RBC | Rio Blanco County Commissioners Ty Gates, Ginny Love and Jennifer O’Hearon met Tuesday in Meeker for work sessions and a regular meeting of the board.
DHS UPDATE
Newly hired Department of Human Services Director Nabila Mason updated the board on steps taken to improve the current situation at DHS, where the department is down to one certified child caseworker after Moffat County DHS said they didn’t want to continue a partnership with RBC set up under previous commissioners.
Mason said they have contracted with Audrey Johnson, a case supervisor in Kiowa County recommended by County Attorney Don Steerman. Johnson’s expertise in “all areas of social services” is anticipated to bring beneficial resources to the department, particularly while Mason completes her Colorado certification.
Mason also said Garfield and Rio Blanco are in the process of “merging a team” to help fill in gaps in service.
FAIRFIELD APARTMENT UPDATES
Bruce Bair, who supervises the Fairfield Center and Fairfield Apartments, updated the board on improvements to the apartments and the development of a five-year plan for updates and improvements to the county-managed property, which also houses DHS and RBC Public Health.
Bair said they’ve updated six apartments in the last year, and two more will be coming open soon, noting the amount of turnover is unusual. Remodels and upgrades are focused on improving safety for the senior residents who rent the apartments.
RAINBOW FAMILY GATHERING
Sheriff Anthony Mazzola said RBC “narrowly missed” being chosen as the site for the 50th anniversary of the Rainbow Family Gathering, which begins this weekend in Routt County. Mazzola said the group, whose annual gatherings on the forest are technically illegal, hold a meeting in the spring to decide where the summer event will be. “Ninety percent of the time where they meet [in the spring] is where they decide to stay,” he said. That spring meeting was held on the far northeast edge of Rio Blanco County, near Sheriff’s Reservoir.
A few thousand people have already made their way to the site, with as many as 10-15K expected. “It’s putting quite a bit of stress on the towns [nearby],” Mazzola said, as the group relies heavily on public services.
FIRE RISK
A more typical monsoon pattern this summer means there are “no big concerns over the dryness yet” when it comes to fire restrictions, though agencies are having fire restriction calls weekly to review conditions.
GRANT FUNDING
Budget and Finance Director Janae Stanworth asked the board for direction concerning grant funding that is under the commissioners’ purview following a request last week from the Rangely Outdoor Museum. Under the previous board, grant funds from use tax, CCITF (Colorado Capital Improvement Trust Funds) and CDGF (Commissioners’ Discretionary Grant Funds) were limited to “emergency requests only.” Stanworth asked the board, with two new commissioners, if they wanted to consider changing that, and said she had been working with Steerman on a “scoresheet” to evaluate future grant applications.
Commissioner Gates said, “I would not have an issue with taking that off of emergency use only and opening it up to where people can apply and we can help our community partners out with the funds that we have.”
Commissioner O’Hearon asked what limits would be placed on the grant funding. Steerman said it would be case-by-case decision making, “which is what you are supposed to do,” with funds allocated based on their impact on the county.
REGULAR MEETING
During the regular meeting, Paul Miller, CPA, presented his audit report on the county’s financials. His report is available on the county’s website in the June 28 agenda packet.
Commissioners approved a deed of easement with Elk Creek Ranch on County Rd. 8. Previously the county had a “prescriptive easement.” Steerman said the change “cleans it up for everybody.”
O’Hearon was named board chair pro temp and Community Services Block Grant Advisory representative for the remainder of 2022. Love was named representative to the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado and the Yampa-White-Green Basin Rountable. Gates was named as rep for the County Investment Policy. Road and Bridge Director Scott Marsh was appointed to the Northwest Colorado Transportation Planning Commission.
Commissioners approved multiple MOUs for DHS contracted services, and approved a supplemental budget resolution.
The next Board of County Commissioners meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, July 12 at the RIo Blanco County Courthouse in Meeker with work sessions preceding the regular meeting at 11 a.m
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
