BOCC Minutes September 29, 2026

PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MONTEZUMA COUNTY, COLORADO

September 29, 2026

STATE OF COLORADO           )

                                                     ) ss.

COUNTY OF MONTEZUMA   )

At a regular meeting of the Board of Commissioners, Montezuma County, Colorado, held on Tuesday September 29, 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

Interim Administrator, Travis Anderson

Stephen Tarnowski, County Attorney

Kim Percell, County Clerk

CHAIRMAN CANDELARIA opened the meeting of September 29, 2026 with the Pledge of Allegiance.

MINUTES: Commissioner Koppenhafer moved to approve the Proceedings of the Board of County Commissioners of Montezuma County, held on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 as presented.  The motion was seconded by Commissioner Lindsay and carried.

Deletions / Changes to Agenda:

PUBLIC COMMENT: No public comment was presented. 

CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Lindsay moved for the approval of the consent agenda.  Second by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.

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

• Approval of the Community Development Action Plan as presented by Region 9. (See attached)

Item(s) Needing Individual Consideration:

DISCUSSION: The Dolores Contract was presented to the Town Council during the Dolores Board Meeting held on September 28, 2026.  No further actions were taken at this time. 

DISCUSSION: The Racetrack Contract discussion was moved to an Executive Session and will be reported on following that session. 

DISCUSSION: Finance Manager Robert Dobry reported that the proposed Resolution for a Supplemental Capital Budget was not needed and recommended that no action be taken at this time.  (See attached)

COUNTY ATTORNEY REPORT: County Attorney Stephen Tarnowski gave updates on the Ironwood Property case, the Leaf Property litigation, and the Suncore Energy Inc. / County of Boulder Supreme Court case.  Other topics discussed included working on projects with the County’s Landfill and Planning Departments.

COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR REPORT: Interim Administrator Travis Anderson discussed follow up on a letter that needed to be addressed, a split Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA), addressing financial issues at the Sheriff’s Department, the purchase of a new county vehicle, the letter received announcing the retirement of the Public Health Director Bobbi Lock, a scheduled meeting with the City of Cortez related to fiber, the Title III funding used to purchase body armor for the Sheriff’s office and working with the County Clerk related to the County’s Election information booklet and the proposed lodging tax question.

COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER: Clerk & Recorder Kim Percell reported that the State’s election blue book was being delivered this week, the County Election information booklet will be mailed October 2, 2026, and that the ballots would be  mailed the week of October 5^th.  Clerk Percell also mentioned the Logic and Accuracy testing scheduled Thursday, October 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.   

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

Commissioner Lindsay gave a report on the attended Cortez City Council meeting and mentioned attending the Regional 5X5 meeting.

Commissioner Koppenhafer discussed the Colorado River Water and a proposed change to the out-of-country allocation.

Commissioner Candelaria discussed the Dolores Conservancy District update presented during the Monday Workshop by Ken Curtis, the attended Regional 5X5 meeting held in Telluride, and a proposed future upgrade to the Road & Bridge priority list.  Commissioner Candelaria also reported that at the Town of Dolores Board Meeting, proposed Ordinance #593 was NOT adopted.

EXECUTIVE SESSION: Pursuant to Attorney Tarnowski’s suggestion, Commissioner Lindsay moved to go into executive session for the purpose of receiving legal advice from council on any item appearing before the board on this agenda, in relation to C.R.S. Section 24-6-402(4)(b).  Seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried.  Included in the session will be Commissioners Candelaria, Lindsay and Koppenhafer, Interim Administrator Anderson, Attorney Tarnowski and Clerk Percell.  The topic for the executive session was the proposed Racetrack Contract.  Commissioner Lindsay moved to come out of executive session, seconded by Commissioner Koppenhafer and carried. Attorney Tarnowski reported that within the executive session the topic noticed was discussed, no other topics were discussed, no decisions were made and those who were noticed as participating were present.  Chairman Candelaria reported that Interim Administrator Anderson along with Fairgrounds Manager Justin McGuire will review the contract with the interested persons then bring it back to the Board for further discussion.   (See attached)

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

ADJOURNED: 9:36 a.m.

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Clerk        September 29, 2026                                   Chairman