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PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
January 13, 2026
STATE OF COLORADO )
) ss.
COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA )
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday January 13, 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 January 13, 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, January 6, 2026 as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comments were made.
CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the consent agenda as proposed. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.
The Consent Agenda items acted upon by the Board were as follows:
APPOINTMENTS: 2026 Extension Advisory Committee Terms as of Jan. 1, 2026
Jan. 1, 2026-Dec. 31, 2028
Gayel Alexander (2nd term) – proposed
Tanner Young (1st term) – proposed
Jan. 1, 2025-Dec. 31, 2027
2025-2027 expire December 31, 2027. Abdel Berrada (2nd term) Agriculture
Neva Connolly (1st term) – proposed
Jan. 1, 2024- Dec. 31, 2026
2024-2026, expire December 31, 2026. Taylor Oliver (2nd term) 4-H youth development
2024-2026, expire December 31, 2026. Connie Clementson (1st term) Horticulture
Terms recently expired as of Dec. 31, 2025
Jan. 1, 2023 – Dec. 31, 2025
2022-2025, expire December 31, 2025. Don Bain (more than 2nd term) 4-H/Agriculture
2022-2025, expire December 31, 2025. Gayel Alexander (1st term) Agriculture
Item (s) Needing Individual Consideration
COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: Assistant County Attorney, Gus Maxwell reported that Attorney Tarnowski had been busy with Civil litigations and gave an update on the Leaf Property case. Other topics discussed included: working with the Health Department related to septic system permits, a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement with Dolores County, received CORA requests and Land Use enforcement issues. Attorney Maxwell reported that there were currently 13 open cases with a couple set for trial.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson no report given.
COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: County Clerk, Kim Percell, mentioned the April 7, 2026 Municipal Elections.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners’ reports included:
Commissioner Lindsay mentioned the scheduled City of Cortez Council meeting.
Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended Southwest Water Conservation District meeting.
Commissioner Candelaria discussed the attended Road and Bridge Department meetings, gave an overview of the recently held Coffee with the County event, reported that the next Coffee with the County event is scheduled for the 9th of February, along with the January 19th scheduled Traveling Town Hall meeting, to be held at the Pleasant View Fire Department and the attended Dolores Town Hall meeting. Commissioner Candelaria reported that for the remainder of the week, he would be attending Fire Commission meetings in Denver.
MOTION TO ADJOURN: Commissioner Lindsay moved to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.
BOARD OF COUNTY HEALTH: Chairman Candelaria announced the meeting would reconvene at 1:30 p.m., as the Board of County Health
CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted:
ADJOURNED: 9:10 a.m.
___________________________ ____________________________
Clerk January 13, 2026 Chairman
Embedded calendar showing upcoming events for the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners.
