BOCC: Official Stance on Logo,
Aught Six Ranch Committed to Airport
Revamp, Fairgrounds Grant Application,
Landfill Rate,  Prairie Dog Woes

Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)

—October 24, 2018

Wetmore, CO

The meeting started at 9 a.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call.  Introductions of the public followed.

The minutes for September 28, October 2, and October 3 were approved unanimously.

Commissioner items

All three commissioners listed meetings they had attended. Commissioner Canda also reported testifying before the PUC regarding the Century Link issues in Wetmore. The Board then signed a letter of support for Sol Vista and the Department of Human Services. A certificate of recognition was given to Meredith Nichols for completion of her Emergency Management Academy.

Attorney Items

Attorney Smith has been working on a legal issue for the Sheriff, ongoing issues with compliance for the Planning and Zoning office, and reported continuing threats but no actions from a local citizen. He recommended an executive session to be held on the 31st for a personnel matter.

Jackie Hobby from the Planning and Zoning office brought a number of noncompliance issues before the Board. Many of these issues have been ongoing for some time and will result in cease-and-desist orders. The Commissioners will have a special hearing on November 1st after the BOCC meeting regarding revocation of the special use permit for Bumblebee Storage. A certificate of appreciation for Chris Nordyke was signed for his service on the Planning Commission. Mike Shields has taken his place on the Board.

The issue of Air B and B’s and glamping (glamour camping) were discussed with regards to septic systems, and taxes. No action was taken.

The San Isabel Land Trust presented their Bluff Project and requested support for the GOCO grant, which would involve the Board of County Commissioners having oversight of the project. Because the Board members had not had time to read through the documentation, this item was postponed until the October 31st meeting.

Peggi Collins, owner of 96 Roadhouse was appointed to the tourism board.

Nan Davenport, from the Wetmore library, came before the Board to clarify her budgeting requests.

The Board discussed pest eradication on County property. Originally, the town of Westcliffe, Silver Cliff, the County and the Haga family were considering a joint effort to eradicate prairie dogs. Commissioner Flower reported calls from private citizens not wanting the county to push the prairie dogs onto private property. Silver Cliff, at this point, is not inclined to do it so the project will likely not be done.

After concerns arose during the budget hearings that Dawna Hobby, Finance Director, had no backup, especially for payroll, Brenda Gaide will spend more of her time learning the system. Ms. Gaide was originally hired to work part-time as the administrative assistant to the Board of County Commissioners and part-time helping in the Finance Department.

After lengthy discussion with Rusty Christensen, from the landfill, the Board voted to raise the commercial fees at the landfill to $9.30 a cubic yard across the board. Oak Disposal has had a special fee of $8.30 since its inception. Christiansen thought, when it first got going, the special rate was giving to them to help them get started. The Board agreed that subsidizing any trash business was inappropriate. It was also suggested that another disposal company may be starting soon in our area. Note: since we are not a regional landfill but a local landfill, trash coming from out of county is charged double.

The Commissioner signed an MOU between DOLA, UC Denver, and the Fair Board which involves a grant for $5,750 to write a strategic plan for fairground’s capital improvement.

Charles Bogle of the CCEDC provided a copy of the blueprint 2.0 grant verifying that his corporation is the sole owner of the controversial logo/brand that has caused such an uproar.

Work is ongoing to revamp the process for creating the strategic plan, the product of the REDI grant. Originally, the CCEDC had posted a survey and was moving forward on the strategic plan without any input from the commissioners. Since county dollars helped fund this grant, the commissioners have pulled back what was previously done and are moving forward in a way that better represents the entire county.

Commissioner Canda reported that he has in hand a letter from Aught Six Ranch verifying that they will be paying for everything that they said they would in the airport revamp. This is a million-dollar program and the ranch has also committed to providing half of any matching funds needed for future grants for the airport.

The meeting adjourned at 12:10 PM.