The Kiowa County Commissioner’s Regular Meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Richard Scott on March 14, 2017. Oswald opened the meeting with a prayer and Pledge of Allegiance. Those in attendance were:

Richard Scott, Chairman

Cindy McLoud, Commissioner

Donald Oswald, Commissioner

Delisa Weeks, County Clerk

Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to approve the minutes of the last meeting as presented. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

McLoud moved and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the vouchers as presented. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Oswald moved and McLoud seconded the motion to approve the agenda as presented with the following additions: JoLynn Idler with Prowers/Kiowa County Health Services, Landfill Issues, Old Business: Road & Bridge Internet Services and possible expansion of Activities Director for Kiowa County Senior Citizens and New Business: Blowing Field Complaint. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

OLD BUSINESS:

Grant Updates: McLoud had met with Andrea Nelson of the Daniels Foundation and they toured the Murdock project as well as the other sites that have grant application completion projects around Eads. Nelson encouraged McLoud to reapply for the El Pomar Grant and also the Gates Foundation. The County will also apply for a Daniels Foundation Grant in August.

McLoud moved and Oswald seconded to accept the contract with Atkinson-Noland. They will be conducting a study at the fairgrounds. This study will focus mainly on the structure of the grandstands and restrooms for the fairgrounds. This project study is being funded through the DOLA REDI Grant and a Southeastern Colorado Council of Governments Grant.  All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Jeramy McNeely, CSU Extension Agent for Kiowa County provided a monthly report.

McNeely said he had proposed to form an open class committee. Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to accept the following people for the open class committee: Areta Laird, Raelynn Riley, Doris Lessenden, Joyce Berry, Gloria Peck, Alice Glover and Sharon Scott. All Commissioners voted Affirmative. These individuals will answer questions in regards to open class projects to be judged in the community building for the Kiowa County Fair.

McNeely also presented information on a newly formed County Advisory Committee consisting of Ralph Berry, Kevin Davis, Tuck Liebl, Steve Uhland and Milton Watts. This committee would like to see programs for new and young farmers/ranchers and have information readily available for them.  Agent McNeely can be contacted at Jeramy.McNeely@colostate.edu if one would like to be included in his informational email blasts.

Scotty Engelhardt, Fair board member entered the meeting to discuss a gate that is needed in the arena area of the fairgrounds. Engelhardt is to speak with Foreman Howard and Maintenance Foreman Crain in regards to the 16 foot gate that is needed.

Kiowa County resident Barbara Scranton entered the meeting to request approval for the use of the fairgrounds on May 13th. Oswald moved to approve the usage of the fairgrounds for a Treasure Hunt Scranton will be holding on May 13^th.  McLoud seconded the motion. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Gary Augenbaugh and Sheriff Sheridan entered the meeting as members of the audience at 10:15 a.m.

Daycare Update: Tristan Sheridan will now be on this committee. No other updates.

Tri Oakes: The legal description for the Tri Oakes Easement Agreement was incorrect and had been reviewed by the County Attorney. The revised agreement should be completed today and ready for signatures by the commissioners.

BLM Leases:  No Action Taken.

Burn Permitting: Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to leave the burn permitting with Kiowa County. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Hospital Board members Pricilla Waggoner, Sylvia Shields, Kim Harris, Robert Woods and Dennis Pearson entered the meeting to discuss legislation that could be affecting rural hospital funding which includes Weisbrod Hospital. Pricilla Waggoner spoke on behalf of the hospital board. Waggoner said that hospitals are receiving special funding from the states which is called a “Hospital Provider Fee” or HPF. This funding, which is part of the Medicaid expansion, is actually an extra fee added to some services billed to Medicaid. When Obamacare was passed, there was a provision that the federal government would match the Provider Fee. This funding is scheduled to end in the year 2020. However, our current legislation is trying to push it to end in 2018. Waggoner went onto say that rural hospitals would have enough time to adjust and find other ways to replace this lost revenue by the year 2020 but if it ends in 2018, this will have a great impact on rural hospitals. Waggoner also said Weisbrod Hospital would stand to loose about $400,000.00 which is about 25%-50% of Weisbrod’s annual revenue, if HPF funding goes away. The County Commissioners said they would be willing to write letters to the senators and representatives stating how detrimental this would be on Kiowa County if this funding should end in 2018. The hospital board members thanked the commissioners for their support and exited the meeting at 11:07.

Senior Activities Letter: Adamson will send a letter to each Senior Citizen Coordinator to see what types of activities each center would like to do.

Internet and the county shops: Commissioners discussed the different internet services available and the demand for internet services for each road and bridge shop. No action was taken.

At 11:10 am Road Foreman Jack Howard entered the meeting to discuss the landfill issues. Howard had received information on a lease for a trash compactor. Terry Koehn with CAT said it would be about $4350.00 per month to lease a trash compactor. There was discussion but no action taken on the compactor.

Gary Augenbaugh exited the meeting at 11:17 a.m.

Summer hours for the landfill were discussed and will remain the same as last year.

Upcoming meetings and reports were reviewed and signed. Sheriff Sheridan exited the meeting at 11:40 a.m.

Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to recess for lunch at 11:58 a.m. All Commissioners voted Affirmative. The regular meeting reconvened at 01:00 p.m.

NEW BUSINESS:

JoLynn Idler with Prowers/Kiowa Health Services entered the meeting at 1:30 p.m. to discuss and review the Public Health Office job description. The current employee will be resigning soon and will be moving onto other business opportunities.

Youth Engagement Project (YEP): Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to donate $200.00 to the Youth Engagement Project. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Community Building Fees: Oswald moved and Scott seconded to waive the Snowgoose Festival usage fee for the community building. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

Funeral fees for the use of the community building will be $50.00, with an additional $50.00 for set-up and $100.00 to disassemble. This will be for special circumstances.

Blowing Dirt Complaint: McLoud moved and Oswald seconded to go into executive session at 2:24 p.m. per statute 24-6-402 (b), consulting an attorney due to written complaint. All Commissioners voted Affirmative. Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to move out of executive session at 2:42 pm and back into regular session. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.

The next regular commissioner meeting will be held March 28, 2017 at 9:00 a.m.

With no other business to discuss Oswald moved and McLoud seconded to adjourn the regular meeting at 2:55 p.m. All Commissioners voted Affirmative.