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PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO
June 16, 2026
STATE OF COLORADO )
) ss.
COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA )
At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday June 16, 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
Kim Percell, County Clerk
CHAIRMAN CANDELARIA opened the meeting of June 16, 2026 with the Pledge of Allegiance.
MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners held on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, for Montezuma County. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.
PLANNING: Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures of a Mylar of a 5.50-acre Single Lot Development & Rezoning Application, submitted by Roger & Cindy Sutherland; agent: Julie Suckla, on property located at 12253 Road 23, Cortez, CO, consisting of 40.67 acres, more or less, located north of Road M, west of Road 23, situated in Section 8 Township 36N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M.
PLANNING: Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures of a Mylar of a 5-acre Single Lot Development and Rezoning Application, submitted by Brenda Daves; agent: Brenna Webb, on property located at 25580 Road 18, Pleasant View, CO, consisting of 328.38 acres, more or less, located south of Road CC and east of Hwy 491, situated in Section 3, Township 37N, Range 17W, N.M.P.M.
PLANNING: Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented for signatures of a Mylar of a Boundary Line Adjustment application submitted by Shalun Maloney and Connie Boyd & Darlene Burns, on properties located at 18411 & 18409 Hwy 145, Dolores, CO, consisting of 5.44 & 6.55 acres, more or less, both located north of Hwy 145, situated in Section 11, Township 37N, Range 15W, N.M.P.M.
Deletions / Changes to Agenda:
PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment was presented.
CONSENT AGENDA:
Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the consent agenda, including the approval of the Strong Start Colorado Program grant and the letter regarding the Enterprise Pipeline spill in La Plata County. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.
The Consent Agenda items acted upon by the Board were as follows:
Item (s) Needing Individual Consideration:
LIQUOR LICENSE: Deputy Clerk Jerri Frizzell met with the Commissioners to present a liquor license renewal application for G-Whil Liquors, located at 24001 Road G.2, Cortez CO 81321. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the retail liquor license renewal application for G-Whil Liquors, at 24001 Road G.2, Cortez CO. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)
DISCUSSION: During the Monday workshop a discussion was held related to the proposed sales tax ballot question survey done by Magellan Strategies. The Commissioners agreed to postpone this until next year and will not move forward with the proposed sales tax ballot question at this time. (See attached)
DISCUSSION: During the Monday workshop the Hwy 184 and Road 25 Realignment Project, Montezuma County Road Department agreement between Montezuma County and Oldcastle SW Group, Inc. dba Four Corners Materials was presented for approval. Commissioner Koppenhafer moved sign the agreement between Montezuma County and Oldcastle Southwest Group, Inc. dba Four Corners Materials, for the contract of the Hwy 184 and Road 25 Realignment Project. Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.
DISCUSSION: The discussions related to the Fairgrounds fee increases; Department of Corrections reimbursement rates and the Sheriff’s Office pay scale were pulled from the agenda.
DISCUSSION: During the Monday Workshop Human Resource Technician, Dennis Bugg met with the Commissioners to discuss the Employee Health and Wellness Program and the check for $50,000.00 from Anthem Insurance. Commissioner Lindsay made a motion to accept and move forward with the Montezuma County Employee Well-Being Concept Plan and to cash the $50,000.00 check. Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried (See attached)
DISCUSSION: During the Monday workshop Emergency Manager Jim Spratlen met with the Commissioner to discuss a proposed Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, Colorado declaring a local disaster emergency due to extreme fire danger, critical fire weather conditions, and drought conditions within Montezuma County. The Commissioners agreed to take no further action at this time. (See attached)
COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Stephen Tarnowski, Topics discussed within the Attorney’s report included, the Leaf Properties / Dollar Store Case, working day to day issues, a proposed local resources Intergovernmental Agreement template, and the Ironwood Property case.
COUNTY ADINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson discussed Road & Bridge equipment evaluations, a discussion held related to the City of Cortez Private Activity Bond for the 7th Street project, a proposed agreement with the City of Cortez related to the Fuel Farm, the attended meeting with Enterprise, a discussion held with the Commissioner’s Attorney Tammy Kocker and working with the Attorney on the proposed local resources omnibus agreement.
COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: Clerk & Recorder Kim Percell no report given.
COUNTY COMMISSIONER REPORT: Topics within the Commissioners’ reports included:
Commissioner Lindsay discussed the attended Court House tour, the roadside weed spray and mag chloride programs, gave a report on the attended Cortez City Council meeting, and mentioned local fuel pricing.
Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo, and scheduled meetings with Montezuma Valley Irrigation and the Southwest Water Conservation District.
Commissioner Candelaria discussed the attended State Fire Commission meeting, the Pano AI systems, a new CEO at the NFPA, and the Forest Improvement Special Districts, (FID) Subcommittee, Colorado Fire Commission, Helping Communities Mitigate Wildfire Risk through FID’s 2026 recommendation DRAFT, a thank you to the Ute Mountain Rodeo Committee, and the attended Enterprise meeting. (See attached)
MOTION TO ADJOURN: Commissioner Lindsay moved to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.
CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: the CSU Extension reports,
ADJOURNED: 9:31 a.m.
___________________________ ____________________________
Clerk June 16, 2026 Chairman
Embedded calendar showing upcoming events for the Montezuma County Board of Commissioners.
