March 14, 2021
Board to board meeting with Ute Mountain Ute Trible Council
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Notices and announcements are posted here to facilitate the dissemination of information to the public and enable residents of Montezuma County to make informed decisions regarding local issues and proposals. New notices are published periodically as needed, in compliance with local regulations.
Our community has made great progress to bring the surge in COVID cases that occurred in late December through early February under control. This has been made possible by the consistent and patient cooperation of individuals and businesses.
Montezuma County’s vaccination providers have done an outstanding job to immunize those at highest risk from COVID illness here. That program continues and will require more to be immunized before we can truly relax.
County leaders have closely followed the data related to what qualifies a county to be at a given level on the state COVID Dial. We now recognize that our data indicates that Montezuma County can safely function under the guidelines outlined at Level Blue. We trust that CDPHE will agree with that assessment, but each county is best positioned to know the level of COVID disease in their community.
On the basis of our assessment of the COVID situation in Montezuma County, the BOCC designates us to be at Blue Level in terms of guidelines for business and community-wide activities.
As always, we have the health of community members as our primary focus. We feel confident that COVID illness here can be controlled. Vaccination is an important part of ridding COVID from the community. Vaccinated persons are highly protected from serious illness or death from COVID-19.
Please treat each other with respect.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners will attend a hybrid meeting with the Town of Dolores to discuss the Salter Y Environmental Assessment (EA). The meeting will be held Thursday, February 25, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. in the BOCC room, 109 West Main Street, Cortez, CO. For questions, please call the County Administrator, Shak Powers, during regular business hours at (970) 565-8317
PUBLIC NOTICE
Notice is hereby given that the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners will attend a hybrid Zoom meeting with Town of Dolores Town Board on Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. The commissioners will be meeting in person in the Commissioners Meeting Room, 109 West Main Street, Cortez, CO. The County will broadcast the meeting through the County’s YouTube channel at www.montezumacounty.org .
This meeting will be a meet and greet for board members to get to know each other and discuss common interest or projects. No decisions will be made.
For questions, please call the County Administrator, Shak Powers, during regular business hours at (970) 565-8317
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
Office of the County Clerk & Recorder
County of Montezuma
The recall election will be conducted as a mail ballot election
To: ALL ELECTORS, MONTEZUMA CORTEZ SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1, MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, SECTION 1-5-205, NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN THAT A RECALL ELECTION WILL BE HELD FOR RESIDENTS IN THE MONTEZUMA CORTEZ SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1, IN SAID COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA, STATE OF COLORADO, ON TUESDAY THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2021.
Official Ballot for the Montezuma Cortez School District RE-1 Recall Election
Montezuma County, Colorado
Tuesday, February 16, 2021
General statement of grounds for recall:
Lance McDaniel serves on the board of the RE-1 School District. During his time on the school board, he has shown a lack of leadership and has proven to be a poor role model for our children. Many of the school children in our community follow him on social media. He posts his personal opinions, likes, and dislikes. We need school board members that understand leadership and the power of mentoring and know not to voice their personal, political, or social opinions that could influence children. Recently, he insulted the veterans of Montezuma County. When City Park was renamed “Veterans Park”, he stated “The Damn veterans won again!” but our community chose to rename City Park to Veterans Park after two of our local men gave their lives in service to our country. Later, during the mob protests and horrific destruction following the tragic death of George Floyd, Mr. McDaniel posted on his Facebook page, “I’m Antifa!” This is inappropriate behavior for a person with influence over our children. He also celebrates local vandalism by posting photos of the downtown chalking and painting. Our children deserve positive leadership. McDaniel’s comments, behavior, and lack of accountability cannot be tolerated.
Board Member McDaniel’s Statement:
On the masthead of correspondence from the Montezuma Cortez School District RE-1 is the statement “Every student. Every Day”. This motto is central to every decision I make on the school board. My personal political views have nothing to do with how I fulfill my duties as the elected representative on the RE-1 School Board.
