The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on December 12, 2024; at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. Lening opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Minutes: Robertson moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the minutes of November 26, 2024. Motion carried. 

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

Agenda: Oswald moved to approve the agenda with one addition. Lening seconded the motion. Motion carried. One new addition: Golf Course Liquor License renewal. 

OLD BUSINESS: 

Grant Updates: Administrator Adamson reported the stucco work at the Legion Hall has been completed. The gutters are also being replaced at the Legion Hall. 

Landfill/Recycling Update: The trash compactor is running smoothly with no issues. 

Road and Bridge: There is one truck that is in Lamar being repaired. There was further discussion on replacing some of the current trucks that are in need of repair. 

Brooke Matthews, with the Colorado State Extension Office entered the meeting at 10:00 a.m. to review the budget for the Extension Office. The BOCC said they had no questions regarding the 2025 Budget. 

Ms. Matthews, thanked the BOCC for cooperating with the extension office throughout the 2024 year. Matthews exited the meeting at 10:20 a.m. 

Oswald moved, and Lening seconded the motion to recess the regular meeting and move into Public Hearing for the 2025 Budget. Motion carried. There was no one from the public in attendance. Oswald moved, with Robertson seconding the motion to close the Public Hearing at 10:40 a.m. Motion carried. 

Housing Update: The BOCC discussed that the current contractor for the Cactus Corner apartment is not paying the bills and has since filed bankruptcy. The electrical wiring invoice from DePaul Electric has not been paid and Adamson questioned who was going to pay. Discussion ensued. Commissioner Lening said he is very concerned and he would like to have SECED Director, Stephanie Gonzales, present to discuss further actions in regard to the bankruptcy case filed by the contractor and outstanding invoices. 

Planning and Zoning: Xcel Energy sent their amendment to their substation area. Adamson said they will start the permitting process. 

2025 Budget: Resolution/Set Mill Levy/Appropriation: 

2025 Budget Set Mill Levies: Adamson provided a copy of the Certification of the Mill Levy. After review of the Resolution, Lening moved and Robertson seconded to approve Resolution 2024-11 to Set Mill Levies. Motion carried. 

2024-12 Resolution for Appropriation: Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the 2024-12 Resolution for Appropriation. Roll call was taken. Robertson -Yes, Lening, Yes and Oswald-yes. Motion carried. The amount appropriated $9,737,437. 

Resolution to Adopt Budget: Robertson moved, and Oswald seconded to approve Resolution 2024-10. Roll call was taken Robertson-Yes, Lening-Yes, Oswald-No. Motion carried. 

Erin Smith and Clay Davis with the USDA Wildlife Services entered the meeting to provide an update for the wildlife services. Smith introduced Clay Davis as the new gunner for this area. She explained that they are searching for a pilot in this area. 

Ms. Smith went onto report that the wildlife services had received information in regard to the number of coyotes in this area. She said once they have a pilot and Davis has gone through the training they would be willing to assist in the eradication of coyotes. 

Robertson moved, and Lening seconded to sign the USDA Wildlife Service Agreement for 2025. Motion carried. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

Meetings and Reports were reviewed and signed. 

Building Permits/Eads Golf Course-Verizon: Robertson moved and Lening seconded to the construction of a new cart shed being built at the golf course. Motion carried. 

Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve a building permit for equipment housing from Verizon on Kiowa County Road 49. Motion carried. 

Veteran's Application for payment: Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the semi-annual payment. Motion carried. 

Harris Pit Request: Discussion ensued with no action taken.

Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to recess the meeting at 11:54 for the lunch hour. Motion carried. The regular meeting reconvened at 1:05 p.m. 

Dennis Pearson, Social Service Director, entered the meeting to provide a monthly report for the Social Service Department. 

Pearson discussed the issuance of a check that had not been cashed. Oswald moved, and Lening second the motion to issue a replacement check to Child Welfare. Motion carried. 

Visitor Center HVAC Estimate: The National Parks heater is not working properly and they are in need to repair or replace the current unit. Adamson will look into this to see if there is any warranty left on the heater. She will have further information on the HVAC system at the next meeting. 

SO/Perkins Chevrolet Purchase Agreement: Sheriff Williams presented a bid for a 2025 GMC Sierra in the amount of $47,540.90. Lening moved, and Robertson seconded to approve to approve the purchase agreement. Motion carried. 

PCPHE: Environmental Health Services Contract: Oswald moved, and Lening seconded to approve the Prowers County Public Health Environmental contract for 2025. Motion carried. 

PCPHE: Public Health Services Contract: Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion to approve the Intergovernmental Agreement with Prowers County Health Public Health Services for the 2025 year. Motion carried. 

lnvenergy Road Use Agreement: Tabled 

Xcel Segment 4 Road Use Agreement: Tabled 

Golf Course Liquor License Renewal: Clerk Weeks presented the renewal application for the Eads Golf Course. Included in documentation was a letter submitted to the Clerk Weeks from Sheriff Williams stating there has been no issues throughout the 2024 year. Robertson moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the renewal of the Golf Course Liquor License. Motion carried. 

Adamson presented information in regard to the Administrator annual meeting that was held at the CCI Winter Conference in early December. She explained that the BOCC may want to discuss further an agreement that the Administrator and the BOCC would want to put in place. She went into discussion explaining that if there were to be new Commissioners voted in, this agreement would protect the existing Administrator. Adamson asked if the BOCC would consider doing an employment agreement. Discussion followed with no action taken. 

Oswald moved and Lening second the motion to recess the regular meeting and move into executive session. Motion carried. Per C.R.S. 24-6-402 (b) for Consultation with Attorney at 3:06 p.m.

Robertson moved, Lening second the motion to adjourn the executive session at 3:39 p.m. Motion carried. 

The next regular meeting will be held on December 24, 2024. 

With no further business to conduct, Oswald moved and Robertson seconded to adjourn the meeting at 3:40 p.m.