The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on November 12, 2020 at 9:00 a.m., by Commissioner Donald Oswald. Oswald opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Those in Attendance:

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

(Richard Scott absent due to illness)

Robertson moved and Oswald seconded to approve the minutes with one correction being made. Motion carried.

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

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the agenda with the following amendments: Old Business: Item line 9 deleted and in New Business: Table line item 6 County Hospital Board-Tabled. Add line item 7: December

OLD BUSINESS:

Grant Updates: Engelhardt has ordered plywood and it won't be here for three weeks. There is plumbing issues on the garbage disposal and drain. The new oven is in and seems to be operating well. 

The Under funded grant we are waiting to hear whether or not we get approved.

Mr. George is to be here today to meet with Road Foreman Howard in regard to the plan/map for the disc golf.

Cindy McLoud had contacted Administrator Adamson in regard to the Kiowa County Historic Preservation Grant that had been applied for repairs to the Legion Hall. This grant was not approved.

Landfill & Recycling Update: Adamson asked the BOCC if there was a possibility that one of the landfill employees could possibly dedicate an extra day throughout the winter to recycling. 

COVID-19 Update: We have 17 active cases. The hospital has tested 300 some individuals for COVID.

Public Health is asking the Christmas Festival committee to consider canceling the Festival for this year due to the rise of COVID cases. The Senior Citizen building is not available for use this year due to COVID.

National Park Service requested use of the Community Building on November 14 and the 21. Robertson moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the two dates for the National Park Service. Motion carried.

Lakes Update: The water and the dirt track meetings went over well. Don Lynn and David Kraft are going to draw up plans for a track. They will be using a GPS to design this track. 

There will be a Water Committee meeting every first Tuesday of the month so people who are interested in the process of this motocross track can attend.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded to recess the regular meeting and move into the Public Hearing for the Towner Wind Energy Pre-Construction Hearing at 09:58. Motion Carried. Members of the audience for the Public Hearing on the Towner Wind Energy were:

Linly Stum, Doug Hume, Mark Sanders, Dusty Tallman, Marvin Koeller, Kent Johnston, Doug Tallman, Larry Tuttle. Ben Turner and Laurie Reese entered the meeting by video conferencing. Also, Jerry Allen, Land Use Planner was in attendance by video conferencing. The Planning & Zoning Board had approved the three wind energy applications. Four mud mats will be installed along with soil samples being taken. Mr. Tiller said these pads will have ground coverage restored. Discussion followed. Administrator Adamson reported the county roads that will be used to travel on will be restored to the original shape once the project is completed. This information is included in the Conditional Use Permits. With no other discussion from members of the audience, Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded to conclude the hearing at 10:11 a.m. and move back into regular session at the same time. Motion carried.

Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the Towner Wind Energy Permit. Motion carried. The members of the audience exited the meeting at 10:14 a.m.

2021 Budget: Review and discussion of the 2021 Budget will begin on November 13, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

Solar Update- Letter of Commitment-Tyler Surat, Consultant for Steel City Solar contacted Administrator Adamson requesting a letter of Commitment from the County. This letter would allow Steel City to go to the different sites owned by the County and seek estimates for the next meeting.

Ambulance Service: Adamson is preparing a budget for the ambulance service.

Upcoming Meetings: Meetings and Reports were reviewed and approved. December meetings for the Commissioners are the 10and 23.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to recess the regular meeting at 11:01 a.m. for the Public Hearing on the Harris Gravel Pit. Motion carried. Road Foreman Watts was the only member of the audience. A review of the Harris Gravel Permit took place.

Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to move out of the public hearing and back into regular session at 11:10 a.m. Motion carried.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Permit for the Regular (112) Construction Material Extraction Operation for the Harris Gravel Pit. Motion carried.

NEW BUSINESS:

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

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

Dennis Pearson, Social Service Director; entered the meeting to provide an update for the Department of Social Services at 1:10 p.m.

Pearson said that the LEAP Program has begun for the winter. They have received several applications for assistance. 

Pearson also discussed that two employees from Social Services had been exposed to

COVID and both employees are in self-quarantine.

Pearson exited the meeting at 1 :39 p.m.

David Engelhardt entered the meeting at 1 :41 p.m. to report the material for the Senior

Citizens portion had made it here and he will begin next week on the project. 

Seth Odette, with Prowers Public Health and Environment, entered the meeting by video conferencing. He said he has issued a couple sewer system permits this past year in Kiowa County. He has also completed his yearly visits with the local businesses for 2020. Odette had prepared the annual Environmental Health Contract and presented to the BOCC. Robertson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the 2021 PCPHE Environmental Health Contract. Motion carried. Odette thanked the BOCC for their time and exited the meeting.

Liquor License Renewal: Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the Liquor License Renewal for the Windmill Saloon. The Sheriffs Office had reported no incidents with the Windmill Saloon. Motion carried.

Tearle Lessenden, Extension Agent for Kiowa County and Krystal Eikenberg, Office Assistant for the Extension Office, entered the meeting to discuss the Achievement Banquet. They would like to go ahead and have the banquet even with COVID going on. After further discussion it was decided they will have a drive by award banquet and have pictures taken receiving their award.

The next Commissioner's Meeting will be November 24, 2020 at 9:00 a.m.

With no other items to discuss, Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to

adjourn the meeting at 2:36 p.m.