Flags in front of the Kiowa County Courthouse in Eads, Colorado. The building is surrounded by trees.

Kiowa County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes - September 9, 2025

Kiowa County Courthouse in Eads, Colorado. © Chris Sorensen

(Kiowa County Press)

The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on September 9th, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. by Commissioner Donald Oswald. Commissioner Lening opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Present

Donald Oswald, Chairman
Howard ''Butch" Robertson, Commissioner Mike Lening. Commissioner
Adrienne Yates, County Clerk
Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Call to Order

Chairman Donald Oswald called to order at 9:00 a.m.

Commissioner Lening opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance

Commissioner Robertson moved to approve the minutes from the previous meeting. Lening seconded. Motion carried.

Lening moved to approve the vouchers. Robertson seconded. Motion carried.

Robertson moved to approve the agenda. Oswald seconded. Motion carried.

Executive Session

Oswald moved to recess the regular session at 9:30 a.m. to enter executive session for attorney-client consultation per CRS 24-6-40 (4)(b). Robertson seconded. Motion carried.

Regular session resumed at 10:01 a.m.

Public Hearing: 1041 Regulations Revisions (Continuance)

Oswald moved, Lening seconded, to enter the public hearing at 10:08 a.m. Motion carried.

Public Comments (began 10:10 a.m.):

Greg Brophy (Yuma, CO): Raised concerns about the open-ended nature of the study requirements and financial viability standards.

Natacha Kiler (Invenergy): Expressed appreciation for the board's cooperation.

Colleen Christmas-Gamer (RES): Thanked the board for the opportunity to comment

Tom Davis (Pharmacy Services, Inc., Eads, CO): Spoke on the challenges of excessive permitting processes.

Tori Jarvis (SGSJ): Addressed written comments on revisions, noting:

Application process is being streamlined.
Fee schedule is under separate county review.
Setback distances were established by the Planning & Zoning Commission and remain unchanged.
Financial feasibility requirements ensure projects are completed even in cases of bankruptcy

Public comment closed at 10:37 a.m.

Action:

BOCC, acting as Permit Authority, adopted Resolution 2025-11, repealing and replacing the Guidelines and Regulations for Areas and Activities of State Interest in Kiowa County, including updates to:

Financial feasibility requirements
Staff reporting clarification
General application requirements

Roll Call: Robertson - Yes; Lening- Yes; Oswald- Yes. Resolution approved.

Robertson moved to close the public hearing at 10:43 a.m. Oswald seconded. Motion carried.

Audience Members Present (in person):

Betsy Barnett (Kiowa County Independent),

Colleen Christmas-Garner (RES),

Bella Alvarado (Linea Energy), Brad Wilson (Linea Energy),

Cathy Creps (Big Pivots),

Allen Best (Big Pivots),

Tom Davis,

Natacha Kiler (lnvenergy),

Greg Brophy (TWW)

Audience Members Present (virtual):

Mave Gasaway,

Carol Ho,

Madison Wrohley,

Bruce Moreira (Adapture),

Rachel Thomison,

Dawna Peck,

Justin Causey,

Luis Meneses,

Bryce Barbier

Old Business

Grant Updates: Roll-up doors at the fairgrounds are complete. Two of four mini-grant applications submitted; remaining applications include campground electrical and sewer/water. Courthouse generator and pad will be applied for under the underfunded Courthouse grant.
Landfill/Recycling: Recycling markets remain weak, but collection continues. Hospital house demolition totaled approx. $25,000. Lening moved, Robertson seconded, to collect the full landfill fee from the hospital; reimbursement will be issued from the impact fee fund. Motion carried.
Housing: SECED reports Cactus Corner expected completion by late September.
Planning & Zoning: Updates included Prairie Pines building movement and Kern Farms permits. Fee Schedule distributed; to be reviewed at the next meeting.
Fair: FBLA will assist with the children's carnival. BOCC will begin tracking volunteers by group affiliation.
Ballot Question: Language submitted to the County Clerk. Resolution approving the language was signed and approved.

Lening moved to recess for lunch at 11:53 a.m. Robertson seconded. Motion carried.

Regular session resumed at 1:05 p.m.

New Business

Road & Bridge: Discussion held on designated haul routes and damage caused by commercial haulers.
Time-Off Requests: None.
New Hire Progress: New Road & Bridge and Landfill employees performing well. One newly hired Road & Bridge employee-too early for performance report
Building Permits: Oswald moved to approve Kern Farms and Prairie Pines permits pending Planning & Zoning chair approval without restrictions. Robertson seconded. Motion carried.
Resolution 2025-16 - Sales & Use Tax: Lening moved to approve as presented. Robertson seconded. Motion carried.
KCHD Grant Request: Beth Bell requested approval to apply for a Community Development Block Grant through the county. County role limited to signing the application and holding a public hearing. Lening moved, Robertson seconded. Roll call: Robertson - Yes; Lening - Yes; Oswald - Yes. Motion carried.
New Clerk Signer Authorization: Oswald moved to notify GNBank to add Adrienne Yates, County Clerk and Recorder, as an authorized signer on county accounts. Lening seconded. Motion carried.