BOCC Minutes September 15, 2026

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

September 15, 2026

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday September 15, 2026, at the Montezuma County Administration building in Cortez, Colorado, there were present:

Jim Candelaria, Chairman, Absent

Kent Lindsay, Vice Chairman

Gerald Koppenhafer, Commissioner of Deeds

Interim Administrator, Travis Anderson

Stephen Tarnowski, County Attorney

Kim Percell, County Clerk

Jerri Frizzell, Deputy Clerk

VICE CHAIRMAN LINDSAY opened the meeting of September 15, 2026 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

BOARD OF COUNTY HEALTH: Public Health Director Bobbi Lock, along with Daniel Osborn Environmental Health Specialist, met with the Commissioners to discuss progress made regarding an unpermitted OWTS violation on property located at 9506 Road 29.1 Cortez CO. 81321.  Property owner Nicie Phillips was present.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to continue the approval on this site wastewater treatment system on property owned by Nicie Phillips, at 9506 Road 29.1 Cortez for 45 days.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. The discussion will continue November 10, 2026.  (See attached) 

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners for Montezuma County, held on Tuesday, September 8 2026 as presented.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley presented for signatures of a Mylar for a 5-acre Single Lot Development & Rezoning, submitted by Alissa Baxstrom & Shannon Stephenson, on property located at 19041 Road S, Cortez, CO, consisting of 160 acres, more or less, located north of Road S, west of Hwy 491, situated in Section 23 Township 37N, Range 17W, N.M.P.M.

PLANNING: Planning Director, Don Haley presented for signatures of an Exemption Amendment and Mylar submitted by Scott & Mary Ehmke and Ron Louis, on properties located at 25010 & 25000 Road 38.1, Dolores, CO, consisting of 2.75 & 21.54 acres, more or less, both located south of Hwy 145, situated in Section 1, Township 38N, Range 14W, N.M.P.M

Deletions / Changes to Agenda:

PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment was presented. 

CONSENT AGENDA:

Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the consent agenda, which is an approval of the Immunization Contract Amendment, approval of the Rocky Mountain Health Foundation Grant, Approval of Granicus short-term rentals agreement, and approval of the Granicus Smartgov software program agreement.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

The Consent Agenda items acted upon by the Board were as follows:  

• Approval of Immunization Contract Amendment. (See attached)
• Approval of Rocky Mountain Health Foundation Grant. (See attached)
• Approval of Granicus short-term rentals agreement. (See attached)
• Approval of Granicus Smartgov software program agreement. (See attached)

Item (s) Needing Individual Consideration:

DISCUSSION: The discussion related to the Proposals for recruitment for the County Administrator position was removed from the agenda.

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Stephen Tarnowski discussed energy developments happening within the State, discussions related to these projects, and working with Planning on a review of renewable project submittals.  Other topics discussed included the scheduled BAA appeal, the BOE arbitration appeal, the Ironwood Property and the Leaf Property litigations, working with Doug Roth and the GIS Department related to county roads and a review of the packet from Circular Action Alliance related to a recycle program down at Landfill.

COUNTY ADINISTRATOR REPORT: Interim Administrator Travis Anderson discussed a review of the Dress Code Policy, proposed revisions to the Employee Handbook, working with Maintenance on the tree issue in front of the Administration building, an update on the Highway 184 and Road 25 Project, a private property culvert dispute, working with the City of Cortez on a streamlined services between the City and the County.     

COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: Clerk & Recorder Kim Percell introduced Deputy Clerk, Jerri Frizzell and discussed Clerk to the Board Training. 

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

Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed interviews held for the Director position at the Southwest Water Conservation Board, the attended (MVI) Montezuma Valley Irrigation meeting, emails received related to proposed Energy Development and a need to develop a formal process.  Commissioner Koppenhafer reported there was a Southwest Water Conservation Board meeting scheduled. 

Commissioner Lindsay discussed the emails received related to proposed Energy Development, the attended Cortez City Council meeting and the scheduled 5X5 meeting.  

Commissioner Candelaria was absent from the meeting.

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: Email from the State Land Board. Southwest Health Systems Report. The September 2026 County Coroner’s Office report.  The September 2026 Fairgrounds report.   (See attached) 

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

ADJOURNED: 9:29 a.m.

___________________________                              ____________________________

Clerk        September 15, 2026                                   Chairman