BOCC Minutes June 9, 2026

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

June 9, 2026

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday June 9, 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 9, 2026 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners for Montezuma County, held on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, and the Proceedings from June 4, 2026.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PUBLIC HEARING: It being the time set aside a public hearing is held for review and determination regarding a proposed 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.  The roll was called, the public notice read, and the proceedings were recorded for the record.   Agent, Julie Suckla was present.  Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented the details of the application and the findings of the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Commissioner Candelaria opened the hearing to public comment.  Hearing no public comment, that portion of the hearing was closed.  After hearing all the evidence presented Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the proposed 5.50-acre Single Lot Development & Rezoning Application, submitted by Roger & Cindy Sutherland, on property located at 12253 Road 23, Cortez.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.  Commissioner Candelaria closed the hearing at this time.  (See attached)

PLANNING: Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for signatures of a Mylar of a 5-acre Single Lot Development & AR3-9 Rezoning, submitted by James & Dorothy Porter; agent: Bryson McCabe, on property located at 10743 Road G, Cortez, CO, consisting of 40.00 acres, more or less, located north of Road G, situated in Section 32 Township 36N, Range 18W, N.M.P.M.

PLANNING: Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for signatures of a Mylar of a Subdivision Amendment to Lots 1&2 of the Frank Spore Subdivision, 1st Amended, submitted by Ron & Shawn Russell and Jonas & Ella Keim, on properties located at 25582 & 25640 Road T, Dolores, CO, consisting of 28.72 & 8.39 acres, more or less, both located west of Road 26, south of Road T, situated in Section 14, Township 37N, Range 16W, N.M.P.M.

PUBLIC HEARING: It being the time set aside a public hearing is held for review and determination regarding a proposed 5 Lot Moderate Subdivision and Rezoning Application, submitted by Cori Cavalier & Christopher Thar, on property located at 32560 Road P, Mancos, CO, consisting of 40 acres, more or less, located west of Road 33, south of Road P, situated in Section 1, Township 36N, Range 15W, N.M.P.M.  The roll was called, the public notice read, and the proceedings were recorded for the record.  Cori Cavalier & Christopher Thar were present.  Planning Director, Don Haley along with Assistant, S. Jane Duncan presented the details of the application and the findings of the Planning and Zoning Commission.  Commissioner Candelaria opened the hearing to public comment.  Hearing no public comment, that portion of the hearing was closed.  After hearing all the evidence presented Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the proposed 5 Lot Moderate Subdivision and Rezoning Application, submitted by Cori Cavalier & Christopher Thar, on property located at 32560 Road P, Mancos, CO, consisting of 40 acres, more or less.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  Commissioner Candelaria closed the hearing at this time.  (See attached)

PLANNING: Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for discussion and approval of a proposed 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.  Mr. Maloney was present.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to accept the proposed 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.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. (See attached)

PLANNING: Director, Haley along with Assistant, Duncan presented for discussion and approval of a proposed Exemption Amendment application submitted by Charles & Cynthia Thompson on properties located at 20889 & 20893 Road W, Lewis, CO, consisting of 3.00 & 5.52 acres, more or less, both located north of Hwy 145, situated in Section 36, Township 38N, Range 17W, N.M.P.M.  Mr. Thompson was present.  A clerical error on the location was noted.  It should read East of Hwy. 491, North of Road W.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Exemption Amendment application submitted by Charles & Cynthia Thompson on properties located at 20889 & 20893 Road W, Lewis, CO, consisting of 3.00 & 5.52 acres, more or less.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried. (See attached)

Deletions / Changes to Agenda:

PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment was presented. 

CONSENT AGENDA:

Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the consent agenda with the approval of the JBBS Contract amendment.   Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. 

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

• JBBS Contract Amendment. (See attached)

Item (s) Needing Individual Consideration:

DISCUSSION: During the Monday workshop  Lodger’s Tax Board members Lee Cloy,  Kathy Zubrzycki and Brian Bartlett met with the Commissioners to discuss a proposed ballot question related to a recommended 5% increase to the Lodger’s Tax.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to ask the Attorney to draft and propose an increase to the Lodger’s Tax for the unincorporated areas of Montezuma County, from 2% to 5%.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. 

