MEEKER | Rio Blanco County Commissioners met last Tuesday in Rangely for their regular meeting, followed by a workshop with Matt Solomon with the Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative (NCEI).
Emergency Management
At the start of the regular meeting, Rangely resident Don Davidson suggested connecting the local White River Area Preparedness (WRAP) group with whoever is selected to fill the role of emergency manager for the county. The group follows the Local Emergency Planning Committee model, which involves local experts and coordinates efforts among public first responders and industry.
“Public and private groups found there was expertise and resources available among the members for dealing with catastrophic events, wind, snow, flood, fire and mass casualty incidents, highway and active shooter, in addition to chemical releases.” The group also has an “auxiliary citizen communication system” already in place.
Later in the meeting, the board approved a contract for emergency management with the Forging Very Courageous Leadership organization, which is based in Eagle, Colorado. They noted the contractor’s experience with forest fires and emergency management, and emphasized the importance of connecting the contractor with local emergency preparedness groups.
Harmonie House
Commissioners also heard a presentation by Jennifer Peroni with Harmonie House, which is new to the area and provides services for individuals with disabilities, including paid caregiver programs, children’s waivers, adult waivers, virtual therapies, advocacy and education and individual support. Peroni said when her family moved to Craig from the Front Range four years ago she assumed the services she was familiar with as a social worker for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities were available statewide because they are statewide programs, and discovered they were not. Harmonie House, which is self-funded, helps individuals and families find the support and skills and services they need.
“We can say, as a family that lived through all of this, that these services changed our lives and took us from chaos to a very stable place because we were able to access them early,” Peroni said. “Harmonie House is happy to help any family get through all of those steps and hold their hand.”
Additional information can be found at www.harmoniehouse.org or call 970-701-1007.
Precinct 5
Commissioners met with County Clerk and Recorder Shawn Luce regarding the possible dissolution of Precinct 5, which encompasses most of County Road 5 (Piceance). The precinct maps are set by the county commissioners, Luce explained, noting that the change from four to five precincts was done “quite a while ago.”
Luce said a resident of Precinct 5 expressed concerns about anonymity because election results are voted by precinct and there are so few active voters in the designated area. The change, if approved, would reduce the size of each party’s central committee. If the commissioners dissolve the precinct, the active voters would be encompassed in Precinct 3.
The board discussed the best way to communicate with all of the Precinct 3 residents about the possibility of dissolving the precinct to hear from the voters directly before making any decisions, including sending out explanatory letters before adding the item to a May meeting agenda for a public hearing.
County Administrator update
Administrator Vicky Edwards updated the board about ongoing work with the new emergency manager and integration of roles, new changes to the ADA accessibility rules that have impacted the county’s website, and discussion of training on parliamentary procedure.
Commissioner Update
Commissioner Doug Overton said there are no plans to privatize the county landfill, despite rumors to the contrary.
Work Session
Matt Solomon, project manager for the Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative (a subgroup of Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado), has been leading a regional discussion focused on the potential economic benefits of having an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel in Northwest Colorado. He emphasized that no decisions have been made and that the project is still in the information and education phase.
“The preliminary discussions help me take notes, so that if we decide, hey, we want to educate the community, we want to get engaged with the full community, we have a starting point of where to begin,” Solomon said.
In review, Solomon said the United States was the global leader for repurposing spent nuclear fuel — which is not the same as nuclear waste — up until the Carter administration. Since then, the U.S. has fallen behind and France has taken off with the industry. “You can come back and pick it up and use it and get a whole bunch more out of it,” Solomon said of spent fuel.
At this point, Solomon explained the discussion is the beginning of a long process which will require significant education and community engagement before any decisions are made.
In other business, the board:
• Approved a county liquor license for Meeker Golf Course, following some questions about liquor licenses from the commissioners. Because the golf course is in unincorporated Rio Blanco County, it requires a county license.
• Tabled a tuition assistance contract for DHS director Carmen Mckay for required training so that questions can be answered to the satisfaction of the commissioners.
• Ratified a letter of opposition to Senate Bill 25-077 which would allow next of kin to access coroner investigation files. County Coroner Laura Smith said those files are not currently open to the public or to law enforcement. “The only time they get opened is if we go to court,” Smith said.
• Approved a contract with Doug Cupp and Associates (Forging Courageous Leadership, LLC) for emergency management services. The emergency manager position is required by the state and currently held remotely by former county commissioner Ty Gates, who took on the role remotely after Eddy Smercina was let go.
• Ratified funding $533,433 for broadband equipment.
• Approved a contract with Aspen Smart Networks ISP to provide call center support for Rio Blanco County broadband. IT Director Trevor Nielsen said with the call center they expect to save about $100K annually, with better care for customers. “We already have a great broadband system, and this is going to help,” Nielsen added.
• Approved the purchase of security system upgrades for $290,733 that will begin combining multiple camera systems at the county into one platform. The old equipment will be offered to the school districts, other tax-based organizations, or be recycled. Nielsen noted this is the first step in a budgeted plan to upgrade the county’s security systems.
• Approved the ratification of a letter of interest regarding the DFPC Aviation Facility, discussed at a prior meeting, which involves having state fire prevention planes or helicopters stationed at Western Slope airports.
• Approved a letter of support for Colorado Northwestern Community College for an airport renovation project.
• Approved a contract amendment with dietician Patricia Murphy for the senior nutrition program.
• Revised a prior approval for the pest control districts, approving the award for the Piceance Creek Weed and Pest and spraying project to Wild Vegetation Management LLC in the amount of $70K and Osborne Industry LLC in the amount of $70K, and opening bids for the Lower White River Pest Control District before moving to approve $170K for mosquito spraying to Overland Company and $10K for Rocky Mountain Weed Management, and $10K for Elder Weed Spraying.
• Approved a memorandum of understanding between the conservation districts and the county commissioners establishing the Rio Blanco County Natural Resources Advisory Committee as a partnership between the conservation districts and the county to work to identify priorities.
• Approved participation in the Rural Jump-Start Program.
• Held a public hearing for a limited impact review at Elk Creek Ranch to add employee housing. The resolution was approved.