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

Kiowa County Commissioners meeting minutes - December 11, 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 December 11, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald.

Present:

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

Members of Audience

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 November 13th, 2025. Lening seconded. Motion carried.
Commissioner Robertson moved to approve the minutes from November 25, 2025. Oswald seconded. Motion carried.
Lening moved to approve the vouchers as presented, Robertson seconded, motion carried.
Oswald moved to approve the agenda as presented, Lening seconded, motion carried.

Old Business

Grant Updates: Adamson advised the underfunded courthouse grant was denied.

Landfill/Recycling: Landfill inspection was 12/9/2025; the only issue found was windblown trash. CDPHE is looking forward to the plan of shredding and composting.

Road & Bridge Update: A claim was filed for a broken window on the maintainer by a rock that was found inside.

Adamson advised the state denied the request of the transfer of the Schmidt Pit for signature issues.

Eads High School has requested assistance from the county to fix and chip seal the roads behind the school as they have not gotten any help from the town.

Housing: Cactus Corner inspections are still ongoing.

Planning & Zoning Update: None

2026 Budget - Resolution/Set Mill Levies/ Appropriation: Robertson motion to sign the Mill Levy Resolution, Lening seconded. Motion carried.

Oswald moved to set the Mill Levy, Lening seconded, motion carried. Lening moved to sign Resolution to appropriate funds, Robertson seconded, motion carried.

Robertson moved to approve the 2026 budget as presented, Lening seconded, motion carried.

2024 Audit & Local Highway Finance Report: Robertson moved to approve the 2024 Audit, Lening seconded, motion carried.

Adamson completed the Local Highway Finance Report.

Appointments

Wheeler presented information packets to the BOCC regarding the company and their business as it relates to Colorado. They are planning to have a pre-permitting meeting next week, with the hope of completing a new solar project in 2029 south of Haswell. Linda Watts, Treasurer's Office, entered the meeting at 9:30 am: Watts discussed salaries across the courthouse. Watts exited the meeting at 10:04 am.

Raina Lucero, Kiowa County Independent, entered the meeting at 9:57 am.

Oswald motioned to recess the regular hearing to enter the public hearing on the 2026 Budget. Robertson seconded.

2026 Budget Public Hearing: No public in attendance for comment.

Lening moved to exit public hearing; Robertson seconded and resumed normal session at 10:08 am.

Audrey Johnson, Director of Social Services, entered the meeting at 10:17 am: Johnson updated on the annual Christmas project. Distribution of holiday baskets and gifts should be next week. Johnson addressed some upcoming changes to programs due to federal and state regulations and changes. The state is proposing some changes in how calls are directed to counties as well as changing how services are provided in the state.

Sean Harkness entered the meeting at 10:50 am.

Randy Carney, Evan Hopkins, Lane Stum entered at 10:55 am.

Johnson exited the meeting at 10:52 am.

Lening moved to recess regular session for Public Hearing for update to County Road 76 at 11:05. Robertson seconded the motion; motion carried.

County Road 76 Public Hearing: Discussion about the proposal for updating the road. Adamson informed of some paths forward per the county attorney. There is one landowner who is against the roadway; others are on board if it is a continuous road. There was discussion about water issues and alternatives if not all landowners agree.

Oswald moved to exit public hearing, Lening seconded. Regular session resumed at 11:25 am.

Lening moved to approve the building of County Road 76 south to Road M, Robertson seconded, roll call: Robertson - aye, Lening- aye, Oswald - aye. Motion carried.

The County attorney will be consulted about how to proceed south from Road M.

Beth Bell entered the meeting to obtain signatures for the KCHD CDBG Grant MOU. Lening moved to sign MOU; Robertson seconded; motion carried.

Bell exited the meeting at 11:36 am.

Lening moved to recess for lunch at 11:55 am, Oswald seconded. Motion carried.

The meeting resumed at 1:10 pm.