LANDFILL: During the Monday workshop Landfill Manager, Mel Jarmon met with the Commissioner to discuss a proposed temporary position at the Landfill.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the temporary position at the Landfill.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

DISCUSSION: The discussion related to the Health and Wellness Program Check for $50,000.00 from Anthem Insurance and the discussion related to the Mines and Associates Employee Assistance Program (EAP) were tabled at this time.   

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Stephen Tarnowski,  gave an update on the Leaf Properties / Dollar Store Case, the Ironwood Property case, mentioned a review of recorded sessions from the CCI Summer Conference, working on a child welfare case, proposed draft ballot measures, day to day projects, polices, drafts, a proposed MOU’s with the City related to the fuel farm and an increase in CORA requests. 

PAYABLE EXPENDITURE REPORT: Administrator Anderson presented for approval the April 2026 Accounts Payable Expenditure Reports in the amount of $3,425,836.93.  Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to accept the payables for the period of April 1, 2026  through April 30, 2026 in the amount of $3,425,836.93.  Second by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.   (See attached)

COUNTY ADINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson gave a review of the sessions attended during the CCI Summer Conference and the attended CCI District meeting. 

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Emergency Manager, Jim Spratlen met with the Commissioners to share information related to wildfire conditions and concerns within the County.  Topics discussed included a 2025 USDA declaration of a primary disaster area for drought within Montezuma County, the Governor’s declaration on June 4, 2026 of a statewide drought emergency and reported that Montezuma County has been declared as an extreme fire danger zone.   Manager Spratlen will be added to the June 15^th and the June 16^th  meetings to continue this discussion. 

COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: Clerk & Recorder Kim Percell reported that early voting for the June Primary would begin at the County Annex, 107 N. Chestnut, Cortez, CO 81321, on Monday through Friday, June 22 – June 29,   8:00am to 5:00pm, Saturday, June 27    9:00am to 1:00pm and Tuesday, June 30 (Election Day),   7:00am to 7:00pm. 

The 24 hour drop boxes will be opened, Open Monday, June 8 – June 30 at 7:00pm: at the Montezuma County Clerk and Recorder’s Office: 140 W. Main St. Ste 1 Cortez, CO 81321, and at the following locations starting Tuesday, June 23 – June 30 at 7:00pm:

• Dolores Town Hall: 601 Central Avenue, Dolores, CO 81323
• Mancos Town Hall: 117 N. Main Street, Mancos, CO 81328
• Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Headquarters: 125 Mike Wash Road, Towaoc, CO 81334
• Cortez City Hall: 123 Roger Smith Avenue, Cortez, CO 81321
• Cox’s Corner: 18794 Hwy 491, Lewis, CO 81327

Clerk Percell reminded the unaffiliated voters that they would receive two ballots in your packet, one Democratic and one Republican, they  need to choose only one ballot to fill out, discard the ballot you won’t use and return your voted ballot in the return envelope.

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

Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended Mancos Town Hall meeting and reported that he was unable to attend the (AAA) Area Agencies on Aging meeting. 

Commissioner Lindsay reminded the public that the Ute Mountain Roundup Rodeo is scheduled this week. He also mentioned the scheduled Cortez City Council meeting, an available position to serve as the Montezuma County representative on the Housing Solutions Board, the sessions attended at the CCI Summer conference and Pano AI camera systems.  

Commissioner Candelaria discussed the attended CCI Summer Conference sessions, reported that the south of town State highway project should be completed by June 12^th, the Road & Bridge water and mag chloride on Roads 24.5 and E.5 and the attended Town of Dolores meeting.    

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

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: The Senior Services June 2026 newsletter , the May 2026 Emergency Management Monthly Situation Report and the Montezuma County Veterans Report for June 8, 2026

ADJOURNED: 10:22 a.m.

___________________________                              ____________________________

Clerk        June 9, 2026                                               Chairman