Kiowa County Commissioners meeting minutes - September 26, 2024
Kiowa County Courthouse in Eads, Colorado. © Chris Sorensen
The Regular meeting of the Kiowa County Commissioners was called to order on September 26, 2024; at 9:00 a.m. by Chairman Donald Oswald. Oswald opened the meeting with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Those in Attendance were:
- Donald Oswald, Chairman
- Howard “Butch” Robertson
- Mike Lening, Commissioner
- Delisa Weeks. County Clerk
- Tina Adamson, County Administrator
- Members of the audience: Patrick Breslin, Invenergy
Minutes: Robertson moved, and Lening seconded the motion to approve September 10, 2024; minutes as presented. Motion carried.
Vouchers: Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the vouchers as presented. Motion carried.
Agenda: Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve the amended agenda with one addition, being the CCI Legislative Designee. Motion carried.
Jacob Marlow and Sheriff Williams entered the meeting at 9:55 a.m. to discuss insurance for inmates. Discussion ensued. Adamson will do some research and find out what kind of coverage the insurance would provide and what the cost would be.
Williams also discussed the Dodge Charger that has been wrecked. There has been some interest from the public in buying the Dodge Charger. After further discussion the Sheriff said he would like to keep this vehicle for parts, the BOCC agreed not to sell the Charger.
Undersheriff Marlow reported that Otero County will be here on October 10, 2024, to discuss a new 911 dispatch center.
Williams asked about the canine and kennel that Sergeant Snover has been training and using. It was agreed that the dog could go with Snover and if Kiowa County is ever in need of a drug dog the County would be able to get their assistance. Lening moved to approve the canine to go with Snover and Robertson seconded the motion. Motion carried. The total for the supplies and kennel will be sold to the other agency for $600.00.
Sheriff Williams and Undersheriff Marlow exited the meeting at 10:35 a.m.
OLD BUSINESS:
Grant Updates: The mini grant for the roof of the grandstands was completed. All grant projects at the fairgrounds have been completed for the year.
Adamson emailed CDOT to check on the status of the grant for the Transit Building/ Coroner’s Office that will be constructed. Adamson had 2 line items that needed to be addressed and now we are waiting on the award letter from CDOT.
Lening will be attending a ZOOM meeting on October 17, 2024 in regard to a two million dollar Hazardous Mitigation Grant. Some of the funds from this grant can be used for training a building inspector and the salary position for this inspector.
Landfill/Recycling Update: Colby Turner with TC Crushing contacted the Admin Office in regard to crushing concrete at the landfill site. He said he would charge $10.00 to 15.00 per ton to crush. Tina will be contacting the custom rock crushing business from Kansas to see if they are comparable to TC Crushing. The County may be using the crushed concrete for their own use on roads or in the landfill for alternative daily cover.
P & Z Update: Adamson received a call from a construction company that will be conducting a load hall study for the Towner East Projects. Adamson explained that this company will bore some holes in the county road which will test the level of compaction the road can withhold. This will allow the construction company to figure out what is required to keep the county road route safe for the traveling public and for the oversized loads hauling equipment for the Projects. Adamson has completed a Right of Way Permit which the BOCC needs to approve before the construction company can begin the testing.
Patrick Breslin, with Invenergy, said they had filed the paperwork to the PUC for the Towner East Project.
Lening questioned what will happen next in the PUC process to regulate energy development in regards to tribal nations and sites. Lening feels that Kiowa County should get in contact with the PUC and let them hear our side of the story. He understands the Public Utility Commission has met with the Indian Tribes and had discussion with them in regard to the view shed and other concerns they have in regard to the Project. Breslin explained that Invenergy has been working with the tribes and trying to meet what requirements they need to get things settled.
Breslin exited the meeting at 11:50 a.m.
Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion to recess the regular meeting for lunch at 12:06 p.m. Motion carried. The regular meeting reconvened at 1:10 p.m.
