Board of County Commissioners of Lincoln County  

Agenda for January 29, 2010

 

 

9:00 Call to order and Pledge of Allegiance

 

10:00 Perry Brewer, acting Extension Agent, Travis Taylor, 4-H Club Program Assistant, and Amy Solomon, Office Manager, to discuss office arrangements

 

10:30 Ron Graton, candidate for House District 63, to introduce himself and discuss issues concerning Lincoln County

 

11:00 Andrew Hauss with Architectural Design & Development LLC to discuss building a restroom facility at the county fairgrounds

 

 

1.      Approve additional expense vouchers if necessary

2.      Approve the minutes from the January 28th meeting

3.      Review a letter from the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment concerning the 2009 financial assurance review of the county landfill

4.      Review a Request for Project Approval for a Community Development Block grant for SpringToo Fibers

5.      Review a letter from Magnolia Minerals Trust LLC requesting to discuss the purchase of all or a part of the county’s mineral interests

6.      Review an interim order to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission concerning changes to emergency 911 services

7.      Review and sign the Impact Assistance Grant application

8.      Review and sign Form 1014-6, Substitution or Waiver of Minimum Requirements for a Public Health Director

9.      Review and sign a lease agreement with Laurel Kubin for the north half of Section 28-T9S-R55W, less a 40 acre tract, where the county landfill is located

10.  Review and sign a letter confirming the retention of Nathan, Bremer, Dumm & Meyers, PC as counsel for Lincoln County on a charge filed with the EEOC

11.  Discuss granting an easement for a 30’ trail road for RES Americas

12.  County Commissioners’ reports

13.  County Administrator’s report

14.  County Attorney’s report

15.  Old business

16.  New business

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Board of Lincoln County Commissioners met at 9:00 a.m. on January 29, 2010.  The following attended:  Chairman Steve Burgess, Commissioners Gary Beedy and Ted Lyons, County Administrator Roxie Devers and Clerk to the Board Corinne M. Lengel.  County Attorney Stan Kimble attended in the afternoon.

 

Chairman Burgess called the meeting to order and after saying the Pledge of Allegiance, Mr. Beedy made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 28, 2010 meeting, as submitted.  Mr. Lyons seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

The Board then reviewed a letter from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment concerning the 2009 financial assurance review of the county landfill, a Request for Project Approval for a Community Development Block grant for SpringToo Fibers, a letter from Magnolia Minerals Trust, LLC requesting to discuss the purchase of all, or a part of, the county’s mineral interests, and an interim order to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission concerning changes to emergency 911 services.

 

After review, Mr. Beedy made a motion to sign the Impact Assistance Grant application.  Mr. Lyons seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

As for Form 1014-6; Substitution or Waiver of Minimum Requirements for a Public Health Director, Ms. Devers said that Marti Wooton does not have a Master’s degree, but does have a Bachelor’s degree, and the waiver should be acceptable based on her experience, as it was for Tonda Scott.  Mr. Lyons made a motion to sign Form 1014-6; Substitution or Waiver of Minimum Requirements for a Public Health Director.  Mr. Beedy seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

The annual lease agreement with Laurel Kubin for the north half of Section 28-T9S-R55W, less a forty-acre tract where the county landfill is located, was reviewed and Mr. Burgess commented that Sheriff Tom Nestor was interested in a portion of county-owned land that his department might be able to build a firing range on.  Further discussion was tabled until the Board could speak with the sheriff.

 

A letter confirming the retention of Nathan, Bremer, Dumm & Meyers, PC, as counsel for Lincoln County on a charge filed with the EEOC, was reviewed and Mr. Lyons made a motion to sign the letter.  Mr. Beedy seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

The Board chose to wait until Mr. Kimble arrived before discussing granting an easement for a thirty foot trail road for RES Americas.

 

Mr. Burgess called for commissioner reports and Mr. Lyons reported attending the hospital board meeting the previous evening.  LCH was designated by the 18th Judicial District as the regional medical facility to handle the SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) and SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) programs.  Apparently, there are several nurses at the hospital interested in training in the program and the 18th Judicial District will fund and support their efforts.

