The Kiowa County Commissioners regular meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. on March 28, 2019 by Chairman, Richard Scott. Oswald opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Those in attendance:

Richard Scott, Chairman

Donald Oswald, Commissioner

Howard “Butch” Robertson, Commissioner

Delisa Weeks, County Clerk

Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Harvey Crouch with Crouch Engineering contacted the BOCC to discuss the railroad line. He is the engineer that is planning the repairs to the track and the plan is to have the railway in working condition by June 1, 2019. Mr. Crouch will be in Kiowa County the first week of April to begin checking the tracks, railroad crossing and installing new guard rails and lights. They will be concentrating on repairing the bridge that burnt up a few years ago west of Haswell with a culvert. After further discussion Mr. Crouch thanked the BOCC and ended the phone call.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried.

Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion approve the voucher as presented. Motion carried.

Scott moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended presented. One addition to Old Business: Courthouse Upgrades and New Business: Fair Board. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS: 

GRANT UPDATES:  

Discussion followed over the different grants that have been approved and accepted by Kiowa County for the Murdock Project. Scott said he feels this is a Kiowa County Senior Citizens Center not just the Eads Senior Citizen’s Center.  

Landfill Updates/Clean Valley Tour: The BOCC thought their tour to Clean Valley was very interesting. They gained some recycling ideas for the Eads Landfill.

Scott questioned the first quarter fees collected at the Eads Landfill. There has been a little less than $10,000.00 made. Discussion followed over a storage building to process cardboard. No action was taken on this item.

Planning and Zoning: Adamson has published the Notice for the Public Hearing to be held at 11:00 a.m. on April 25, 2019 for changes made to the Kiowa County Comprehensive Plan. 

Legislative Issues: Discussion followed over The Family Leave Act and the Oil and Gas Bill. If these two bills pass they will have a definite economic effect on Kiowa County.

Weed Control: Adamson will contact different farmers in the area to see if they can meet with the Commissioners and discuss different ways the county and farmers can control the weeds in the ditches.

Courthouse Construction: Adamson reported the carpet is in and the electrician will be here in April to update the electrical in the old sheriff’s office.

Jan Richards with K.C.E.D.F. entered the meeting at 10:10 a.m. as a member of the audience. Other members of the audience were Doris Lessenden, Areta Laird, Loretta Seibel, Gail Voss, Alice Glover, Cindy McLoud, and Belinda Zink. Richards spoke on behalf of K.C.E.D.F. and she explained that she and McLoud had discussed how Kiowa County could receive tax credits if K.C.E.D.F. could lease the Senior Citizen’s Building. K.C.E.D.F. would be responsible for paying the bills and the County would reimburse them with grant funds.  Discussion followed. Richards explained she did not feel she could handle everything that would be required so her thought was to continue with Cindy McCloud managing and reporting on the grants since McLoud was already familiar with them. Richards also explained the fees that K.C.E.D.F. would charge for her service still need to be negotiated. The Commissioner’s agreed they would consider paying K.C.E.D.F. for this. No action was taken at this time. After very lengthy discussion the audience members thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting.

Kelly Roesch, Agronomist for the Colorado State Extension Office; reported 8 people had attended the pesticide applicators license in Kiowa County. Roesch discussed some of the test plots that have been put in place. Roesch exited the meeting at 11:27 a.m. 

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to recess for lunch at 11:54 a.m. Motion carried. The regular meeting reconvened at 1:00 p.m.

Kemma Alfano, with the Kiowa County Library District entered the meeting at 1:00 p.m. to provide an annual update for the Public Library. Alfano highlighted on the summer reading program by stating there were 50 young participants and a book signing in December with 37 people in attendance. She also said in the last month the Library has rolled out a program to better serve the Plainview School. So far there has been 60 plus items ordered from the Library that is being sent to the Plainview school. Alfano is also doing a community assessment around town to see what kind of needs the communities have and how the library might be able to assist in making sure their needs are being met.

NEW BUSINESS:

Upcoming meeting and reports were reviewed and signed.

Fair Board: Barbara Wilson, Cindy Pitman, Areta Laird and Bart Michael entered the meeting to discuss the theme entries the county had received. There were three entries. Scott moved and Robertson seconded the motion to accept “Blue Jeans “N” Country Dreams” as the theme for the 2019 Fair. The Fair Board was also unanimous in the decision to choose this theme. Motion carried. 

Bart Michael also asked if the SECCC women’s barrel racing and could hold a barrel race on May 26, at noon and again on July 30^that 5:30 p.m.  The Fair Board thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting.

Time off Request. There were two request forms submitted. Oswald moved Robertson seconded the motion to accept the time off requests. Motion carried.

Two thank you notes were prepared, reviewed and signed. These notes will be sent to Anschutz and El Pomar for their generous donations to the Senior Citizen’s portion of the Murdock Project.

Fair Board: Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to accept Dawn Back as a member of the Kiowa County Fair Board. Motion carried.

The next regular commissioners meeting will be held on April 11, 2019 at 09:00 a.m.

With no other business to discuss, Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 3:17 p.m. Motion carried.