Board of County
Commissioners (BOCC)
—December 18, 2019
WESTCLIFFE, Colo.
by Jackie (Muddy) Bubis
The meeting started with the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call. Introductions of the public followed.
The minutes for November 27th, December 5th and 6th were approved.
Commissioner Items:
Commissioner Canda reported that CenturyLink is looking at options for extending fiber down to McKenzie Junction to include grant application. The meeting with Sallie Clark from USDA Rural Development went well and Mr. Canda was pleasantly surprised at all the programs available for small rural communities.
Commissioner Printz attended the Tourism Board meeting, an EMS meeting, the Sallie Clark meeting, a Beckwith Ranch meeting, and met with Westcliffe Planning and Zoning to discuss short-term vacation rentals. His EMS meeting was with Board member Janny Candelaria, Director Lisa Drew and two ambulance personnel. He stated that Ms. Candelaria would be asking her board to continue first call response out of district through 2020 as long as there is progress being made toward a solution. Mr. Printz recommended that the BOCC and the Clinic have a workshop with the residents affected by this issue to see how they would like to solve it. He also reported that Ms. Drew stated in that meeting that there were more agreements that refer back to the 1989 contract and that she would be providing the documents to the BOCC. Since this issue surfaced, the BOCC has not had any documentation that negated the 1989 contract. This contract apparently obligates the hospital district to cover the entire county for emergency service.
The Board unanimously supported writing a letter for SolVista in their efforts to seek funds under HB19-1287 which concerns methods and funding to increase access in underserved communities to treatment for behavioral health disorders.
Chairman Flower razzed Mr. Canda for winning the Trump Rifle Raffle at the GOP Christmas dinner. He spoke with the Sheriff’s Office regarding their pay schedule due to increased workload caused by the dispatch being outsourced. (The dispatchers worked on paperwork when they weren’t actively dispatching.) The lights in the courthouse parking lot are now installed. The remodel work in the DHS office is close to completion. And the equipment has been ordered to mic up the commissioner room.
Bob Senderhauf, former Chairman of the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District asked if the BOCC was planning on creating their own water augmentation plan. He referred back to the water augmentation meeting held months ago at the Rancher’s Roost. Mr. Flower said there was nothing on the radar at the moment. Mr. Printz stated that the local water users had a preferred plan and Mr. Canda stated that these local users are working with the Blue Line Committee at Upper Ark. Mr. Senderhauf cautioned that putting together a water augmentation plan was very costly and estimated that it could take 3-5 years and cost in the $3-5M range. Attorney Smith noted that the BOCC has no statutory authority in water matters.
Attorney Items:
Mr. Smith reported that the sale of the 12 lots in Silver Cliff has closed. The next step is to plan the development on these lots. He worked with the Road and Bridge road boss regarding a personnel issue. He’s also working with Jackie Hobby on non-compliance issues. He reviewed the sick pay bank document. He announced his 40th wedding anniversary.
New Business:
The Board considered the transfer of $8K from AT&T Revenue to the Capital Improvement account, specifically earmarked for the justice center fund. This item was postponed to the December 31th meeting due to lack of paperwork.
Cuerno Verde Homeowners Association President,Vince Dougan, and a number of residents came before the Board with the issue of road maintenance that was introduced at a BOCC meeting a month or so ago. The Board told them that if the HOA brought the non-maintained road up to standard, they would likely (no commitment) add those roads to the maintenance list. Mr. Dougan would like the list of county maintained roads in Cuerno Verde to be put into the official record. The Board agreed but wanted Gary Hyde present for that listing. Clerk Kelley Camper reported that, after research, there is nothing on the books regarding those roads that were accepted in the past. This is normally done via resolution.
The WMV Saddle Club requested the sponsorship by the county for the professional rodeo coming this summer. Their main contention was that this caliber of rodeo will bring in even more tourism dollars to the area. There was a long discussion about this. Mr. Flower stated he would recuse himself if this came to a vote since he’s very involved in the Saddle Club. Attorney Smith asked what the statutory authority and precedent is for donating funds to the rodeo. Mr. Printz said he had a really hard time saying it is proper use of taxpayer money. Mr. Flower disagreed, stating that once they budget money for the community outreach fund, it was no longer taxpayer dollars and that the Board could do with that money whatever they chose to do. The item was postponed until the December 31st meeting and asked the WMV
Saddle Club, boardmember, Ron Beckner, to find out what other counties sponsored the local rodeo and their rationale for doing so.
Cuerno Verde President Dougan again came before the Board to ask the county to help financially with paying for the Engine 32 at the Blizzardine Station. This fire truck was leased from a Centennial Ranch citizen two years ago. Apparently the lease was done with the understanding that the four HOA’s in the area – Cuerno Verde, Centennial Ranch, Timber Ridge and Silver West – would figure out a way to pay for the truck. The county offered to house the truck at the airport free of charge.
Mr. Dougan was quite animated in his disparagement of the fire department – stating that he believes they are violating their service plan and that no other HOA has ever had to buy their own truck. (See article in December 20th issue – front page.) He called the fire department’s threats to remove the truck extortion. Mr. Printz – after stating yet again that the BOCC’s job is to protect people – expressed his willingness to support helping the HOA’s with the “ransom demand”, and stated “we have a right to help our citizens.” (Note: people have rights – governments do not.)
A motion was made to help the HOA to the tune of $3,200 if the HOA’s came up with their share of the funds – $12,800. When the vote was taken, Mr. Printz voted yes and Mr. Flower and Mr. Canda voted no. Mr. Flower explained his vote by saying there was a “clearer way we need to do this.” Mr. Flower called an end to the discussion saying “let us work our process a little more” and “let us consult with counsel.” In the meantime, Mr. Dougan is writing the governor, the attorney general, DOLA, and his representative demanding an investigation, stating that this action by the fire department is extortion and illegal. (Note: there were no representatives of the fire department present to defend themselves.)
The Board approved the Alpine Lodge liquor license and asked Mr. Smith to create a draft resolution regarding the establishment of a sick leave bank.