RBC | Rio Blanco County commissioners spent much of last week’s work session discussing the future of the Fairfield Apartments, a proposed flexible work policy for child welfare employees, landfill operations and the deteriorating County Road 17 bridge.
Commission Chair Callie Scritchfield and Commissioner Doug Overton attended in person, while Commissioner Jennifer O’Hearon participated via Google Meet.
Commissioners began by meeting with the Meeker Community Housing Improvement Corporation board to discuss the engineering assessment underway at the Fairfield Apartments. County officials stressed the study is intended to identify long-term infrastructure needs and does not signal a predetermined outcome.
Operations Director Eric Jaquez said many systems throughout the complex are nearing or have reached the end of their useful lives.
“The cast iron for the drainage is end of life, and so it’s not difficult to make the assumption that it’s end of life throughout the complex because it was all constructed and put in place at the same time,” Jaquez said.
He said engineers are evaluating plumbing, boiler systems and other infrastructure using industry standards and life-expectancy tables to estimate future maintenance needs.
MCCIC board member Richard Zaske questioned why the county selected Rosenfeld Architectural Services despite a proposal roughly $30,000 higher than a competing bid.
Jaquez said the firm’s proposal offered a more comprehensive approach, including additional engineering review, more detailed reporting and multiple site visits.
“Our selection committee … felt that Rosenfeld warranted the extra amount of attention that they identified in their proposal,” Jaquez said.
“That’s why we do RFPs,” he added. “Otherwise, you simply choose the low bid.”
Overton said previous experience with the firm also factored into the decision.
MCCIC board member Ginny Love said she researched the company and found strong references, including work performed for Colorado Northwestern Community College.
Scritchfield acknowledged uncertainty surrounding the project and assured residents discussions would continue.
Commissioners then met with Human Services Director Carmen McKay and Child Welfare Supervisor Kelsey Harvey to discuss a proposal allowing flexible schedules and limited remote work for child welfare employees.
McKay said retaining workers benefits both the county and the families they serve.
Harvey said employees often spend long hours responding to emergencies before completing extensive documentation requirements. Occasional work-from-home days, she said, would allow staff to finish paperwork with fewer interruptions and help reduce burnout.
O’Hearon, who previously worked in child welfare, supported developing a policy.
Scritchfield expressed reservations about remote work, while Overton voiced concerns that granting flexibility to one department could lead to similar requests elsewhere.
Commissioners took no action and directed staff to gather examples of policies from other counties.
Landfill Director Tobey Willey later updated commissioners on operations and proposed establishing a formal wind-closure policy.
“I looked and looked and could not find a formally written policy,” Willey said.
He said the landfill was closed for 172 hours in 2025 while remaining open for 2,324 hours, or about 93% of regular operating hours. Through May 26, 2026, closures totaled 29 hours.
Willey said an inspector last year described the facility as one of the five cleanest and most organized landfills in Colorado.
County Administrator Vicky Edwards recommended formalizing the policy, noting that allowing more flexibility during high-wind events could increase cleanup responsibilities because the county is responsible for collecting debris blown onto adjacent Bureau of Land Management property.
Commissioners said they hoped to have a written policy in place by the end of July.
Although road and bridge discussions were not listed on the agenda, commissioners received a brief update after canceling a scheduled special meeting on the County Road 17 bridge repair bid.
Office Administrator Antina DiBenedetto said the bridge’s substructure received a critical rating of two during a September 2024 inspection and that seven of the bridge’s 12 support piles have holes completely through them.
Current plans call for reinforcing the structure and adding four additional piles, potentially extending the bridge’s life by 35 years. However, the county received only one bid, which exceeded the project’s budget by more than $700,000.
Public Works Director Thad White said contractors indicated the engineer’s estimate was reasonable but could not secure a pile-driving subcontractor.
Commissioners discussed abandoning the rehabilitation project and instead pursuing a complete replacement estimated at $2.16 million.
“I will tell you, I’m struggling with putting that much money into it,” Scritchfield said.
Overton expressed frustration with delays, while White warned that County Road 10 is also deteriorating and that other county bridges will require future attention.
The work session adjourned with commissioners scheduled to hold their next meeting June 23 at the Rio Blanco County Annex building in Rangely.
