BOCC Minutes March 10, 2026

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

March 10, 2026

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday March 10, 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 March 10, 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, March 3, 2026 as presented.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

PUBLIC COMMENT:  No public comments were made.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Commissioner Lindsay moved to approve the consent agenda, as presented.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. 

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

• ORDER #1-2026: Landfill Closure Funds Transfer (See attached)
• Letter of Support for the Healthy Forests Grant (See attached)
• Proposed Pay Plan for Road & Bridge (See attached)
• Cellebrite Digital Intelligence Services quote (See attached)
• Letter of Support Southwest Health Systems – Congressionally Directed Spending for Ambulance purchases (See attached)

Item (s) Needing Individual Consideration:

DISCUSSION: A discussion was held related to the completion of fiber Irrefutable Right of Use to Region 9. The Commissioners agreed to include Region 9 in a future Monday Workshop for further discussion.

DISCUSSION: A discussion was held related to leasing the Montezuma County owned water shares. Commissioner Koppenhafer recused himself from the discussion.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to lease the twenty shares of MVI water, in five share increments at the price of $135.00 a share.  Second by Commissioner Candelaria and carried.      

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney, Stephen Tarnowski gave an update on the Dollar Store / Leaf Properties case, mentioned the scheduled unemployment appeal hearing, the Ironwood case, Child Protection cases, scheduled appeals and received CORA requests. 

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Administrator Anderson discussed working with the Road & Bridge Department, ICMA budget trainings, a discussion with Bechtolt Engineering on the progress of the Hwy 184 – Road 25 project, working through some public procurement registrations, the hard surface evaluation bid openings, and the RFP for the Cortez Dispatch.

COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: County Clerk, Kim Percell, no report given.

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

Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the attended Southwest Water Conservation District meeting and the attended precinct caucus.

Commissioner Candelaria discussed the Bechtolt Engineering meeting, attending the CCI legislative meetings, a discussion with Congressman Hurd, the Coffee with the County Event, the scheduled discussion related to current fire danger levels within the county on March 24^th at 6:00 p.m. in the Commissioners room, the Monday Workshop, the Town of Dolores Board meeting, Road and Bridge traffic counters, and the dust abatement-mag chloride project.

Commissioner Lindsay discussed the attended virtual Colorado Counties Inc. (CCI) Health and Human Services regionalization meeting, the scheduled Cortez City Council meeting and the attended precinct caucus.

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

CORRESPONDENCE: The following correspondence was read and noted: Montezuma County fairgrounds March 2026 Report.

ADJOURNED: 9:18 a.m.

___________________________                              ____________________________

Clerk        March 10, 2026                                          Chairman