The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on October 24, 2024; at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. Lening opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.

• Donald Oswald, Chairman 
• Howard "Butch" Robertson 
• 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 10, 2024. Motion carried. 

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

Agenda: Oswald moved to approve the agenda as amended. Robertson seconded the motion. Motion carried. 

Members of the Audience: Kiowa County Treasurer, Diana Flory and Ronny Farmer by (ZOOM). 

Audit Report: Ronnie Farmer, County Auditor who attended (ZOOM) entered the meeting to discuss the audit. Farmer reported that the County is doing very well overall. He discussed different line items and made suggestions as to ways of saving money. 

Farmer did agree to be the Auditor for the 2024 audit. 

Farmer thanked the BOCC for their time and ended the call. 

Violet Sneyd entered the meeting as a concerned citizen to discuss a homeless person that has moved into our area. Sneyd said the homeless person has been traveling county road 49 with a shopping cart. People have offered assistance to the person but he has denied any help. Sneyd explained how the party has been hanging outside of the Dollar General entrance and she feels it has become a safety issue for her employees at Dollar General. Sneyd went onto explain that law enforcement had been called and they did come to the store. Her concern is that now that law enforcement is down two employees the waiting time for assistance is becoming greater. Sneyd said she feels law enforcement should either get a raise or offer more money at the time of their interview. 

She thanked the BOCC for taking the time to listen to her frustrations over the homeless person/people coming into Kiowa County. 

Members of the public entering the meeting:

• Beth Bell, CEO 
• Shannon Dixon, CFO 
• Doug Uhland, member of the Hospital Board 
• Karl Eikenberg, member of the Hospital Board 
• Bryan Mattuski, Ambulance Coordinator 
• Brandon Chambers, RETAC of Southern Colorado 

Hospital/Ambulance: Beth Bell, CEO of the Kiowa County Hospital spoke in regards to the hospital agreement and the ambulance service. She suggested the County and the Hospital to schedule a work session, in hopes of coming up with a better understanding of the ambulance service. She provided information as to how many ambulance calls were responded to over the last year and how they are in need of another ambulance. She emphasized that she does not have the EMT man power to run the ambulance effectively. She explained the hospital does not have enough funding for staff salaries to pay the EMT's for their assistance. 

Mr. Mattuski, Kiowa County Ambulance Director; explained that the 1994 box­style ambulance needs to be replaced with another box style rig. Mattuski explained the box style rig is better equipped and built so the EMT's can work from both sides of the patient instead of just one side. 

Bell asked the BOCC if they would consider purchasing a newer ambulance with the money coming from the impact fees. Brandon Chambers with Southeast Retac had reviewed the Ambulance Budget that Bell had prepared and he said there were some grants that the Hospital could apply for. 

Chambers also discussed the ambulance service becoming a special district of its own. 

The BOCC thanked the hospital for coming in and they would discuss the different options presented. 

Everyone from the hospital exited the meeting at 11:30 a.m. 

OLD BUSINESS: 

Grants: Adamson will contact Brandon Hoffman, operator of 719 Metal Works in regard to the railing on the west side of the courthouse. This railing is being paid for through the Underfunded Courthouse Grant, which is funded by the State Judicial Department. 

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

Landfill /Recycling Updates: Jeff Scranton, Landfill Foreman entered the meeting to discuss the status of the repair work being done on the compactor.

The BOCC will review the landfill budget with Scranton in the near future. 

P & Z Update: 

NEW BUSINESS: 

Meeting and reports were reviewed and signed. 

Time off Requests: Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the two-time off requests. Motion carried. 

Board Resignation: Polly Gyurman had sent a letter of resignation regarding her position on the West End Recreation District. Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to accept the resignation. The BOCC would like to thank Ms. Gyurman for her years of service on the West End Recreation District. 

Record Retention Policy: After reviewing the new Record Retention Policy, Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the Record Retention Policy. Motion carried. 

Fraud Policy: Robertson moved and Lening seconded the motion to approve the revisions to the Fraud Policy as presented. Motion carried. 

Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Otero County 911 Authority and Kiowa County 911 Authority. Motion carried. 

Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the IGA for the Dispatch Services from Rocky Ford Emergency Communications Center (RFECC). Motion carried. 

Audit Letter: Lening moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve Ronnie Farmer for the 2024 Audit. Motion carried. 

EOP: Emergency Operation Plan: Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to sign the Emergency Operation Plan for 2024. Motion carried. 

The next regular meeting will be held November 14, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. 

Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded to adjourn the regular meeting and move into executive session at 3:34 p.m. Motion carried. 

Executive session was in regard to an Attorney Consultation and personnel issues. 

Oswald moved and Robertson seconded the motion to move out of executive session at 5:10 p.m.