 

Mr. Beedy had received an e-mail from Patricia Vice with the Lincoln County Economic Development Corporation informing him that Lincoln County was chosen to host the 2010 Entrepreneurship MarketPlace in October.

 

Mr. Burgess reported that he had done some internet searching for vehicles for the coroner, but hadn’t found anything worth pursuing.  Mr. Beedy suggested they try to stay in the ten-to-twelve thousand dollar range for the vehicle itself, so that they did not go over the fifteen thousand budgeted when the light system and topper were added.

 

Ms. Devers had nothing to report but did ask if the county would be applying for Transportation Enhancement funding for the pedestrian crossing at the railroad tracks in Hugo.  Mr. Beedy said he had hoped to hear back from U.P. as to whether or not there was a designated crossing there, but felt that the county should add its name to the list in the interim.  He added that he would try to speak to Travis Miller with CDOT.

 

Mr. Burgess said he’d checked on year-end fuel usage at both the Genoa and Karval shops, and the figures for Genoa were off by about one hundred gallons and Karval’s was a little higher, at two hundred and sixty-three gallons.  He added that Don Morrison has a bucket that will help make sure the gas pump is calibrated correctly, and Chris Monks will test the pump at the Hugo shop with it.

 

At 10:00 a.m., acting Extension Agent Perry Brewer, 4-H Club Program Assistant Travis Taylor, and Office Manager Amy Solomon met with the Board to discuss office arrangements.  Discussion ensued regarding who would take which office, whether or not an MOU or other paperwork needed to be signed between the county and CSU, the fact that Travis would be considered the county’s employee so would adhere to county policies and procedures, and designated chain of command.  Mr. Beedy advised that Mr. Brewer would be in charge until a director was hired, Mr. Taylor would answer to him, and then Ms. Solomon would answer to both Mr. Brewer and Mr. Taylor.  Mr. Brewer commented that he liked to run things as an operation where everyone worked together.

 

Mr. Taylor said that having the position county-funded but CSU backed might present a challenge, but Mr. Brewer told him that his priority focus and responsibility would be to make the Lincoln County 4-H Program a success.

 

There was also discussion about who would have the background check done on Mr. Taylor, as it was imperative that one be completed since he would be attending youth conferences and working with young people, and Mr. Brewer said that he assumed CSU would order a background check, but if not, the county could initiate their process.

 

The Board agreed to obtain a county credit card for Mr. Taylor with a one thousand dollar credit limit and when Mr. Taylor asked about cell phone usage, Mr. Beedy told him most employees choose to use their personal cell phones.

 

At 10:30 a.m., Ron Graton, candidate for House District 63, met with the Board to introduce himself and discuss issues pertaining to Lincoln County.  Mr. Graton said he was very interested in the coordination effort that the county is working on and said he would like for other counties to become involved in coordination in order to restore more local control.  His two main campaign issues are unfunded mandates and lack of representation, and he asked if the commissioners had any concerns or major issues that they would like to see addressed.  Mr. Burgess felt that constitutional amendments are out of control and discussed the proposed amendments for this year that could possibly destroy county government if they pass, and Mr. Beedy asked for Mr. Graton’s views on transportation issues.

 

Mr. Beedy told Mr. Graton that the commissioners are meeting all candidates and therefore not offering support of any particular candidate at this time.

 

At 11:00 a.m., Andrew Hauss with Architectural Design & Development, LLC met with the Board to discuss building a restroom facility at the county fairgrounds.  Mike Mosher was present for the conversation.  Several specifications were discussed; including, whether or not to include showers (all agreed that two showers, not gender specific, with separate entrances would be best); what the structure would be made of: block walls, a concrete floor and a metal roof; an area that could be used for heat if it should ever be needed; and a building that is low maintenance.  Mr. Mosher wanted to be able to winterize the building; disinfect it and drain it without any problems, and it was also decided that automatic fixtures, vandal resistant sinks and toilets, and overhangs above the outside doors would be best.  Mr. Hauss said he would put together a proposal and submit it to the Board within a week or so.

