The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on March 14, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. Commissioner Lening 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 Lening seconded the motion to approve the minutes as presented. Motion carried. 

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

Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended. Motion carried. There was one addition to Old Business and two items to New Business: 

OLD BUSINESS: 

GRANTS: Cindy McLoud, KCEDF Coordinator, entered the meeting to provide some of the grant projects she has been addressing. McLoud reported on Legion Hall renovation, the Fishing for Fun Project and also the Sheridan Lake subdivision application. 

McLoud provided information on the MMOF Grants for each end of the county. The sidewalk projects on both ends of the county have been stalled. 

We received 98,000.00 on the RREO Grant. 

Orsted North America: PUC Hearing: Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to move into the Public Hearing with Orsted. Motion carried. Buseck with Orsted entered the meeting by ZOOM to discuss the MET tower permitting north of Haswell, CO. Buseck reported that they had taken one of the MET towers from eastern Kiowa County and put it in north of Haswell.

Buseck also reported that they have begun to sign solar leases in central Kiowa County. With no further discussion, Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to end the public hearing and move back into regular session at 10:06 a.m. Motion carried.

Dave Wissel and his wife Lillian entered the meeting at 10:20 a.m. to discuss housing in the Town of Eads. They provided information as to the possibilities of gaining some extra housing for the Town of Eads and Kiowa County. Chairman Oswald encouraged them to go to the next Town Hall meeting and share their information with them. Mr. and Mrs. Wissel thanked the BOCC for their time and exited the meeting at 10:53 a.m. 

Landfill: The EDOP (Engineers Development and Operations Plan) was submitted. The County will be notified in May or June if the corrections that were made to the current EDOP are approved. 

SCEDD Housing Project: Updated Information was provided on the housing projects. One house has been since occupied and the other is ready to sell. 

Community Development Projects: Some of the renewable energy companies have requested information on projects that our community is striving for. They would like to help support some of our local projects. 

Employees Concerns: Travel issues. The BOCC will look into further reimbursement for employees that have to travel to training when it is above their regular working hours. 

Sheriff Williams entered the meeting at 11:00 a.m. to discuss the vehicles that had been purchased. There were two insurance checks for two Sheriff's vehicles that had been wrecked. Williams requested consideration for a third vehicle. The BOCC said they would discuss later and advise the Sheriff's Office if this purchase was feasible. Sheriff Williams thanked the BOCC for their time and consideration. Williams exited the meeting at 11:04 a.m. 

Road & Bridge Update: Road Foremen, Rick Spady and Allen Watts entered the meeting at 11:00 a.m. to discuss plans for the summer. Both Foremen are very concerned as each of the crews is down to bare minimum with employees. 

Watts discussed the possibility of reconsideration of the issuance of a free load of gravel to each Kiowa County household. The BOCC had agreed earlier in the year that there would be no free gravel for the residents of Kiowa County and the sales of gravel commercially would be discontinued as the County no longer has the staff to provide these services. Watts has received some calls in regard to gravel. Discussion ensued. The BOCC agreed there needs to be specific rules in regard to receiving the gravel. After further discussion, Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to allow commercial gravel sales up to 5 loads per year per household. The gravel will be available only when the Road & Bridge employees are available to assist and the resident will have to haul the gravel themselves. There will be no free loads of gravel at this time. Motion carried.

Permanent fences were also discussed and will be addressed further at a later date. 

Fuel Tanks: Road Foreman Watts discussed the need for a fuel tank for winter months. The County had been advised by the State in late 2022 that the fuel tanks located at the Sheridan Lake and Eads Shops need to be closed. These tanks are no longer up to standards. Watts agreed a smaller double walled tank is a must on the east end of the County for winter fuel. 

Oswald moved, and Lening seconded the motion to recess the meeting for lunch at 12:15 p.m. Motion carried. The regular meeting reconvened at 1:00 p.m. 

Dennis Pearson, Director of Social Services; entered the meeting at 1:00 p.m. to provide a monthly report for his department. He exited the meeting at 1:30 p.m. 

Demolition Derby: Fire Chiefs Jayce Negley and Russ Watson entered the meeting at 3:00 p.m. to discuss the Demolition Derby for 2023. Mr. Negley requested the use of the Kiowa County Fairgrounds for September 23, 2023; for the Demolition Derby. He also asked if the BOCC would consider in waiving the deposit fee for this event. Mr. Negley also reported that there will be no beer garden for this event this year. Further discussion ensued. They exited the meeting 3:10 p.m. 

New Business: Reports and Meeting were reviewed and signed. The Next regular Commissioner's meeting has been changed to April 11, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. 

Orsted: CUP and Building Permits: Discussion ensued over the Conditional Use Permit and Building Permit for Orsted. Robertson moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to approve both permits. Motion Carried. 

CPR Building Permit (Colorado Pacific Railroad}: Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the CPR Building Permit located at 58 T18 RS0 ¼ SE. Motion carried. 

Alternative Energy Support Letter: Lening moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the Alternative Energy Support Letter. Motion carried. 

CTSI Property Re-appraisal: County Technical Services Inc. will come and appraise all of the County buildings by June of this year. 

The Public Health storage container has been set and ready to use. 

Colorado Opioid Participation Forms: Lening moved, and Oswald seconded to sign the forms in order to receive funds from the Opioid Settlement throughout Colorado. Motion carried.

Legislation Survey for proposition 123: The BOCC will complete the Survey. 

Town Hall: Lening moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the Letter of Support for the swimming pool. Motion carried. 

Cobblestone: Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion to approve the Liquor license renewal for Cobblestone. Motion carried. 

The BOCC tabled the discussion over the purchase of another patrol vehicle. 

With no further discussion, Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to adjourn meeting at 3:50 p.m. Motion carried.