The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on December 10, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. 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

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

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

Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the agenda with one addition. New Business: Roads. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

Grant Updates: Administrator Adamson has completed the SECOG Mini Grants. The Underfunded Courthouse Grant was awarded in the amount of $18,800.00 but we will need to modify our request from construction to master planning.

Adamson is still waiting on a Certificate of Occupancy for the new Senior Center. Audience: Deb Lening entered the meeting at 09:55 a.m.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to recess the meeting at 10:00 a.m. for the Oath of Office for Mike Lening at 10:00 a.m. Motion carried. County Judge, Gary Davis swore in Commissioner Lening by video conference. Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to move back into regular session at 10:13 a.m. Motion carried. Deb Lening exited the meeting at 10:13 a.m.

Landfill & Recycling Update: Adamson will ask Scranton to come to the next meeting to give an update as to how much waste has been brought into the landfill for 2020.

Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to recess the regular meeting and move into the Budget Hearing at 10:15 a.m. Motion carried.

With no public attendance, Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to adjourn the Budget Hearing and move back into regular session at 10:25 a.m. Motion carried.

Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve Resolution 2020-05 to set the Mill Levies to help defray costs for the 2020 year. Motion carried.

Robertson moved to adopt Resolution 2020-06, to Appropriate Sums of Money for the various funds. Lening seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to recess the regular meeting and move into the Board of Health meeting at 10:32 a.m. Motion carried.

Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to adjourn the Board of Health meeting and move back into regular session at 11:08 a.m. Motion carried.

Dennis Pearson, Director of Social Services; entered the meeting by video conferencing at 11:11 a.m. to discuss the working schedule he has for his office. His employees are working from home part time and the other half is in office.

Approximately 35 children will be receiving gifts from the Fanny Murdock Project. There will be several families receiving food baskets for the holidays.

Pearson discussed the yearly merit system that the county had opted out of, but as a state funded entity his office still had to report on the merit System. This report shows that the Kiowa County Social Services employees are being paid a comparable salary as to other State employees in social work. Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to sign the Merit System Agreement for the State. Motion carried.

COVID -19 Update: Oswald said the COVID uptick is of great concern. The Commissioners all agreed that the Merry on Maine event should be canceled due to the increased number of positive cases of COVID in Kiowa County. Oswald will prepare a statement for the Merry on Maine Group to let them know of the BOCC concerns.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to recess for lunch at 11:55 a.m. Motion carried.

The regular meeting reconvened at 1:00 p.m.

Michael Yerman with SCEDD, entered the meeting by video conferencing at 1:30 p.m. Yerman suggested setting up a GOCO zoom meeting to discuss the three main projects the County would like to see completed with GOCO Funds. Yerman will prepare a letter for the Commissioners to sign off on. In this letter he will explain the projects that are of interest to the County which includes the fairground bleachers, an OHV track and campsites at the Great Plains Reservoirs. Mr. Yerman ended the phone call at 1:50 p.m.

Ambulance Service Update: Shannon Dixon, Chief Financial Officer for Weisbrod; provided an audit trail report for the last three years. Adamson is checking around with different counties to see what processes they must go through for billing in regards to the ambulance service.

Roads: Commissioner Lening had received a phone call of concern over the grading of the roads at this time when the ground is so dry which in turn causes the ditches to start blowing. Discussion followed. Lening will contact the county resident with further information.

NEW BUSINESS:

Upcoming Meeting and Reports: Reports and Meeting were reviewed and signed. Kiowa County Treasurer, Diana Flory; entered the meeting to discuss the Administrative Fee on real estate and mineral property taxes under ten dollar from $2.00 dollars to $5.00 per Colorado State Statute. Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to approve the fee increase from $2.00 to $5.00. Chairman Oswald called for a roll call vote: Robertson - Yes, Lening -Yes, and Oswald - Yes. Motion carried.

2021 Annual Operating Plan: Fire Prevention & Control Plan: Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to sign the 2021 Annual Operating Plan, which includes the six surrounding counties. This would be to assist in mutual aid to these counties. Motion carried.

The next regular meeting will be December 22, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

With no other items to discuss, Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 2:55 p.m.