 

Mr. Burgess asked Mr. Mosher if he had any other issues to discuss and Mike said that the tractor has been leaking hydraulic fluid.  Since it has also been used by the landfill employees, Mr. Burgess said that if they need to make any repairs, they will take some of the cost from the landfill budget.

 

When the meeting re-convened after lunch, Mr. Burgess asked for the county attorney’s report.  Mr. Kimble addressed the letter confirming retention of Nathan, Bremer, Dumm & Meyers PC, commenting that if the Civil Rights Division looks at the claim and finds no truth to it, they will discard it.  However, they will inform the client that he does have the right to seek private counsel at that time.

 

Mr. Kimble also said he’d received the Intergovernmental Agreement to lease space on the TV towers in Kit Carson County and it appeared to be in order.  Mr. Beedy made a motion to sign the IGA between Kit Carson County and Lincoln County for leased space on the Smiley Tower.  Mr. Lyons seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

Sheriff Nestor stopped in to discuss his request for land to develop a firing range, stating that he must have his officers qualify with their firearms on a quarterly basis, and the range in Limon is difficult to get into as all law enforcement officers in the area utilize it.  Not only that, but it is not in the best of shape anymore.  He will be sending a couple of officers to range school so that they can become certified as range instructors and he would be happy to have a hundred yard dirt range somewhere if at all possible.  Using about ten acres of the forty acres that the county maintains from the Kubin lease was discussed and Ms. Devers said she would contact the insurance carrier to see if they would allow a shooting range in such close proximity to the county landfill.  The Board also felt the lease needed to have verbiage added that would allow the county a thirty-day option out of the lease and Mr. Burgess asked Mr. Kimble if he would add the proper terminology. 

 

Sheriff Nestor said the X-ray machine at the courthouse entrance seems to be working quite well, but commented that there is a $400 inspection fee of the machine every two years.  He wanted to know which department should pay the fee and the Board told him to add it to his budget in two years but to go ahead and pay for it this year, even if it means being slightly over budget at the end of the year.

 

The Board discussed granting an easement for a thirty foot trail road for RES Americas and Mr. Burgess told Mr. Kimble that Doug Blackwelder would like to put in a trail along the county line and wanted to know if that was acceptable.  He asked Mr. Kimble to write a letter to Mr. Blackwelder allowing him to use the county right-of-way for a trail but reserving the county’s right to build a road at a later date if they felt it was necessary.

 

Mr. Burgess had received a phone call from Tom Anderson with Anderson Motors, who had found a 2005 Chevrolet pick-up with fifty-seven thousand miles on it that he could sell for $8,500.  Mr. Burgess asked if they wanted to purchase the vehicle for the coroner, so a call was placed to Jennifer Nestor to ask if that would be acceptable, which it was.

 

Mr. Beedy made a motion to purchase a 2005 Chevrolet, two-wheel drive pick-up from Anderson Motors for $8,500 to be used by the County Coroner.  Mr. Lyons seconded the motion, which carried unanimously.

 

Mr. Burgess called for any other new business and Ms. Lengel said she wanted the Board to be aware that she would be attempting to hold a mail ballot primary election this year in order to save money.  New state law and Secretary of State rules require that a ten-day public comment period be offered prior to the clerk making that decision, and Ms. Lengel said that time was rapidly approaching, as statute designates that a mail ballot plan be submitted to the Secretary of State no later than one hundred and twenty days prior to the primary election.

 

The question was asked as to whether or not Mr. Kimble would be able to help with the seventy cent surcharge and sales tax that is collected from all Verizon customers now going to Elbert County again, and Mr. Beedy also informed Mr. Kimble about the Karval shop’s attempt to acquire another 3.5 acres to expand the shop.  He asked if Mr. Kimble would be able to draw up the deed and proper paperwork once the surveys were done, and Mr. Kimble said that he could.

 

With no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Burgess adjourned the meeting until 9:00 a.m. on February 8, 2010.

 

 

 

 

_________________________________________             ______________________________

                    Corinne M. Lengel, Clerk to the Board                                 Steve Burgess, Chairman