The regular Kiowa County Commissioner's meeting was called to order on January 28, 2021; 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

Betsy Barnett, owner of the Kiowa County Independent; entered the meeting at 09:27 a.m. to discuss the legal publications vote that occurred two weeks ago. Barnett is requesting that the BOCC reconsider its decision to move legal advertisement from the Independent to the Kiowa County Press. She understands the thought process of rotating every other year between the two papers and supporting each business, but she feels the Kiowa County Press is limited in getting information out to the public and that the Independent reaches more citizens to the fullest. Barnett reported the Independent will lose approximately $5600.00 in legal advertising this next year. There was continued discussion with no action taken. Barnett thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting at 09:47 a.m.

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

Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the vouchers as presented. Motion carried. One voucher was questioned in regards to Public Health in the amount of $55,000.00 for regular public health services and COVID reimbursed services. After clarification the voucher was approved.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the agenda with the following additions: New Business: Follow Up after Legal discussion and Cost Allocation for DSS. Motion carried.

OLD BUSINESS:

Grant Updates/SECOG Mini Grants Application/Sr. Center Certification: Belinda Zink, with Zink and Associates; and Mr. Alan Freidhof from Latcon will go over the last items to be repaired at the Senior Center. Discussion followed. The building inspection for the Certificate of Occupancy was reviewed. Oswald moved to close the Senior Center until all repairs are completed which includes the outside ramp and the completion of a ceilings in the stair entryways. Oswald also included in his motion that the BOCC would pay to rent the Cobblestone for the Senior Brunch coming in early February. Lening seconded the motion. Motion carried. Due to a few items that are in need of repair the Senior Center will remain closed until a Certificate of Occupancy is received.

Mini Grant: Adamson presented information on the SECOG Mini Grant which included different types of attractions that could be used for fair or for rental. Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the grant application for the train water slide and the sea world slide. Motion carried.

Emily Blizzard and Doug Ekberg of the Colorado APHIS (Animals and Plant Health Inspection Service) entered the meeting by video and audio to discuss the Work Plan for APHIS. Bryce "Pete" Batterton is the local predator control person for Kiowa County. Some of his duties include coyote and prairie dog eradication. Ekberg said he will forward Mr. Batterton's contact information to Administrator Adamson. Ekberg and Blizzard thanked the Board and exited the meeting at 10:15a.m.

Connie Brase entered the meeting by telephone conference at 10:33 a.m. to discuss and request the use of the fairground facilities on June 11, 12 and 13,  2021. This is a scheduled horse-riding program to educate young horse riders as well as the more experienced rider. Brase said the program is to keep the "Cowboy Legend" alive and she encourages everyone to attend this event in June. Brase exited the meeting at 10:55 a.m.

Belinda Zink with Zink and Associates entered the meeting at 11 :00 a.m. and Mr. Alan Freidhof Project Manager for Latcon, and Joe Sutherland entered meeting by phone to discuss the building. Zink has the Certificate of Substantial Completion for the project. The retainage is being held until all finishes are completed. The floor was a big discussion due to the sanding and no one completing the staining. Mr. Friedhof said he will come down and review the floor again and make things right. Adamson questioned whether there should be a reduction in cost of completion. Zink exited meeting at 11 :35 a.m. Motion carried.

Zink also brought estimates for the construction documents on the Single-Entry Point for the Underfunded Courthouse Grant. Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to sign the acceptance of bid document. Motion carried.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to recess for lunch at 12: 11 p.m.

Motion carried.

The regular meeting reconvened at 1 :05 p.m.

Travis Grant, Representative for Ken Buck, entered the meeting at 1 :05 p.m. to provide an update as to what has been introduced into Congress for this session. Grant explained one of the first priorities being introduced was to consider rioting as a felony. Grant also reported they have introduced a bill which will include stricter guidelines for immigrants attempting to get a driver's license. Buck will also be reintroducing water and other agricultural needs for Colorado. With no other items to discuss, Grant thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting at 1: 17 p.m.

COVID-19: Update: The COVID-19 cases have gone down considerably in Kiowa County. Administrator Adamson said Kiowa County may move to Level Yellow on the COVID-19 Chart.

NACO Leadership Academy: Zach Heringer, with NACO; entered the meeting by video conferencing at 1 :50 p.m. He wanted to encourage those in elected positions to enroll in this leadership class with other Colorado leaders. Lening asked that Heringer forward the information to Administrator Adamson and he will review it. Heringer thanked the Board and ended the video conference call.

Sheridan Lake Fishing Club: Members entering the meeting were Josh Brown, Darren Epper, John Brown and Gerald Deines. Josh Brown opened his discussion with a request to extend the boat ramp at Nee Gronde. Brown said they will be hosting a fishing tournament in June and feels there would be more attendance if the boat ramp issue was addressed. The BOCC will contact Road Foreman Warts to see what material the County may have on hand from other repairs that had been done to the previous ramp. Oswald had explained there were several other entities that would be involved in these kinds of

repairs. After further discussion the four gentlemen exited the meeting at 2:20 p.m.

Hospital Board: Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to approve the modification to the terms with the Ambulance Service Agreement with the hospital. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS: 

Upcoming Reports and Meeting were reviewed and signed.

Jack Howard, District 2 Road Foreman entered the meeting at 2:45 p.m. to discuss the road surface at the Sand Creek Masacre site. Howard reported that his crew will lay some new gravel at the site. Foreman Howard also discussed the issues with the overhead door at the District 2 shop. Discussion followed with the consensus from the Board to have the door replaced.

Howard reported the 1996 bobtail needs to have a new motor put in it. Public Health Services IGA: Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to sign the Inter-Governmental Agreement with Public Health. Motion carried.

Saving Places Conference Scholarship Application: Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to sign the Saving Places Scholarship for the Kiowa County Historic Preservation Commission. Motion carried.

ROW Permit-SECP A: Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the Right of Way Request for SECP A per Vincent Koeller on County Rd K and County Rd 67. Motion carried.

CHP Representative Designation: Robertson moved to appoint Oswald as the designated representative and Lening as the alternate. Oswald seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Recreation Board Letter of Interest: Lening moved and Oswald seconded the motion to approve Kevin Brown to the Central Recreation Board. Motion carried.

EM Cell Booster Estimate: Shellie Engelhardt, Kiowa County EMS Coordinator; entered the meeting by video conference to discuss the booster antennae for cell phone usage for the Emergency Operation Center. Homeland security funds will be used for the purchase and installment of this booster. Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to approve this purchase. Motion carried. Engelhardt thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting at 3:40 p.m.

Cost Allocation Plan for DSS: A consensus from the BOCC to disregard the Allocation Plan for DSS was approved.

Oswald moved and Lening second the motion to recess the regular meeting and move into executive session at 3:55 p.m. for personnel reasons (Title 24, Article 6, Section 402, at Subsection 4(F) (I). Motion carried. Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to move back into regular at 5:13 p.m. Motion carried.

Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to give a written warning to an employee including suspension until additional training can be attended. Motion carried.

The next regular Commissioner's meeting will be held at 9:00 a.m. on February 11, 2021. With no other business to discuss, Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 5:18 p.m. Motion carried.