The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on April 10, 2025; at 9:17 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. Commissioner Robertson opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Minutes: The minutes for the March 27th meeting will be approved at the next meeting. 

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

Agenda: Oswald moved to approve the agenda as presented. Lening seconds the motion. Motion carried. 

Members of the Audience: Justin Causey, lnvenergy 

OLD BUSINESS: 

Grant Updates: The Emergency Management Grant that SCEDD applied for a Generator for the courthouse was denied. Adamson has applied for a SECOG Mini Grant for the sidewalks on the East side of the Courthouse. We will also be applying for interior doors under the grandstands at the fairgrounds. These two will be on the 2024 grant funds. We will apply for three more in July for 2025. Oswald and Lening are talking with the towns to see if they have any needs that would fit in with the mini grants. 

At 10:00 a.m. Luis Meneses, John Lauer and Matt Press with Adapture Renewables entered the meeting to share details of their proposed solar projects with the Commissioners. 

Landfill/Recycling Update: Options for waste tire recycling and shredding were discussed. The Road & Bridge crew are going to help haul dirt from the canal cleaning to the landfill for daily cover. 

Housing Update: There has been no work completed recently on the Cactus Corner Apartments. 

Planning and Zoning Update: The County and lnvenergy are working towards a proposed settlement agreement for the legal action. Our 1041 Attorney drafted a development agreement for consideration to replace the 1041 permitting process. 

Redistricting: The Board of Commissioners has been working on redistricting since the 2020 Census with no success. The people that were helping with the mapping did not complete the project. The main concern for the Board is that if the County redistricts based on population all three commissioners could be from Eads. They do not think that this is equal representation for the residents of Kiowa County. Further research and questions for the State regarding this requirement will be addressed in the near future. 

Road & Bridge: A resident has requested a dead end sign on CR 76 near their house as there seems to be truck traffic that thinks it is a though road. The annual provision of gravel to pit owners was discussed. No decision was made. 

Fair Update: The Fair Board has arranged for a concert on Friday night of the Fair with Chad Brock and Hugh Phillips. The Commissioners asked about security and if they planned to sell alcohol.

Upcoming Meeting and Reports were reviewed and signed. 

Recessed for lunch at 12:00 p.m. 

Meeting resumed at 1:08 p.m. 

DSS Update: Pearson and Johnson gave an update on the activities to support child abuse prevention month. The advertisement for the Director and Child Welfare Worker positions was not productive. They will continue to advertise and we will discuss Johnson's promotion to director again at the next meeting. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

Resolution 2025-5 Opposing Senate Bill 2025-3 regarding the banning of semiautomatic guns was discussed. Robertson moved and Oswald seconded to approve Resolution 2025-5. Roll call vote was taken; Oswald voted yes, Lening voted yes and Robertson voted yes. 

Lisa Thomas and Kailey Meardon entered the meeting to discuss a new vehicle purchase for Collaborative Management. Two bids were reviewed; a 2024 GMC Terrain for $26,995 and a 2025 Ford Explorer $39,780. Thomas's preference was the 2024 GMC Terrain. Lening moved and Robertson seconded to purchase the GMC, motion carried. 

Roger Saffer entered at 2:00 to discuss possible purchase of the 8.3 acres of land that he leases from the Town of Eads at the airport. The land was given for a municipal airport and reverts to the County should it no longer be an airport. The Commissioners will visit with the County Attorney and make sure there is no legal issues since the property is still used as an airport. 

The Men's Health Proclamation request was reviewed. No action was taken. 

The lnvenergy Road Use Agreement and right of way permits were tabled. 

The settlement agreement from lnvenergy was discussed. No action was taken. 

The Sheriff Vehicle Purchase agreement was reviewed. Lening moved and Robertson seconded to approve the purchase of a 2025 GMC Sierra from Perkins Chevrolet/GMC for $50,624. The motion carried.

Two Subdivision Exemption Applications were presented for approval. Mike Lening moved and Robertson seconded to approve a 3.88 acre subdivision exemption for Sheri Mendez and a 10 acre subdivision exemption for Jenni Black from Eunice Weber. Roll call vote was taken; Lening voted yes, Robertson voted yes and Oswald voted yes. 

Lening moved to go out of regular session, Robertson seconded at 3:03 p.m. Motion carried. 

Oswald moved to go into executive session pursuant to C.R.S. 24-6-402 (4)(b) & (e) (I) for purposes of attorney consultation, 106 Actions and 1041 regulations, Robertson seconded at 3:03 p.m. Motion carried. 

Robertson moved to adjourn executive session, Lening seconded at 4:40 p.m. Motion carried. 

The next regular Commissioner's meeting is April 24, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

With no other business to conduct, Oswald moved to adjourn, Lening seconded, Motion carried. 

Meeting adjourned at 4:42 p.m.

Donald Oswald, Chairman

Delisa Weeks, County Clerk