The Rio Blanco County Commissioners made a series of appointments and reappointments to boards Tuesday, approved agreements for services and ratified some letters in opposition to or supporting specific items.
Commissioners added an item to the agenda to approve a letter opposing a legislative effort in the state senate that would ban new oil and gas drilling in Colorado by 2030 and required companies pay more to seal old wells. According to an article from the Colorado Sun Tuesday, “The ban would allow for continued pumping from existing wells, but would also phase out modifications to those thousands of wells through redrilling or deepening. Unused drilling permits would expire. Previous operators of orphaned wells would have to pay more to hasten state cleanup efforts.”
It’s assumed any such legislation would end up in a court battle over private property rights and mineral rights, and would likely end up limited to state and federal lands, but the economic impact on Rio Blanco County would be significant. Interim RBC Administrator Larry Jones said a review of Federal Mineral Lease funding received annually by the county, municipalities and school districts would be reduced substantially.
Commissioners ratified a letter of opposition regarding a proposal to have the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigate instances of failed gun purchases. Currently, unless local law enforcement requests assistance, CBI doesn’t have jurisdiction in such instances.
RBC Sheriff Anthony Mazzola and Commissioner Doug Overton described the proposal as a “power grab” and the state attempting to subvert local control.
According to a Feb. 7 article in Colorado Politics, “Senate Bill 3 would allow the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to investigate illegal firearms activity, including failed background checks, illegal firearm transfers, and gun shops and other sellers that sell ammunition magazines that exceed the 2013 law that limits them to 15 rounds.”
The cost of the bill to the state is just under $1.7 million, which would be used to create a new state team to address the investigations. It’s one of half a dozen gun-related measures expected to come before the state legislature this session.
Commissioners ratified a letter of intent to participate in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment grant program for drug and alcohol prevention services for youth, accepted a quote for radon mitigation services at the Fairfield Community Center, and approved an agreement with USDA-APHIS for predator control.
Shannon Chang, proprietor of the White River Inn, was appointed to one of three seats on the Meeker Lodging Tax Board. Michael Cobb was appointed to the Meeker Library Board; Sherry McCord was reappointed to the MMCIC board that oversees the Fairfield senior housing complex; and delegates to the Area Agency on Aging and the Community Services Block Grant boards were appointed. Several boards still have open seats.
Grant applications were approved for White River Roundup and the RBC Department of Human Services; an extension of the co-responder program for crisis intervention which “helps the hospitals on both sides” as well as law enforcement, said Commissioner Ty Gates; and a grant to continue funding the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts was approved.
