RBC | The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held its regular monthly meeting last week in Meeker, Colorado, with all three commissioners in attendance. The meeting began with a public comment period, during which Marc Etchart voiced concerns regarding the emergency coordinator position in Rio Blanco County.
Etchart expressed reservations about the emergency manager coordinator being a remote position, citing the county’s fire risks, oilfields in Rangely, energy infrastructure in Piceance Creek, and the major highway running through town.
“I see more of an energy management [role] than just fire, and heaven forbid a school shooting or public shooting,” Etchart said. “I don’t know what the criteria is for the job, but I see it as an emergency manager coordinator should be one of the first ones involved, and I have reservations about it being remote.”
He referenced one of the applicants for the emergency coordinator position, recounting a personal experience from Dec. 21, 2024.
“I was called by my neighbor before five o’clock, and he said something’s in your guys’ sheep,” Etchart said. “I went out there to find three of them with their faces chewed up. Being optimistic, I went looking for the rest of them. I walked down towards our pond, and there were 13 of them on the ice, sprawled out, unable to move.”
Etchart described the aftermath, with blood covering the area and nearly all of his children’s 31 sheep injured. He attributed the attack to two dogs owned by Todd Shults, who had acquired them as part of a land sale from Ty Gates.
“I tried reaching out to Ty several times but never got a response,” Etchart said. “I talked to the sheriff about my options and was told that it’s not in his hands anymore. I guess I felt kind of let down that somebody who was part of this community just took the easy way out and couldn’t even call my boys to apologize.”
Etchart argued that the situation could have been avoided and emphasized the need for an emergency manager who is more involved locally.
“I feel that we ought to have somebody a little closer and probably not that one person involved in making emergency management decisions,” he said.
Commissioner Jennifer O’Hearon apologized to Etchart and his family for their ordeal.
“I want to apologize to your boys as well as yourself for having to go through this,” O’Hearon said. “I’m sure it’s cost you a pretty penny on top of everything else, so I just want to apologize.”
Etchart accepted the apology, leaving the commissioners with something to consider.
“It’s pretty tough when your four-year-old says, ‘Dad, I want to get in the sheep business and be like my grandfather,’” he said. “We just started something that has grown into something we enjoy. We used it as a parenting mechanism and as savings for their college. It’s just very disheartening.”
Etchart noted that the new property owners had reached out multiple times and were seeking a resolution.
Following the public comment period, the BOCC moved forward with its agenda. Commissioner Doug Overton made a motion to approve the agenda without changes, which was seconded by Scritchfield and was accepted. The board then conducted interviews for Rio Blanco County boards and commissions.
Later, the commissioners discussed a discrepancy in appointments to the Meeker Public Library Board. County Attorney Don Steerman clarified that a five-member board should have staggered terms, with one term expiring each year.
“Meeker shows that Michael Cobb [serves until] 2026, Dan Olson until 2027, John Moffitt and Keri Grieser until 2028, and Toby Leavitt until 2030,” Steerman said. “So, they’ve got two terms expiring at the same time.”
Steerman recommended coordinating with the town of Meeker to pass a resolution aligning appointments with state statute.
After the discussion, the board provided updates on recent activities. With no executive session scheduled, the meeting adjourned. The next BOCC meeting is set for Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. in Rangely, Colorado.