BOCC: Public Health Wants to Punish Bad Thinkers
Two Businessmen To Be Booted From
Economic Recovery Committee for DISOBEYING?

by Tracy Ballard

May 20, 2020
The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held their mid-month meeting promptly at 9 a.m. via Conferencecall.com, on Wednesday, May 20th. All three
commissioners were present on the call. Various community members including Meredith Nichols from
Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and Elisa Livengood
Custer County Public Health (CCPH).

There weren’t any amendments to the agenda. Next on the agenda
was approval of the two sets of submitted minutes for March 23
and March 31, 2020. Motion was made to accept by Commissioner
Canda and seconded by Commissioner Printz. Motion passed
unanimously. Additionally, Commissioner Flower gave kudos to
Clerk to the Board, Kelley Camper, for all her hard work in getting
the minutes completed amongst the rather chaotic COVID-19
shutdown.

Commissioner Items
Commissioner Printz reported attending multiple OEM and Economic Recovery meetings, as well
as all Board of Health meetings. Printz also reiterated he has been
working closely with Public Health to make sure he is giving out
good information regarding persons coming into the valley from
other areas. He also reported that he and likely all three commissioners had received a phone call from a
gentleman who is very concerned with the odor emanating from the
wastewater treatment plant. Printz responded to the concerned citizen that there is not a lot that the commissioners can do in the matter as it is “outside our purview.”
Round Mountain Water and Sanitation District has been
working to take care of the problem. On May 12th, he stated that there was a good broadcast via Zoom, on county fairs. Printz stated he is hoping the governor issues “orders” on them very
soon.
Commissioner Flower ran through his calendar and stated he had been attending a lot of meetings as well, including the broadband meeting with the Carmel Group and the towns of Silver Cliff and Westcliffe, attended a Zoom meeting on the Underfunded Courthouse. He also reported attending Economic Recovery Team meetings as well. He has been working diligently” to install the sneeze-guards at the courthouse. Flower
expressed the construction industry is very busy at this time and even though he was “heavily
criticized by the Sentinel ” for taking those jobs away from the industry, he was giving assurance to everyone that they “wanted no part of it.” RFPs were requested and no one responded back with proposals. On May 14th, he attended the Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District (UAWCD) meeting. Flower reported that he took exception to a few items, one of which was a comment made by the UAWCD attorney. He had indicated that the persons being stipulated out of the court case and the people being dismissed were all wanting the same result and all being satisfied.
Flower stated that he spoke up right away and said that “you cannot sit here and tell me that the people who were dismissed from the court case for whatever the reason were dismissed as satisfied opposers.” Most of those dismissed because they didn’t have enough money to fight the lawsuit. Over seven out of 70
opposing the plan were dismissed. The commissioners were “dismissed” out and Flower stated that they were not at all satisfied.
Attorney items:
Clint Smith reported that he had prepared five letters for the Planning and Zoning Office, for persons who have various zoning violations. They had not responded to requests from Planning and Zoning Director Hobby to get them corrected. He had also worked on preparing a letter in response to one they had received from Bob Tobin, Chair of the West Custer County
Hospital District (WCCHD), all in response to the Wetmore
ambulance issue.
Administrative Assistant items: None
Public Comment:
Ms. Livengood brought up that she thought the topic of the Economic Recovery task force and members selected to be on it. She wanted to discuss two of the members that were appointed that they “had discussed not being on it and representing Custer County based on their actions regarding COVID-19.” “I am concerned about Brian Clince and Jack
Canterbury being on it and
representing the county when they have blatantly DISOBEYED public health orders, and flagrantly held meetings and did things against public health orders. I have a problem with them being a representative of the county after those actions.” The matter will be placed on the agenda for May 29th. Ms. Nichols (OEM) briefly spoke on the Order of Command chart and asked for direction from the commissioners. All three commissioners agreed that the new chart looked good and was explained a lot better and gave her direction to proceed. They will be putting out a Facebook post explaining to the public what it is all about.
Unfinished Business: None.
New Business:
Consideration of scale overlay project was the first item. After
a brief discussion, the Board decided to table the matter.
Printz made the motion and Canda seconded the matter.
Motion passed unanimously.
First Reading of Ordinance 20-02 was the next item. The
ordinance was read by County Attorney Clint Smith. The ordinance deals with the model traffic code. It was a request made by Mike Halpin from the Custer County Sheriff’s Office. Currently, the CCSO is working on a version from 2011. The language is coming down from Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). The model traffic code is over 200 pages in length. Anyone that would like to read it all, is welcome to do so. Printz made the motion that they approve the first reading with the addition in section four under penalties, not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment not to
exceed 10 days. Motion was seconded by Canda which moved the matter to further discussion. Printz stated that he will be recommending to the town of Westcliffe that both towns adopt this as well. This would ensure that it is uniform throughout the county. Smith commented that municipalities would have to adopt it separately The motion passed unanimously.
Next item on the agenda was the consideration of the Landfill trench project. The scraper should be available by July 1st. All are hoping that there is a rainy season this year. Flower made a motion that they allow the landfill to move forward with the lease of the scraper and they contract with Rusty Christiansen on the training of the scraper. The motion was seconded by Canda. The motion passed unanimously.
Consideration of a letter to the WCCHD regarding ambulance service to the eastern portion of the county: Canda recommended
that they accept the rough draft of the letter composed by
Attorney Smith. Motion was seconded by Flower. Discussion ensued further and Printz thanked Smith for coming up with the draft to ensure that the eastern part of the county does not have to be a part of the Hospital District. He further stated that there was an agreement with the District that they were going to take care of the residents. He stated he felt it was the District’s responsibility.
Printz is against using any taxpayer money to help fund the project. He is not in favor of any county monies being used at all, further reiterating that it is the Hospital District’s responsibility.
Canda agreed with Printz on the matter. They are requesting that the District provide several possible dates for a joint workshop with the BOCC. The intent behind the letter is “we are asking them to consider the idea of east Custer County forming their own ambulance district and contracting with the Hospital District or anyone else they want to contract with, it would be up to them down there, to decide how they want to move forward with coverage.” The motion carried unanimously to accept the draft letter. It will be sent to Bob Tobin, chair of the WCCHD. Flower made the motion to send the letter and Canda seconded, with all voting in favor unanimously.

