BOCC Special Meeting Minutes April 23, 2020

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
April 23, 2020 (Virtual Meeting)

STATE OF COLORADO )
) ss.
COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA )

At a special meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Monday April 23, 2020 at the courthouse in Cortez, Colorado, there were present:

Larry Don Suckla, Chairman (Virtually)
Jim Candelaria, Vice Chairman (Virtually)
Keenan Ertel, Commissioner of Deeds (Virtually)
Shalako Powers, County Administrator (Virtually)
John C. Baxter, County Attorney (Virtually)
Kim Percell, County Clerk (Virtually

Adjutant General of the National Guard, Major General Michael Loh and Director of the Colorado Office of Emergency Management within the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, Mike Willis met with the Board of County Commissioners to discuss concerns of COVID-19 cases within bordering counties. Topics discussed included; the visiting National Guard members helping in the Montezuma County Emergency Operations Center, supplies for the Navajo Nation, the “Safe at Home” campaign, the phased reopening plan, assistance to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, testing equipment and PPE supplies.

CHARIMAN Suckla opened the Special meeting of April 23, 2020, with the Pledge of Allegiance.

OPENING REMARKS: Chairman Suckla discussed the draft Montezuma County reopening plan, the length of time to develop the plan, the County’s adoption of the Governor’s plan and the review process to develop modifications for the best reopening plans for Montezuma County. The Commissioners were in agreement to adopt the Governor’s plan but review and modify for the specific needs of Montezuma County.

BUSINESS AND PUBLIC SURVEY: Dolores Chamber Manager, Susan Lisak representing the Tri Chambers, presented the results of the Public Survey on Reopening Local Businesses and the Business Reopening Survey. (See attached)

DISCUSSION: A discussion was held regarding the Public Health’s best practice approach to relaxing stay-at-home orders, and other limitations on commerce and social activity presented to Governor Jared Polis from the Colorado Association of Local Public Health Officials (CALPHO). Topics of the discussion included; the five step indicators that must be met to move into a stabilization phase, a sustained decrease in cases for 14 days, hospitals are safely able to treat patients without resorting to crisis standards of care, testing can be performed for all people with symptoms consistent with COVID-19, rapid testing, testing supplies, active monitoring can be accomplished for all COVID-19 cases
and their contacts, contact tracing, a clear protocol in place that requires social distancing and assists with care and Governor Polis’s updates to the Coloradans on State response to COVID-19. (See attached)

COMMENTS: Comments were made by Southwest Health Systems CEO, Anthony Sudduth, Dr. Kent Aikin, Public Health Director Bobbi Lock, Town of Dolores Mayor, Chad Wheelus, Mancos Town Administrator Heather Alvarez, Cortez Mayor Karen Sheek, Dolores Chamber Manager Susan Lisak, City of Cortez Manager John Dougherty, Colton Black, Robin Richard, Montezuma County Public Health Emergency Manager Karen Dickson, Cortez Fire Chief Jay Balfour, Rafe Obrien and
Eugene Williams,

RECOMMENDATIONS: Administrator Powers presented the Strike One, Ball One, Take Two recommendation plan for review. Topics of discussion included; restaurant reopenings and the development of a suppression plan. (See attached)

VIRTUAL PUBLIC COMMENT: (See attached)
CORRESPONDENCE: Emailed correspondence was received by: Marianne Mate, Kylan Frye, Scott Story, Houston Frizzell, Erik Henderson, Holly Tomazin, Jean Flesch, Ryan Spittler, Mitchell Toms, Shawna Valdez, Matt Eytchison, Kelly Brumley, Sue Ellen Gilbert, Allen Maez, Glen Brace, Lisa Passell, Kristina Ricca, Dexter Gill, Katherine Foster, Linda Kemp, Silverton House-Whitehorse, Larry Schultz, Yoshi Okano, Melissa Brunner, George Tripp, Ann Swope Robin Richard and Name Withheld.

MOTION TO ADJOURN: was made by Commissioner Ertel seconded by Commissioner
Candelaria and carried.

MEETING ADJOURNED: 3:00 p.m.