BOCC Minutes May 26, 2026

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

May 26, 2026

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday May 26, 2026, at the Montezuma County Administration building in Cortez, Colorado, there were present:

Jim Candelaria, Chairman

Kent Lindsay, Vice Chairman

Gerald Koppenhafer, Commissioner of Deeds

Travis Anderson, County Administrator

Stephen Tarnowski, County Attorney, Absent

Kim Percell, County Clerk

CHAIRMAN CANDELARIA opened the meeting of May 26, 2026 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

BOARD of EQUALIZATION:

ABATEMENT: It being the time set aside for the DRFR LLC. Abatement hearing on property located at TBD Hwy. 145, Dolores Co. 81323.  The proceedings were recorded for the record.  Attorney for the petitioner Herb McHarg joined the hearing by Zoom.  Assessor, Leslie Kennedy Bugg gave an overview of the process of valuation of said land and her recommendation to approve the abatement. Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the abatement for DRFR, LLC. to be determined Hwy. 145 as recommended by the Assessor’s office.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  (See attached)

ABATEMENT: It being the time set aside for the Garrett Cisek, Mountain Creek Estates LLC. Abatement hearing on property located at 36011 & 36341 Hwy. 160 Mancos Co. 81328. The proceedings were recorded for the record.  Mr. Cisek joined the hearing by Zoom.   Commissioner Koppenhafer recused himself from the hearing.  Assessor, Leslie Kennedy Bugg gave an overview of the process of valuation of said land and gave her recommendation for a partial abatement to Property R5744, and no abatement to Property R13794.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the abated amount for property R5744 in the amount of $32,640.61, no abated value on R13794 for the tax amount of $2782.84, and that it stays vacant until otherwise proven.  Second by Commissioner Candelaria and carried.  (See attached)

Chairman Candelaria announced the meeting would convene as the BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners for Montezuma County, held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 as presented.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment was made by Allen Maez.

Item (s) Needing Individual Consideration:

SPECIAL EVENT LIQUOR LICENSE: Deputy Clerk, Jerri Frizzell, presented for approval a Special Event liquor license application for the Montezuma County Fair Board, event to be held at the Montezuma County Fairgrounds, 30100 Hwy 160 Cortez Co., scheduled July 30, 2026 through August 1, 2026.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the application for a Special Events permit for the Montezuma County Fair Board, at 30100 US 160, the dates of 7/30 through 8/1 2026.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached) 

DISCUSSION: Administrator Anderson presented the Vector Control Services, Cooperative Service Agreement between the Montezuma County (Cooperator) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services (WS) for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Cooperative Service Agreement between the Montezuma County and United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspections Service, Wildlife Services.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The Bechtolt Engineering Bid Review recommendations for the Highway, 184 & Road 25 Realignment Project,  were presented for review and determination.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to award the 184 / Road 25 bid to the low bidder of Four Corners Materials in the amount of $1,177,466.00.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)

DISCUSSION: The JBBS Grant discussion was postponed to a later date. 

DISCUSSION: Sheriff Nowlin along with Emergency Manager Jim Spratlen met with the Commissioners  to request the reinstatement of the County Wide Fire Ban.

RESOLUTION: Resolution #2-2026: a resolution Reinstating the Ban on Open Fires and the Use of Fireworks, was presented for approval.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve resolution #2-2026, a resolution Reinstating the Ban on Open Fires and the Use of Fireworks in Montezuma County in the unincorporated area effective 6:00 a.m. May 28, 2026.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  (See attached)

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Stephen Tarnowski,  was absent from the meeting. 

COUNTY ADINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson discussed the attended Region 10 County’s meeting, fiscal controls for time keeping, the mag chloride application program, CORA requests, attended a CCI PILT and SRS meeting and the scheduled FOP meeting.

COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: Clerk & Recorder Kim Percell announced that the 2026 June Primary Logic and Accuracy Test was scheduled for Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the Clerk’s office and was open to the public.

COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners’ reports included:

Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended (AAA)  Area Agencies on Aging meeting and Colorado River Project funds released. 

Commissioner Lindsay mentioned the scheduled Cortez City Council meeting, the scheduled Commissioner candidate debate and the Memorial Day flag displays.  

Commissioner Candelaria discussed the Road & Bridge Department / Kinder Morgan mag chloride treatments, and the mag chloride application program. 

MOTION TO ADJOURN: Commissioner Lindsay moved to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted:

ADJOURNED: 10:27 a.m.

___________________________                              ____________________________

Clerk        May 26, 2026                                             Chairman