BOCC Minutes February 6 2024

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

February 6, 2024

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday February 6, 2024 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

Ian MacLaren, County Attorney

Kim Percell, County Clerk

CHAIRMAN CANDELARIA opened the meeting of February 6, 2024 with the Pledge of Allegiance

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, for Tuesday, January 30, 2024 as presented.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment was made by Odis Sikes and Melani Filener.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

DISCUSSION: The discussion related to the proposed stop signs for County Road P / Road 25 was postponed to a future date.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The Commissioners reviewed the Noxious Weed Plan and forwarded the plan to the Noxious Weed Advisory Committee.  (See attached)   

DISCUSSION: The proposed CATPA BATTLE Grant FY2025 with the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Montezuma County grant application for the BATTLE Grant in the amount of $17,587.80.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The proposed CDOT FASTER Grant for a new MOCO Transportation van was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Montezuma County grant application submission form, for MOCO Transportation, the grant to be submitted to the Faster Vehicle Grant, for a 9-12 passenger van, in the amount of $81,364.00.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The proposed Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant with the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Montezuma County grant application for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, in the amount of $307,087.00.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: A letter addressed to the Bureau of Land Management related to comments on the Gunnison Sage Grouse BLM Resource Management Plan Amendment (RMPA) 1610 (C0930)  were presented for review.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to sign the reply letter to the Bureau of Land Management on the Gunnison Sage Grouse BLM Resource Management Plan Amendment 1610 (C0930).  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

LETTER OF SUPPORT: A letter of support, addressed to the Robyn DiFalco, Local Planning Capacity Grant Manager (Prop 123) related to the Cortez Local Planning Capacity Grant was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to sign the letter of support for the City of Cortez, for their Local Planning Capacity Grant Program, through the Community Development Office, Division of DOLA.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)

LETTER OF SUPPORT: A letter of support addressed to T-Mobile Corporate Office, as it relates to the Montezuma Heritage Museum application for a T-Mobile Hometown Grant in the amount of $50,000.00, was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to sign the letter of support for the Montezuma Heritage Museum’s application to T-Mobile Hometown Grant, in the amount of $50,000.00.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The Montezuma County, Colorado Agreement for Professional Services between the Montezuma County Assessor’s and Value West Inc. was presented for approval.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to sign the agreement between Montezuma County and Value West Incorporated, for professional services for the Assessor’s Office.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: A letter addressed to the Bureau of Land Management related to comments on the Big Game Habitat Conservation for Oil and Gas Management [BLM_CO_FRN_M045001740631] was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to sign the letter for Montezuma County to submit to the BLM, Colorado State Office, on the Big Game Habitat Conservation amendment / EIS.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: A discussion was held related to the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax Initiative rate assignments and a proposed reduction of levies.  Rates discussed included 1.2, 1.4, or 1.6.  The discussion will be continued to a future date to include additional information from the Assessor and how things pan out with the current legislative session. All three of the Commissioners pledged to lower the property mill levies once the Public Safety Sales Tax Initiative passed.    

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Ian MacLaren gave an update on a filed EEOC discrimination complaint.

ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: County Administrator, Travis Anderson discussed attended meetings, partnership developments with local municipal governments, the Solar Panel Project at the Fairgrounds and work on the proposed (PSST) Public Safety Sales Tax.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners reports included:

Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended Colorado Water Congress and a pledge to shift some of the tax burden from the property tax owners to the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax, if it passes.

Commissioner Lindsay discussed research on the proposed Public Safety Sales Tax Initiative, the Kinder Morgan production, a pledge to reduce the mill levy in accordance of what excess revenues we have coming in from that sales tax.

 Commissioner Candelaria discussed the attended (STAC) State Transportation Advisory Committee meeting, the CCI legislative priority bills, the scheduled (NACO) National Association of Counties / Transportation meeting and the Mancos Conservation District presentation during the Monday Workshop session.

COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: County Clerk, Kim Percell reported that the Presidential Primary Logic and Accuracy testing is scheduled for 9:00 a.m., February 8, 2024, at the Clerk and Recorders office located at 140 w. Main St. Ste.1 Cortez, Co.

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

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: The Mancos Conservation District’s workshop presentation, the Montezuma County Veteran Services February Newsletter and the Montezuma County Office of Emergency Management’s January Monthly Situation report

MEETING ADJOURNED:  9:30 a.m.

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Clerk                     February 6, 2024                               Chairman