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PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
February 10, 2026
STATE OF COLORADO )
) ss.
COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA )
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday February 10, 2026 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 February 10, 2026 with the Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners for Montezuma County, held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026 as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.
PUBLIC HEARING: It being the time set aside a continued public hearing is held for review and determination regarding a proposed Subdivision Amendment & Boundary line adjustment Application of the Royce Subdivision, submitted by Kevin Kissler & Leslie Butitta and Linda Dake, on properties located at 16333 & 16535 Road 30, Dolores, CO, consisting of 5.03 & 19.56 acres, more or less, both located south of Hwy 184, west of Road 30, situated in Section 21, 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. Kissler 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 Lindsay moved to accept the proposed Subdivision Amendment & Boundary line adjustment Application of the Royce Subdivision, submitted by Kevin Kissler & Leslie Butitta and Linda Dake, on properties located at 16333 & 16535 Road 30, Dolores, CO. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. Commissioner Candelaria closed the hearing at this time. (See attached)
PLANNING: Director, Haley along with Assistant Duncan presented for discussion and approval of a proposed Setback Variance application submitted by Larry Mahaffey, on property located at 23892 Road M, Cortez, CO, consisting of 1.12 acres, more or less, located south of Road M, west of Hwy 491, situated in Section 16, Township 36N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M. Mr. Mahaffey was present. Commissioner Lindsay moved to table the discussion to February 17, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)
PLANNING: Director, Haley wanted to warn the public about applicants receiving scam emails from the Board of County Commissioners. The emails received included an invoice for fees, that are not from the County. Another scam letter has been sent supposedly from the City of Cortez to County property owners with a list of fees due. Director Haley reported that County invoices would include a phone number to call and suggested that the public contact the Planning Department if they have questions or concerns.
Deletions/Changes to Agenda: The Montezuma County Policy 26-01 Timekeeping, was removed from the Consent Agenda. Under Items Needing Individual Consideration: The Treasurer’s Schedule of Receipts and Disbursements was added. The Appointment of Montezuma County representative to the Southwest Basins Roundtable and the decision on term limits and potential ballot inclusion were postponed until next week. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to accept the Consent Agenda as modified with the two removals. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comments were made.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the consent agenda, with the approval of policy 26-02 on the use of Earbuds and also the AI proposal for Veterans Services. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.
The Consent Agenda items acted upon by the Board were as follows:
Item (s) Needing Individual Consideration:
LIQUOR LICENSE: Deputy Clerk, Jerri Frizzell presented a new Colorado Retail license application for Nuchu Market LLC., located at 158 Hwy 160-491 Cortez, Co. 81321. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Nuchu Market LLC, located at 158 Hwy 160-491 Cortez, Co. Colorado retail liquor store. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)
LIQUOR LICENSE: Deputy Clerk, Frizzell presented for approval, a retail liquor license renewal application for, Bubba J’S. LLC, DBA Bubba’s, located at 18806 Hwy 491, Lewis, Co. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the liquor license renewal application for Bubba J’s LLC, at 18806 Hwy 491 Lewis, Co. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)
COUNTY TREASURER / TRUSTEE: During the Monday workshop Treasurer, Ellen Black met with the Commissioner’s to present the Schedule of Receipts and Disbursements for signatures. Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the Schedule of Receipts and Disbursements from July 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, as presented by the Montezuma County Treasurer. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)
COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Stephen Tarnowski discussed the Kelroy Newman trial, employment issues, preparation for the scheduled executive session related to the Road Impact fees, a scheduled vacation, the proposed term limit ballot question, the development of the public process related to the Junk/Trash/Blight situation within the Land Use Code, the Land Use enforcement cases and the vacant legal assistant position.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson discussed working with the Road & Bridge Department, working with the Finance Department related to the sprinter van purchase for the Sheriff’s Office, parking lot issues, collaboration with the City on a proposed project, the attended CCI meetings, and reported the RFP for the hard surface evaluation is out on the County Website.
COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: County Clerk, Kim Percell, no report given.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners’ reports included:
Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed upcoming Colorado River deadlines.
Commissioner Lindsay mentioned the scheduled City of Cortez Council meeting, and the Cattlemen’s Association meeting scheduled Saturday, February 14th at the Fairgrounds.
Commissioner Candelaria discussed the attended CCI proposed bill tables meeting, a meeting with Senators Simpson and Caitlin, the Coffee with the County event, the Monday Workshop, the attended Town of Dolores Meeting, and a proposed County wide clean-up day along with a proposed temporary wave of green waste fees. (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, Don Haley and Sherri Jane Duncan from the Planning Department. Topics for the executive session were legal advice on the Road Impact Fee Schedule. 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:
ADJOURNED: 11:25 a.m.
___________________________ ____________________________
Clerk February 10, 2026 Chairman
Embedded calendar showing upcoming events for the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners.
