The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on November 14, 2024; at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. Oswald opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

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

Minutes: Robertson moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the minutes of October 24, 2024. Motion carried. 

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

Agenda: Oswald moved to approve the agenda as presented. Lening 

seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

Members of the Audience: Kiowa County Treasurer, Diana Flory entered the meeting at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the investment of funds with lntrafi and confirm the account being invested by the Treasurer. Oswald moved to approve the change of the one account to another impact fee account leaving the amount the same at $200,000.00. Lening seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

Treasurer Flory thanked the BOCC and exited at 9:40 a.m. 

Sheriff Williams and Undersheriff Marlow entered the meeting to discuss the Budget. 

Marlow discussed the 911 funding that is being sent to Bent County. Oswald explained we will have to pay Bent County through December 2024. There is a contract that has been signed and we are obligated to pay. Marlow questioned if the BOCC was going to meet with Bent County Commissioners regarding the change in service to discuss the equipment that belongs to Kiowa County and needs to be removed. Oswald said there would be discussions in the near future. 

Williams and Marlow exited the meeting at 10:00 a.m. 

OLD BUSINESS: 

Transit Grant: Administrator Adamson will prepare a preliminary budget for the COOT Grant. 

Underfunded Courthouse Grant: Adamson reported the east sidewalk of the courthouse, and the sealing of the parking lot is scheduled for upgrades in 2025. 

Chairman Oswald questioned the third quarter report for the courthouse grant. Adamson had responded and filed the report.

Administrative Assistant Adame is making progress on researching for two transit vehicles that the county was approved for on the FASTER Grant. 

Landfill/Recycling Update: The weather has been causing issues regarding the transfer of recyclables from the landfill. 

Housing: The BOCC is very concerned about the Cactus Drive housing project. There is no sign of activity taking place. Stephanie Gonzales, with Southeast Colorado Economic Development has also met with the contractors and discussed the lack of production taking place. SECED will work to hire a new contractor for the project since the current one has filed for bankruptcy and has not completed his obligation 

Planning & Zoning Update: Adamson and Darla Scranton, Attorney for the 1041 permitting for Kiowa County will be meeting with Excel next week to discuss amendment of their permits. 

Towner Project: lnvenergy would like to meet with Excel and the BOCC regarding the impact fee 106 Action and to discuss the roadway usage agreement. 

NEW BUSINESS: 

Meetings and reports were reviewed and approved. 

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

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

Pearson requested approval from the BOCC to use TANF Funds to assist the Kiowa County Library in paying three bills. Pearson had spoken with some of the Library Board members and they had confirmed that the county library had a very tight budget. After further discussion Director Pearson said he would speak to the BOCC in regards to the utility bills and using TANF Funds to pay them. 

Oswald moved, to use the TANF Funds to pay the bills totaling $3,192.61. Lening seconded and motion carried. Checks will be issued to Eastern Slope Rural Telephone, Integrated Library System and the Library for the 2024 summer reading program. 

Pearson presented an Inter- governmental agreement with Baca County. Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Pearson reported the County has 4 children in custody that we are now paying for foster care. Pearson reported the Child Welfare has been staying very busy. 

Pearson exited the meeting at 1:35 p.m. 

APHIS Agreement: Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to sign the APHIS Agreement. Motion carried.

Budget: Sheriff Williams and Undersheriff Marlow entered the meeting to review the Sheriff's Office Budget. Discussion ensued. Williams reported that he had hired one more deputy and he will be starting in the very near future. 

The BOCC will review the Sheriff's Office budget further and will be reviewing the salaries for the deputies. Sheriff Williams and Undersheriff Marlow exited the meeting. 

The Road and Bridge Foremen entered the meeting to review the 2025 budget. Both foremen agreed that the trucks are worn out and suggested that the BOCC look into purchasing some newer dump trucks. The Road Foremen exited the meeting at 2:45 p.m. 

The BOCC discussed salaries for the 2025 year. The BOCC agreed to give increase amount to an approximate 8.5% pay increase. 

3:00 p.m.-Hospital: Pam Cole, Hospital Board member, Shannon Dixon, CFO of the Hospital and Beth Bell, CEO of the Hospital entered the regular meeting; to further discuss the needs the hospital would like to address. 

Bell reviewed the estimated 2025 budget with the BOCC. Several questions were asked and discussed. Bell spoke of the age of the ambulances and how it is catching up with them. They now have two ambulances down so this is a big issue. She explained if the project does go through on the east end of the county it will be imperative that there be an operational ambulance at all times. 

She said at this time it is very hard to find EMT's/Drivers that are available for 24 hour coverage. Bell feels that one of the top priorities to be addressed is to have the ability to pay these EMT's/Drivers. Bell said the hospital cannot pay these people what they should be making as EMT's. 

Bell talked further about the possibility of the ambulance service becoming a Special District of its own. Bell would like the BOCC to be involved with support of the ambulance service and how it will be funded. 

Lening agreed that this is a concern for the BOCC and it definitely needs to be addressed. Bell, Lessenden and Cole exited the meeting at 4:00 p.m. 

The next regular meeting will be November 26, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. 

With no further items to discuss, Oswald moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:20 p.m. Lening seconded, motion carried.