The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on February 10, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. Chairman Oswald opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Those in attendance:

• Donald Oswald, Chairman 
• Howard "Butch" Robertson, Commissioner Mike Lening, Commissioner 
• Delisa Weeks, County Clerk 
• Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Cindy McLoud reported she has been working with Rob Kelley in regard to the County Fair and funding for some of the projects that occur during the fair. 

The grant McLoud is working on is a website for the municipalities and for her office. 

Housing Project Update: SECED will be purchasing the house and they will be renting/leasing it until it can be sold. McLoud said SECED will be advertising throughout the area to see if they could sell it. 

McLoud has applied for the Colorado Park and Wildlife Grant in regard to irradicating the cattails at the pond south of town. 

McLoud has been working on the contract with the State for the Haswell and Sheridan Lake projects. 

McLoud thanked the BOCC for their time and returned to her seat at 10:00 a.m. 

Oswald moved, and Lening seconded the motion to move into the Public Hearing for BluEarth Renewables MET Tower at 10:01 a.m. Motion carried. 

Those from BluEarth were:

• Ashley Rieseberg, Environmental Specialist 
• Jared Necamp, provided the information

Members of the audience:

• Brad McBryde 
• Joyce McBryde 
• Betsy Barnett, Kiowa Independent

Ms. Rieseberg presented information as to why BluEarth wants to be here. She said it is due to the direct wind flow and Kiowa County has plenty of that. 

There are 25 landowners and 47,000 acres which is primarily grazing land and 

cropland. 

BluEarth is seeking approval for a Kiowa County Conditional Use Permit to install and operate 1-60' MET tower on privately leased land for up to 36 months. This MET tower will be located 6 miles north of Eads. 

Ms. Rieseberg thanked the BOCC for their time. Oswald moved, to come out of the Public Hearing at 10:31 a.m. Robertson second the motion. Motion carried. 

Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to move back into the Public Hearing with Atlas Tower Communication at 10:40 A.M. Motion carried. They are requesting approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a 310' Communications Tower to be installed southeast of Eads. There was no public input. Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to move out of the Atlas Tower Communications hearing at 11:12 a.m. Motion carried. 

Oswald moved, and Lening seconded the motion to move into the Board of Health meeting at 11:15 a.m. Motion carried. 

Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded to move out of the BOH meeting and back into regular session at 11:44 a.m. Motion carried. 

County Road Foreman Allen Watts entered the meeting to discuss the fuel tanks at the county shop in Eads. 

Oswald moved, and Lening a seconded the motion to recess for lunch at 12:10. Motion carried. 

The regular session reconvened at 1:17 p.m. 

Dennis Pearson entered the meeting to provide a monthly report for Department of Social Services. Pearson said their office has sent out a letter notifying each of those that are on the food assistance program notification that the program will be reverting back to the funding before COVID began. 

Pearson exited the meeting at 1:35 p.m. 

Minutes: Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried. 

Vouchers: Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the vouchers as presented. Motion carried. 

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded to approve the amended agenda with 1 addition to Old Business and 5 in New Business. Motion carried. 

GRANT: Administrator Adamson suggested the sidewalk on the north side of the Courthouse be addressed for the application of the mini grants. 

Lening said that the Town of Sheridan Lake said they are going to need some upgrading on their water system. Bob Weber had been in contact with Mike Lening in regards to the possibility of the influx of people coming with wind tower development. 

KCEDF Annual Contribution: Lening said he would like to have the Chairman of the Board to come in and visit. Tabled. 

Planning and Zoning: Adamson visited with the company of BluEarth in regards to the permitting and when they would start. 

Workman's Comp Compliance: Administrator Adamson stated liabilities to the county could ensue in regards to employees coming back with light duty restrictions. Lening suggested contacting County Attorney for further guidance. 

3:05 p.m. Gary Wollert and Donna Adame entered the meeting to discuss the Fair Board. Mr. Wollert is interested in helping with the fair/rodeo but not be on the Board.

Tearle Lessenden, Kiowa County Extension Agent; further explained some of the duties that the Fair Board are asked to do. 

Kent Frazee joined the meeting at 3:55pm. 

Discussion ensued about job duties, Fair Board and possible separate rodeo committee. Everyone agreed that getting more community members involved to lighten the workload would be appreciated. 

Wollert and Adame left meeting at 4:08 pm. 

Frazee expressed interest in serving on the Fair Board, if he could help out. He spoke of ideas to get people coming to fair. 

Mikahael McCracken joined the meeting at 4:18 pm. 

McCracken stated she was interested in joining the Fair Board. She would like to see the fair get bigger and better. McCracken departed the meeting at 4:28 pm. 

Business: Reports and meetings were reviewed and signed. 

No Time off Requests. 

No New Hire Progress Report. 

Sheriff Williams joined the meeting at 4:30 pm. Williams encouraged the Commissioners to do their yearly jail visit. 

Sheriff Williams reported that 2 new vehicles for the Sheriff's Office had been ordered from Kansas. 

Discussion of the courthouse security ensued over a 40 hour week. Library and VA are open on Friday. Left meeting at 4:42 pm 

Trent Rittgers joined the meeting at 4:42 pm. He is interested in being a Fair Board member and missed seeing the horse races. He thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting at 4:45 p.m. 

CP&W Impact Assistance Grant: A motion was made by Lening and seconded by Robertson to sign the Impact Assistance Grant. 

Cintas Contract: Robertson moved and Lening seconded to sign the yearly contract with Cintas. Motion carried. 

MGT Cost Allocation Plan Agreement Lening moved, and Robertson seconded. Motion passed to sign yearly contract.

Office Lease Agreement-KC Fitness: Lening made motion, seconded by Robertson. Motion passed to sign agreement. 

Transit Driver Application: Eunice Weber applied for the Transit Driver position. She does not have a CDL but would be willing to get it. Lening moved, to accept Weber's application and requested she must get a CDL. Robertson seconded and motion carried. 

The vending machine in the courthouse has broken. Discussion ensued. A new machine runs around $5600, a refurbished is$ 4700. Oswald moved, and Lening seconded to buy a new machine. Motion carried. 

BluEarth: Lening moved to approve Conditional Use Permit & Building Permit. Robertson seconded. Motion passed. 

Atlas Towner Conditional Use Permit: Lening moved to approve Conditional Use Permit & Building Permit, Robertson seconded. Motion passed. 

Employee Resignation Lening moved, to accept Jordan Weirich resignation. Robertson seconded. The BOCC would like thank Mrs. Weirich for all the hard work and wish her the best. Motion carried. 

Old Senior Building- Shelly Engelhardt, Emergency Manager; asked if the BOCC would consider the Emergency Management Office moving to the former Senior Center building on Maine Street. The library is also interested in this space. Discussion ensued. No decision made. 

Maintenance Foreman, Nick Johnson is having trouble getting ballasts for lighting at the community building. Johnson would like to change over to LED's. The BOCC agreed to update the lighting. 

Rural Philanthropy Donation: Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded to approve a $200.00 donation for the upcoming Rural Philanthropy Class. Motion carried. 

Fair Board Members: Lening moved, to approve the 3 new members of the Fair Board. Oswald seconded. Motion passed. Those three approved were Kent Frazee, Mikahael McCracken, and Trent Rittgers. 

Generator Grant: Tabled for further information from Colorado Energy Systems. 

The next regular Commissioner's meeting will be held February 23, 2023; at 9:00 a.m.

With no further business to discuss, Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:23 p.m. Motion carried.