RBC | The most recent Rio Blanco County Commissioners meeting took place on Tuesday, July 9 in the picturesque town of Meeker, Colorado. Commissioners Jennifer O’Hearon and Ty Gates were in attendance, while Doug Overton joined via Google Meet.
Scott Marsh, Road and Bridge Director, provided updates on the roads in Meeker and Rangely. In Rangely, crews have been cleaning up flood debris on the outway motor roads. In Meeker, there have been numerous mudslides on County Roads 8, 5, 29, and 13, that are also being addressed.
The annual assessment report by the Assessor, pursuant to 39-8-104 CRS, was discussed. The report indicated no major issues with protesters. However, many notices of value for the intervening year were sent out. Currently, there are 15 justified protests, nine denied, and one on hold.
The Clear Plan, a planning and performance management system for budgets, was also discussed. The board considered starting the Clear Plan process after the budget is finalized or beginning in 2026, with further information to be considered.
The board then discussed the West Springs Mental Health Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado, which is on the verge of closing. The hospital is the closest one serving Rio Blanco County. A statistic highlighted that over 6,000 referrals were made in the area, all of which were sent to the eastern slope instead of West Springs Hospital.
Following the hospital discussion, the board addressed nuclear energy and how Northwest Colorado can promote it. A local survey and a nationwide survey revealed that 65% of people in Northwest Colorado favor nuclear energy and are more informed about it compared to the national average.
The next board meeting will be held on July 23, 2024, in Rangely, Colorado, at the Rio Blanco County Annex Building.
By JARED HENDERSON