Consideration of the Justice Center: Flower stated that part of the discussion during the Underfunded Court Security Commission was a request from Flower to get an extension on the expenditures for the $30,000 grant the county received. Due to the Coronavirus, they did not see a problem granting the request. Other members of the Justice Center Committee agreed that they need to keep the momentum going with regards to a new center. They will be moving forward with the search for a company that can assist them in finding the best way to finance the project. Printz and Canda both agreed the they need to move forward and find a company. After further discussion, they all found it was pertinent that they postpone a vote on whether to accept a proposal from Piper Sandler until all parties have a chance to further digest it. The RFP was received electronically. Flower made a motion that they postpone making a decision until they all had a chance to read it and get more input from Sheriff Byerly and from the “court side”, motion was seconded by Printz, and motion passed unanimously. The board will discuss it further and possibly make a decision during the Friday, May 26th meeting.

Consideration of Resolution 20-10 regarding the Disabled Veteran and Senior Property Tax Exemption: Smith prepared it and it is similar to one that recently passed in Fremont County, CO. The state budget committee made recommendations on where to cut the budget and the exemption was axed on the first $250,000 of property they own and would be temporary. It is the opinion that it would “seriously hurt” these property owners if the exemption is eliminated. The Resolution would be in opposition to that proposal. The vast majority of counties in Colorado are opposed to the proposal and are doing this as well. Canda made the motion to accept the Resolution as written and then seconded by Flower. Motion was unanimously passed. There are also lines for other local county officials to add their signatures as well. It was stated that they were interested in lending their support of opposition as well. The Resolution will go to local representatives and Action 22, so that it makes it to Governor Polis’ desk. Disappointingly, it will also only be submitted to the “newspaper of record,” the Wet Mountain Tribune. (Not only is this unfair to the Sentinel and The Valley Beat, but it leaves hundreds of subscribers that do not subscribe or buy the “Trib” out and unable to read or voice an opinion on the Resolution.)

Members of the Wet Mountain Valley Saddle Club (WMVSC) board were in attendance via conference call, to discuss the status of this year’s rodeo. George Koons, Ron Beckner, and Scott Rowley fielded questions during the 30-minute long discussion. The WMVSC views the rodeo occurring as vital to improving the limping local economy that has been hit hard by the shutdown due to COVID-19. A letter with the goals and safety guidelines were sent to the commissioners for their perusal. The Saddle Club is “moving forward” and plans to hold the rodeo as scheduled, this July. The Board feels strongly that it is vital that the rodeo occur, safely, and will make sure they work with the local Public Health Department to ensure it is done to their standards. They are also asking that people donate to the Saddle Club and also become members. By so doing, it will ensure that the board is able to pay their bills. They feel confident with community support, support from public health, and others, that this rodeo will be successful. They wish to work “hand-in-hand” with community organizations to make it happen. Flower chimed in at the conclusion of Beckner’s presentation with his two-cents “as a commissioner.” He stated, “with all due respect, it is the Saddle Club putting on this rodeo, not public health’s job. Is that correct?” Beckner replied that was correct. Flower continued, “obviously, you are going to look for support wherever you can get it. I just don’t want to set the stage that it is no longer the Saddle Club’s deal, it is county or community-wide sponsored rodeo.” Beckner replied that “that is correct but we as the Saddle Club” feel that all input they receive on how to safely put on the rodeo is something they hope to achieve. The WMVSC will meet on June 15th to discuss whether the rodeo is a definite “go.” The PRCA sent a 27-page document with the [Covid-related] guidelines the WMVSC will need to follow if it is held this year. Canda congratulated the Saddle Club for “standing tall”. He continued, “this is a very significant event that will have significant benefits for all the businesses in town that we can certainly get behind and endorse the activity. It will be a big step forward for the recovery of Custer County, economically, and even from a morale point-of-view.” Beckner commented that they have contacted the Cowboy Channel, which has rights from the PRCA to televise our rodeo. They are also looking at putting up larger screens around town so that persons can view the rodeo without having to be in the stands, while also supporting local businesses. The sum of $20,000 will be needed in escrow for the show to go on. They will need a significant amount more due to the extra safety and sanitation measures that will need to be in place for the event. For more information on how to join the Saddle Club, please visit: www.wmvsc.com. There are multiple membership levels to fit everyone. Due to many rodeos around the country not going forward, this will be very well-attended and a big deal.