PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

July 18, 2023

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday July 18, 2023 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 July 18, 2023 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, for Tuesday, July 11, 2023 as presented.  Motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: It being the time set aside a public hearing is held for review and determination of a proposed High Impact Permit Application, submitted by Silvina Guerreiro Moore & Jeremy Moore, on property located at 7134 Road 41, Mancos, CO, consisting of 3.71 acres, more or less, located south of Hwy 160, east of Road 41, situated in Section 4, T.35N, R.13W, N.M.P.M.  The roll was called, the public notice read, and the proceedings were recorded for the record.  Mr. and Mrs. Moore were 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 Koppenhafer recused himself at this time.  Mr. & Mrs. Moore along with Planning Consultant, Tiffany Rhodes presented a slide show of the proposal.  Commissioner Candelaria opened the hearing to public comment.  Public comments were made by: Clara Martinez, Jessica McIntyre, Scott Midgley, Charles Jeter, Renee Feigenbaum, Hope Woods, Marsha Goodwin, Shelly Redder, Christopher Kloster, Katie McClure, Michon Olson, Nate McIntyre, Lynn Storm, Nathan Moore, Kelly Pettyjohn, Mike Nolan, Sharon Craft, Molly Reilly, Kathryn Fulton, Carrie Summers, Cindy Gray, John Davis, Jeffrey Magnuson, Angela Sayler, Jennifer Magnuson and Doug Carlson.  Hearing no further public comment that portion of the hearing was closed. Correspondence was received from: Christopher Kloster, Jane Chipman, Charles R Riggs and Blyth Morrison, Khrysta Woody, Jake and Nicole Thompson, Gary VanDenBurg, Celeste Quakenbush, Feli Funk, Melinda Bronson, Carrie Summers, Tom Weaver, Robert and Morgan Shepherd and Nathan & Jessica McIntyre.  After hearing all the evidence presented Commissioner Candelaria moved to continue the public hearing till August 1, 2023 at 9:00 a.m.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  Commissioner Candelaria closed the hearing at this time.  (See attached)

RESOLUTION# 14-2023: Montezuma Hospital District Board member Brandon Johnson along with Attorney Keenen Lovett met to discuss Resolution #14-2023, a resolution authorizing the execution and delivery of a First Supplemental Indenture of Trust, between Montezuma County and Zions Bancorporation, National Association as Trustee, supplementing the indenture of trust dated as of November 1, 2016, which secures the Montezuma County, Colorado Revenue Bonds (Southwest Memorial Hospital Project), Tax-Exempt Series 2016A, and revenue bonds (Southwest Memorial Hospital Project), Taxable Series 2016B, and approving various documents and other matters in connection therewith.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to authorize and accept the indenture as presented from the Montezuma County Hospital District, between Montezuma County Hospital District and Zions Bank, as stated in resolution #14-2023.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)

RESOLUTION #15-2023 Fire Ban: A resolution for a suspension of ban on open fires and the use of fireworks was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve, Resolution #15-2023, reinstating the fire ban in Montezuma County. Seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

COUNTY SHERIFF: Sheriff, Steven Nowlin met with the Commissioners to give his monthly report which included the Calls for Service Report, the Jail Report, the Year to Date Transport Report, the Perdium and Cost for Travel Report, the Total Monthly Inmate Report, the Monthly Arrests Report, the Dolores County Billing Report, the City of Cortez Billing Report, the DOC Holds Report, the Operational Expense Report and the Monies Paid to the General Fund Report.  (See attached)

COUNTY CORONER: Coroner, George Deavers was called away.  No report given.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Emergency Manager, Jim Spratlen met with the Commissioner and gave a monthly update.  The Monthly Situational Report was presented for discussion and review.  Manager Spratlen encouraged the public to sign up for emergency messaging.  To sign up for emergency messaging, text your zip code to 888777.  Other topics discussed included; the Fire Weather Indices, humidity, water, grant updates, the Generator Grant, Search and Rescue operations, training exercises, the Fire Operations Plan, and the EMPG Grant application.  (See attached)

UNFINISHED BUSINESS: 

DISCUSSION: A discussion was held related to the presented Road Project Agreement between Montezuma County Government and the USDA, Forest Service, San Juan Nation Forest, #23-RO-11021300-041, for services on Road 31/FS Road 526.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Road Project Agreement between Montezuma County and the US Forest Service, # 23-RO-11021300-041.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)

DISCUSSION: A discussion was held related to the presented Challenge Cost Share Agreement between the Montezuma County Government and the USDA, Forest Service, San Juan Nation Forest, #23-CS-11021300-040.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Challenge Cost Share Agreement between the Montezuma County and the USDA, Forest Service, San Juan Nation Forest, #23-CS-11021300-040.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The discussion related to a request to place a large American Flag at the outdoor arena of the Fairgrounds was postponed.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment was made by Lenetta Shull.

GRANT COORDINATOR: Grant Coordinator, Robert Dobry met with the Commissioners to give a monthly report. Topics discussed included; the Fairgrounds Solar Energy Impact Grant, the IRS guidance on direct pay of solar tax credits, the Congressionally Directed Spending Requests, the Noxious Weed Project grant, the BLM Good Neighbor Authority Grant application, coordination with Emergency Management on the FEMA grant application, the attended Infrastructure Development Summit and support of the Fiber Internet Grant Writing Process.

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Ian MacLaren reported on the Ironwood case, the Ellis Lewis Land Use Case and the Kelroy Newman jail house death.

ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: County Administrator, Travis Anderson discussed the scheduled departmental budget proposal meetings, clarifications for the Accident / Sick Leave pool forms and the current data request.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics discussed within the Commissioner’s reports included: Commissioner Lindsay gave an overview of the attended Cortez City Council meeting, the Monday Work Session related to the Hospital and complaints filed related to a timber sale up on the Boggy.  Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended Southwest Water Conservation District meetings, the Taskforce meetings and constituent conversations.  Commissioner Candelaria discussed the zoom attendance to the Colorado Fire Commission meeting, a CCI zoom 2024 proposed issues discussion and gave an overview of the Monday Workshop.

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

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: Emails from Tony Littlejohn and Debi Durand.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 11:34 a.m.

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Clerk                                 July 18, 2023                       Chairman