As a School Board member I have fulfilled every duty in my role: attending every meeting and work session, reading every report, asking thoughtful questions. I use the same information the entire Board receives to inform each vote I cast, and voted with the majority all but three times over the two years I have been in office. In every vote and every issue, I have publicly supported the decision of the board.
The issue in this recall is: Do public officials give up their constitutional right to individual freedom of speech? If you believe in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, the answer is no. Freedom of speech is a right afforded to all, including every elected official. In Montezuma County, and throughout the country, we governmental representatives frequently state and post their individual opinions. They have that right, and that right should be protected, whether you agree with them or not. If one person is silenced, everyone is silenced.
Despite what the Recall Petition Statement says, individual School Board members have no influence over school staff, teachers or students. And as a Board, we only oversee one employee, the School Superintendent. Board Members do not visit classrooms when students are present.
A board’s strength is in its diversity, and its ability to come to a consensus through thoughtful and respectful discussion. It has been my honor to serve on this Board. I have served collaboratively, knowledgeably, and for Every Student, Every Day.
The Board of County Commissioners is seeking to appoint two Montezuma County residents to a Citizen Review Panel as part of a local conflict resolution process. The panel will provide a forum for grievances of County Social Services Department employees investigating in their official capacity reports of child abuse and/or neglect. Please submit a letter of application no later than February 12, 2021 to:
Montezuma County Administration
Citizen Review Panel
109 W Main St, Room 260
Cortez, CO 81321
Office of the County Clerk & Recorder
County of Montezuma
To: ALL ELECTORS, MONTEZUMA CORTEZ SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1, MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF COLORADO REVISED STATUTES, SECTION 1-5-205, NOTICE IS HERBY GIVEN THAT A RECALL ELECTION WILL BE HELD FOR RESIDENTS IN THE MONTEZUMA CORTEZ SCHOOL DISTRICT RE-1, IN SAID COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA, STATE OF COLORADO, ON TUESDAY THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2021.
The recall election will be conducted as a mail ballot election.
Recall Election Timeline:
Successor Candidate petitions due: January 8, 2021
Petition sufficiency due: January 10, 2021
Deadline for incumbent to resign: January 8, 2021
Last Day for a Write-in affidavits. February 1, 2021
Ballots mailed: February 1, 2021
Christmas Tree Permits Available Online from the San Juan National Forest for the Upcoming Holiday Season
Durango, Colo., November 9, 2020 – Christmas tree permits will be available to purchase with local vendors and online through Recreation.gov beginning November 12, 2020. Details about designated cutting areas, dates and types of trees that may be cut can be found here on the San Juan National Forest’s Christmas Tree Permit webpage on Recreation.gov.
“For many families, venturing into a National Forest to cut their Christmas tree for the holidays is a treasured tradition carried on for generations,” said Kara Chadwick, San Juan National Forest Supervisor. “For families creating new traditions, a trip to their local forest to cut their own Christmas tree may be a thrilling experience as they discover the joy of hiking through the forest in search of the perfect holiday centerpiece.”
It is important to carefully read the overview and need-to-know information prior to purchasing the permit. Visitors will also need to set up or login to a Recreation.gov account to complete the transaction. Online permits are $8.00 plus a $2.50 fee to Rec.gov. Permits may also be purchased for $8.00 at any of the local vendor locations listed below:
Cutting a Christmas tree also improves forest health. Local forest health experts identify areas that benefit from thinning trees that tend to be the perfect size for Christmas trees. Removing these trees in designated areas helps other trees grow larger and can open areas that provide forage for wildlife. Do not cut Ponderosa Pine or Douglas fir trees. There are specific areas off limits on the forest, such La Plata Canyon near Durango. Trees may not be cut within 100 feet of a county road, highway, or developed campground. Please review the San Juan National Forest Christmas Tree cutting guidelines and rules thoroughly.
All offices on the San Juan National Forest are conducting business and providing visitor services virtually. For information on the San Juan National Forest, call (970) 247-4874, visit the forest website, or follow us on social media (Twitter and Facebook).
