RBC | Prior to the commissioners’ regular Rangely meeting on Tuesday, a brief work session was scheduled with Department of Human Services (DHS) Director Barbara Bofinger to update the commissioners on various topics.
The department will be ordering insulated containers to keep home-delivered meals at an appropriate temperature thanks to $10,000 received from the Area Agency on Aging in order to make the purchase.
A Community Service Block Grant (CSBG) desk audit will be due in October. Bofinger said there had never been bylaws in place and that it is a requirement for grant funding. The board approved the bylaws during the regular meeting. The department received county incentive funding in the amount of $6,500. Bofinger reported that staff worked very hard in order to meet the eligibility timelines, long term care services, training incentives, child welfare incentives, case maintenance incentives, and improving correspondence. She attended a sheltering training on Aug. 19.
The state DHS director met with Northwest Colorado DHS directors regarding the Families First program and how it will be implemented. Bofinger said Mind Springs Health signed a contract with Rocky Mountain Health Plans to provide crisis services. Mind Springs will cover Routt, Moffat and Rio Blanco counties and there should be no difference in their response. Commissioner Woodruff commended Bofinger and the department. Bofinger said her staff is committed to getting the job done.
During the business section of the agenda Moyer moved to approve the hiring of a deputy coroner, in an amount not to exceed the 2019 appropriation. Woodruff seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
Moyer also moved to approve the addition of an attorney position to represent the Rio Blanco County DHS, in an amount not to exceed the 2019 appropriation.
The board approved an agreement for services with Trevor Irish, dba Altitude Counseling and Consulting Services, to provide domestic violence treatment services to eligible children and their families working with the DHS, in an amount not to exceed $3,000. Commissioner Woodruff seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.
The commissioners approved terms and conditions for the Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, Incident Qualification System (IQSweb).
Moyer moved to approve a grant award letter between the Board of County Commissioners of Rio Blanco County and the Electronic Recording Technology Board, Colorado Department of State, for the county clerk and recorder’s office to establish Rio Blanco County’s electronic filing system, in the amount of $135,688, and authorize execution out of session. Additionally, the commissioners approved a memorandum of understanding with Leds, LLC, for the Rio Blanco County Recording Indexing Project in an amount not to exceed $32,421.
During commissioner updates Commissioner Moyer reported that he attended a meeting with Pioneers Medical Center’s (PMC) CEO Ken Harman, CNO Karen Iacuone and Public Health Director Alice Harvey about the possibility of PMC contracting with the county to provide a jail health program. The information discussed will be brought before the board at PMC. Moyer testified in Denver last week before the Clean Air Commission in regards to the adoption of the zero emission vehicles mandate. That mandate passed 8-1 on Aug. 16. Moyer also reported meeting with staff members on a variety of topics.
Commissioner Woodruff visited with veterinarians Stacy Hudelson and Paul Nielsen about the outbreak of Vesicular Stomatitis in horses. He also attended the Pioneers Medical Center meeting and said that they will be doing a lot of expansion, and was at a “well-attended” interagency meeting. He reported that the drug awareness class organized by the Rio Blanco County Coroner’s office was very informative and encouraged everyone to watch the documentary “Seattle Dying.”
Commissioner Rector reported that the Colorado Counties, Inc., Western District Meeting will be held in Meeker Friday, Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Fairfield Center. The meeting is open to the public. He worked on additional Jordan Cove LNG Project testimony. He would like to have the project in the United States to stimulate and sustain the economy but with Mexico emerging as an undisputed route for Colorado natural gas exports to Asia, he states “it may go south.”
The commissioners adjourned their meeting at 11:45 a.m. The next Board of County Commissioners meeting will be in Meeker on Tuesday, Aug. 27 at 11 a.m.
By ROXIE FROMANG | Special to the Herald Times
