The Kiowa County Commissioners regular meeting was called to order on November 14, 2023 at 9:00 am by Chairman Donald Oswald.

Lening opened the meeting with a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

Those in attendance were:

• Donald Oswald, Chairman
• Howard “Butch” Robertson, Commissioner
• Mike Lening, Commissioner
• Delisa Weeks, County Clerk
• Traci Uhland, Deputy Clerk
• Tina Adamson, County Administrator

Minutes will be approved at the November 30, 2023 meeting.     

Vouchers: Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to accept the vouchers as presented. Motion carried.

Agenda:  Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to approve the agenda as amended. Three additions were made: Motion carried.

Dennis Pearson, Social Service Director, entered the meeting at 9:30 a.m., to provide a monthly report. Pearson reported the LEAP Program has been in full swing. People are coming in to apply for this low-income assistance program.

Pearson requested approval of the State Merit Compliance System. This agreement needs to be approved every two years stating that Kiowa County is in compliance with the State required Merit System. After further discussion Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to sign the Merit System Compliance. Motion carried.

Pearson requested consideration of hiring someone to clean the windows at the Social Services Office. After some discussion it was agreed to hire a party from Lamar to clean the front entrance windows for $50.00.

Pearson discussed the need for office help for Audrey Johnson, Child Welfare Caseworker. Pearson explained that the State can sign a waiver for a person who has not qualified for this position but would be willing to take educational training to become a Caseworker. He said this would at least help fill the gap and possibly give Audrey some relief from being on call 24 hours a day. No decision was made.

Pearson discussed further with the BOCC in regard to moving the Salvation Army to the former Senior Citizen building on Maine Street. No action was taken at this time.

Pearson thanked the BOCC and exited the meeting at 9:55 a.m.

OLD BUSINESS:

Chairman Oswald moved, and Lening seconded the motion to move out of the regular meeting at 10:00am and move into the Board of Health meeting. Motion carried.

Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to adjourn the Board of Health meeting and move into the Public Hearing at 11:00am. Motion carried.

Those present for the 1041 Regulations Setbacks: Darla Scranton Specht, Attorney for Kiowa County.

Administrator Adamson presented the additions and revisions for the setbacks. She further stated the Notice of Hearing had been published in the Kiowa County Independent. A copy of this Notice is available upon request.

After further discussion and review Oswald moved to proceed with the Resolution.

Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to adjourn the 1041 Setback Regulations Hearing. Motion carried.

Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to sign the GSC Contracts to clean fuel tanks. Motion carried.

Also included in the discussion were the permitting application and the Impact Studies. It was reported that January will be the target month for the upcoming hearing.

Grant Updates: The RREO Grant is due January 24, 2024.

2024 Budget: The BOCC would like to sell the school bus but will wait to sell the Durango the Emergency Manager had used.

There will be a new pick up budgeted for Road Foreman, Rick Spady.

Oswald moved to recess for lunch at 12:10pm. Lening seconded the motion. Motion carried.

The regular meeting reconvened at 1:15pm.

Meeting and Reports were discussed and signed.

NEW BUSINESS:

Time off Donation request: There was discussion on the process of the Time Off and Leave Donation request. Lening moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to leave the Request as it remains now. Motion carried.

Windmill Saloon Liquor License Renewal: Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the liquor license renewal for the Windmill Saloon. Motion carried.

Brook Williams with the Colorado Extension Office and Tearle Lessenden with Kiowa County Extension Officeentered the meeting to review all the new items of networking for the family consumer. Discussion followed with a final request for the possibility of a pay increase for the Extension Office. No decision was made.

Matthew Albright with SCEDD entered the meeting at 2:20pm to discuss broadband throughout our region. He reported he will continue to advocate for broadband access into all of Kiowa County.

Mr. Albright exited the meeting at 2:45pm.

District 3 Road Foreman and Tim Wolf Road Operator entered the meeting to discuss further the purchase of a tractor and other needed equipment.

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to purchase the Case IH Tractor in 2024. The County will put 20% down in 2023 and pay the remainder in 2024. Motion carried.

Roberson moved and Oswald seconded the motion to purchase a mover for $23,000.00 or less. Motion carried.

Tower Maintenance: Chairman Oswald provided information as to what needed to be done while maintaining the TV tower. The generator will need to be checked more often and made sure it remains in good working condition.

Road Foreman Spady then discussed the road complaint that had been made.

Spady and Wolf exited the meeting at 2:50pm.

Deputy Snover, KCE Manager, Shellie Engelhardt and Undersheriff Marlow entered the meeting to provide information on drones. Snover explained the process and the reasoning as to how a drone could be beneficial for the Sheriff’s Office and KCEM.

No action taken at this time.

At 4:30pm, with no further business to discuss, Oswald moved to adjourn the meeting, Robertson seconded. Motion carried.