Road & Bridge Update: The Road & Bridge would like to trade in the Massey Tractor that is used for mowing. Adamson told the two road foremen to get pricing on a new tractor and the BOCC will discuss further at budget time.
R & B would like to sell or trade-in all the dump trucks and get new ones. There was lengthy discussion no action taken. Estimates will be obtained for 2025 budget discussion.
Oswald moved, and Lening seconded to purchase a Buster 2.0 Arena Drag Groomer to be used as a ripper at the fairgrounds/arena. Motion carried. The total purchase price for the drag is $5,400.00.
Fair Update: Discussion ensued over the type of curtain that could be used at the pavilion. The fair board has been using semi-trucks and parking them on the west side of the pavilion to help protect the animals through all the different weather elements. There will be further discussion on the purchase of a curtain at budget time.
Administrator Adamson had reports for the total payout for the horse races which was $23,900.00, with 14 people being paid out. The two Calcutta’s brought in about $3,000.00 each.
The attendance was down overall for the fair compared to last year with approximately 800 attending on Friday and just over 1000 attending on Saturday.
Election Update: Resolutions were presented for each tax question the County has put on the 2024 General Election Ballot.
Sales/ Use Tax: It will propose a 1.5 percent countywide Sales and Use Tax. Lening moved and Oswald seconded to sign Resolution NO 2024-06. Motion carried.
Resolution 2024-07: Robertson moved to approve the 1 percent Lodging Tax question. Roll was taken: Robertson – Yes, Lening – Yes and Oswald – Yes. Motion carried.
There will be Public Meetings held October 8th in Haswell, October 10th in Eads and October 15th in Plainview for the two county ballot issues. The BOCC invites everyone to the informational meetings.
Audit Update: Administrator Adamson reported that until the Audit is completed the State will notify the County Treasurer to hold all funds that are to be dispersed to the County’s General fund until the audit is filed. Adamson said she would have the Audit completed in the near future.
NEW BUSINESS:
Upcoming meetings and Reports were acknowledged and signed.
Time off Request Form: Lening moved, and Oswald seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Leave Donation Request: Lening moved, and Oswald seconded the motion to approve the Leave Donation Request. Motion carried.
CTSI 2025 Employer Options: Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded to approve the CTSI 2025 Employer Options. Motion carried.
Intrafi Banking Options: Sean Lening and Glenn Martin provided information regarding a program through Intrafi for depositing funds into two different programs to guarantee FDIC insured coverage and better tracking of the funds. Funds deposited into ICS would allow the county to always have immediate access to the funds. The other option would be through CEDARs which would be less assessable but possibly a better return. The Treasurer and Commissioners will review this option with them at their next meeting.
Robertson moved and Lening seconded to approve the permitting fees for the Load Hall study that will be done on County Road 78 in Kiowa County. Roll call was taken. Robertson – Yes, Lening – Yes and Oswald – Yes. Motion carried.
BOH Training: There will be a Board of Health Training on October 17, 2024; for the three Commissioners to attend.
2024 Health Colorado Inc. HIT Expansion Grant Attestation: Lening moved and Robertson seconded, to approve signing the HCI HIT Grant Closeout Attestation for Lisa Thomas. Motion carried. Lisa Thomas is the Collaborative Management Coordinator for Kiowa County. She assists in children programs for those at risk.
RETAC Board Appointment: Lening moved and Robertson seconded the motion to approve Bryan Mattuski to the RETAC Board. Mr. Mattuski is the current Emergency Services Coordinator through the hospital.
CCI Legislative member designee: Oswald moved, and Robertson seconded the motion to approve Mike Lening as the Designee CCI Legislative member. Motion carried.
The next meeting will be October 10, 2024; at 9:00 a.m.
With no other business to be addressed, Oswald moved and Lening seconded the motion at 4:03 p.m. Motion carried.
Delisa Weeks, County Clerk
Donald Oswald, Chairman
