native Plant Program, the Green School Program, the Common Grounds / Community Garden, the Montezuma Restoration Orchard Project, the Farmer’s Market season, soil testing, container gardens and updated CSU flyers.  Director Lockard gave an overview of the Fire Mitigation for Landowners Workshop and the Wolves on the Horizon: A Community Dialogue events.  Other topics discussed included; virtual fencing, the scheduled Southwest Colorado Meat and Livestock Day event and a Soil Moisture Probe Monitoring Program.  (See attached)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

DISCUSSION: A discussion was held relating to a Letter of Support for Crow Canyon Archeological Center Enterprise Zone Accreditation Renewal.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the letter of support for the Crow Canyon Archaeological Center Enterprise Zone application.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: A discussion relating to a Letter of Support for the Town of Dolores Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnership Initiative Grant. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to sign the letter of support for the application of a capacity building grant request submitted by the Town of Dolores to the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnership Initiative.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The discussion relating to the Cortez Farmers Market expansion request was postponed to next week. (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The Public Health, Immunization, Master Task Order Contract Number 23 FAA 00035 was presented for approval.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve and sign the Master Task Order Contract #23 FAA 00035 for the Immunization Contract for Public Health.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The discussion regarding the sale of gravel to Dolores County from the Ormiston Pit was postponed.

DISCUSSION: The Montezuma County Grant Funding and County Property Titling Polices were presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Grant Funding and County Property Titling Policy.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)

DISCUSSION: A Memo of Understanding between the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management and Montezuma County, to become a cooperating agencies for the development of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Associated Resource Management Plan Amendments for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development on Public Lands, was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to sign the memorandum of understanding between the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management and Montezuma County Colorado, as cooperating agencies for the development of the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Associated Resource Management Plan, for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development on Public Lands.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Ian MacLaren discussed the Ironwood Property, the Kinder Morgan case, the Ellis Lewis land use matter and a proposed letter addressed to the State Attorney General regarding accountability for the Bureau of Reclamation regarding the Colorado River Compact.

ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: County Administrator, Travis Anderson was not available to give a report.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics discussed within the Commissioners reports included: Commissioner Lindsay reported on the attended Hospital District meeting.  Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the review of bills included within the current legislative session. Commissioner Candelaria discussed the Monday Workshop and the attended Town of Dolores Trustee meeting.

PAYABLE EXPENDITURE REPORT: The March 2023 Accounts Payable Expenditure Reports in the amount of $3,470,726.00 were presented for approval.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the March payables for Montezuma County, in the amount of $3,470,726.00.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.   (See attached)

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: Email from Ingrid Ward.  Letter of interest to serve on the Mancos Cemetery District from Rachael Mc Whirter.

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

MEETING ADJOURNED: 10:28 a.m.

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Clerk                     April 25, 2023                              Chairman