BOCC Minutes February 17, 2026

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
February 17, 2026

STATE OF COLORADO )
) ss.
COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday February 17, 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, Absent
Gus Maxwell, Assistant County Attorney
Kim Percell, County Clerk

CHAIRMAN CANDELARIA opened the meeting of February 17, 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 10, 2026 as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley 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. Assistant County Attorney Gus Maxwell gave an overview of the required Land Use Code criteria to approve a variance application. Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the proposed Setback Variance application submitted by Larry Mahaffey, on property located at 23892 Road M, Cortez, CO., set back variance to twenty feet. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. A written resolution will be presented for the Board’s consideration next week. (See attached)

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley presented for signatures of a Mylar for a 3 Lot Minor Subdivision and Rezoning, 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.

PLANNING: Director, Haley presented for signatures of a Mylar for a Subdivision Amendment & Rezoning Application of the Nelson Single Lot Development, submitted by Ronnie & Ruth Stockwell, on property located at 13106 Hwy 491, Cortez, CO, consisting of 11.72 acres, more or less, located east of Hwy 491, north of Road N, situated in Section 4, Township 36N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M.

PLANNING: Director, Haley presented for signatures of a Mylar for a proposed Subdivision Amendment Application for subdividing Lot 4A of the Rolling Hills Estates Subdivision into 3 Lots, submitted by Sean & Cassi Rooks, on property located at 28260 Road H.6, Cortez, CO, consisting of 31.11 acres, more or less, all located north of Road H, east of Road 27, situated in Section 32, Township 36N, Range 15W, N.M.P.M

PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comments were made.

Item (s) Needing Individual Consideration:

LIQUOR LICENSE: Deputy Clerk, Jerri Frizzell, presented for approval a retail liquor license renewal application for Mancos Brewing Company & Mancos Brewery, located at 484 E. Frontage Road Mancos Co. 81328. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the retail liquor license renewal application for the Mancos Brewing Company LLC., at 484 E. Frontage Road, Mancos Co., 81328. Second by Commissioner Lindsy and carried. (See attached)

DISCUSSION: During the Monday workshop, letters of interest from Ty Koppenhafer and Xela Lanier were presented for an appointment as Montezuma County’s representative to the Southwest Roundtable. Commissioner Koppenhafer recused himself from the discussion. Commissioner Lindsay moved to appoint Ty Koppenhafer to the Southwest Roundtable. Second by Commissioner Candelaria and carried (See attached)

DISCUSSION: During the Monday workshop a potential ballot question was proposed related to Term Limits for County Elected Officials. Commissioner Lindsay moved to direct the Attorney to prepare ballot inclusion, to remove the term limits on the Assessor, the Clerk and the Treasurer. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

DISCUSSION: During the Monday workshop a discussion was held related to a proposed County wide Cleanup Day with limitations. The specific dates within May and June will be determined at a later time. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to decide on a cleanup day, to be toward the last of May or first part of June, for the residents of Montezuma County to be able to remove their refuge and trash to the Landfill. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: Assistant County Attorney Gus Maxwell mentioned the Child welfare docket and reported that they had two upcoming trials and two appeals. He also mentioned the filing of a Land Use Code enforcement action.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson discussed working with the Road & Bridge Department, the GEO tab devices, the CDOT access permit for Hwy 184 and County Road 25 project, quotes for the parking lots, the positing of the RFP for the hard surface project, the trash pile on Hwy 184 and mile marker 4, attended a bi-weekly meeting related to the Reorganization of Social Services and the Road & Bridge mag chloride program.

COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: County Clerk, Kim Percell, reported that the Motor Vehicle Core 21 system upgrade was completed.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners’ reports included:
Commissioner Lindsay gave an overview of the attended City of Cortez Council meeting, the attended Regionalization of the Social Services Department meeting and the current fuel pricing in Montezuma County.

Commissioner Koppenhafer reported he had not returned to town in time to attend the Town of Mancos meeting, mentioned the attended Cattlemen’s Association meeting, and the scheduled Southwest and the Triple A meetings.

Commissioner Candelaria reported on the attended TPR meeting, the attended Board of Health Training, the attended Public Lands Council meeting, the Cattlemen’s Association meeting, working with the Road & Bridge Department, Senate Bill 26-097, and reported there would not be a BOCC meeting February 24, 2026.

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

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted:

ADJOURNED: 9:32 a.m.

___________________________ ____________________________
Clerk February 17, 2026 Chairman