PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

April 26, 2022

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday April 26, 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 as presented, from Tuesday April 26, 2022, for the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners. Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for 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.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the variance submitted by Ruben & Pauline Jasso, Lot #50 of the Summit Lake West unit l major subdivision, at 14517 Road 35.9, Mancos.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  

Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for approval of a Boundary Line Adjustment Application submitted by Jay & JenniLynn Lawrence, on properties located at 12663 Road 40, Mancos, CO, consisting of 9.48 acres, more or less, & 12641 Road 40, Mancos, CO, consisting of 7.89 acres, more or less, situated in Section 8, T.36N, R.13W, N.M.P.M.  Mrs. Lawrence’s father Larry Everett was present.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve a boundary line adjustment application submitted by Jay & JenniLynn Lawrence, on properties located at 12663 Road 40, Mancos. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan  presented for signatures of a Mylar for an Exemption 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.

Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for signatures of a Mylar for an Exemption Resolution submitted by Gregory Taylor; agent: Eric Taylor, POA, on property located at 25453 Road T, Dolores, CO, consisting of 5.55 acres, more or less, located south of Road T.5, east of Road 25, situated in Section 14, T.37N, R.16W, N.M.P.M.

Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for signatures of a corrected Mylar for an Boundary Line Adjustment, submitted by Curtis Duncan, on property located at 16323 Road 20, Cortez, CO, consisting of 118.63 acres, more or less, located north of Road S, west of Road 20, and Linley and Zada Leonard, on property located at 16281 Road 20, Cortez, CO, consisting of 3.00 acres, more or less, located north of Road S, west of Road 20, both situated in Section 23, T.37N, R.17W, N.M.P.M.

Director, Haley, Assistant, Duncan along with IT Director, Jim McClain held a discussion regarding the proposed, public streaming of Planning & Zoning meetings.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Mike Lynch discussed the proposed Senate Bill 22-153. (See attached)

COUNTY SHERIFF: Sheriff, Steven Nowlin met with the Commissioners to present for approval the following grants: the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Firefighter Safety and Disease Prevention Grant (2021-2022) #23576, the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant, the Montezuma County Sheriff’s NRA Range Grant #22CO033, and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Post Small Dollar Grant #POGG1-LAAA-GT20220050(2022).  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation Grant for the Montezuma County Sheriff’s office in the amount of $14,553.00, also move to approve the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Firefighter Safety and Disease Prevention Grant #23576 in the amount of $6977.81, the Montezuma County Sheriff NRA Grant #22CO033 in the amount of $783.96, and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Post Small Dollar Grant #POGG1-LAAA-GT20220050 in the amount of $1,700.00.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  Other topics discussed included; Search and Rescue operations, the Court Security Grant, statute requirements for Court security, DOC Hold fees and the culvert and gravel request.  (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.  (See attached)

VETERANS SERVICE: Veteran Service Officer, Sara Kuhn 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 2022 was presented for the record.  Other topics discussed included; the March 2022 financial report, a review of office activities, statistical data, the indirect income to Montezuma County and a Mental Health Resources / Veteran Input Form survey.  A discussion was held regarding the local Veteran’s Health Care Network.  (See attached)

MONTEZUMA COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION (MCCO): MCCO Manager, Jennifer Morris met with the Commissioners to give a monthly report.  Topics discussed included; current ride statistics, the Meal on Wheels program, current staffing, the award for the Fixed Route Feasibility Study and an IT grant award.  Manager Morris reported that they were waiting to hear regarding the new vehicle grant.

SENIOR SERVICES: Director, Jonathon G. Parker was not available to report.

CSU EXTENSION OFFICE: Extension Director, Gregory Felsen met with the Commissioners to give the April, 2022 report.  Topics of the discussion included; a scheduled Irrigation Workshop on May 25^th, the Native Plant Master’s Course, Spanish and Indigenous outreach and engagement, Healthy Living / Food Skills classes, AmeriCorps Vista member Arlene Colorow, a developed Stem Summer camp event, the Community Academy, the 4-H Program, the (HPAI) Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza warning along with biosecurity measures, development for individual Emergency Preparation Plans, the Month of May Landfill yard waste event, the SJ Basin Leadership Camp, a purchased small animal scale and Tag In events for the County Fair, a wash rack Community Benefit project at the Fairgrounds, the development of an employee comp time earned process and the Town of Dolores Community Garden Project. 

UNFINSHED BUSINESS:

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Ian MacLaren discussed the Lower Dolores River NCA tour and future meetings, the Walmart Board of Assessment appeals case, and the Weber Canyon / Road 41 lawsuit.

NATURAL RESOURCES, PLANNING & PUBLIC LANDS: Resource Director, James Dietrich, was not available to report.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT:  PAYABLE EXPENDITURE REPORT: Administrator Shak Powers presented the March 2022 Accounts Payable Expenditure Reports for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the expenditures for Montezuma County, for March 2022, as presented.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  

Administrator, Powers presented for approval the Master Task Order Contract Number 23 FAA00035 Grant for the Montezuma County Public Health Agency in the amount of $202,325.00.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the grant from the Health Department for #FAA00035, in the amount of $202,325.00.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.   

Other topics discussed included; the Drought Disaster Declaration along with developed water conservation videos, outreach and education opportunities, the Community Intervention Program, House Bill 22-1282 along with funds to encourage manufactured housing production, the attended SLFRF / ARPA webinar, County suicide prevention  / foster home representatives at the recently held Gun Show, the Opioid Regional Council meeting, a public notice that the Commissioners would be attending the Cortez City Council meeting and a proposed Empire Electric capacity study for a solar project at the Fairgrounds.    (See attached)

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics discussed within the Commissioners reports included: Commissioner Koppenhafer reported that he had held discussions the Dolores County Commissioners regarding the Lower Dolores River NCA.  Commissioner Lindsay discussed the scheduled Cortez City Council meeting, the Monday Workshop, constituent discussions and the current red flag wind warnings. Commissioner Candelaria reported on discussions with fellow County Commissioners regarding the DOC Hold charges, an attended Planning & Zoning process meeting, a discussion with John Whitney regarding the local Veteran’s Health Care Network, a CCI legislative briefing, the attended Gun Show event, participation in the Four Corners Child Advocacy lip-sync fundraiser event, the Monday Workshop, the Dolores Town Board meeting, Mr. Lynch’s public comments and Senate Bill #22-153.  Attorney MacLaren read Provisions of Colorado State Constitution, Article 11, section #1.     

Commissioner Candelaria presented a joint letter of opposition from the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioner and the La Plata County Commissioners, regarding Senate Bill #22-230, the Collective Bargaining for Counties.  The letter was addressed to Ann Marie Swan, Opinion Editor, for the Durango Herald.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to submit to La Plata County for their signatures, also a response to Senate Bill #22-230 the Collective Bargaining for Counties.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached) 

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: Email received from Ingrid Ward.  (See attached)

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

MEETING ADJOURNED: 11:00 a.m. 

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Clerk                               April 26, 2022                     Chairman