RBC | Rio Blanco County Commissioners met Tuesday, Oct. 24 in Rangely for work sessions and a regular meeting.
The board conducted interviews with Steven Ray Rust and Rebecca Elder for the Fair Board, Michael Selle for the Historic Preservation Board, Ginny Love and Kay Bivens for the Meeker Colorado Civic Improvement Corporation board. During the regular meeting, commissioners appointed Selle, Love and Bivens to their respective positions. Nick Smith, Justin Carroll, James Kilduff and Rebecca Elder were appointed to the Fair Board.
The Board also heard from Ride the Rockies executive director Sabra Nagel requesting the use of the Rio Blanco County Fairgrounds for camping, headquarters, and as an entertainment venue for an estimated 1,500 bicyclists and about 100 staffers June 10-12, 2024. Nagel said about 60% of the riders — there were 1,200 in 2023 who battled “terrible weather” — camp, the rest stay in hotels.
“Our previous experience and relationship with other towns is very good,” Nagel said, noting that they are hopeful for community interaction and involvement with the riders as they pass through Meeker.
In the afternoon work sessions, the board heard from 9th Judicial District Attorney Jeff Cheney regarding the requested $377K budget for his office, which is set based on population. Rio Blanco, Pitkin and Garfield counties make up the 9th Judicial District. Cheney explained the increased costs in this year’s request, noting that RBC’s portion of the DA’s budget is 7.62%.
Also in the afternoon, Treasurer Rhonna Waldref and County Attorney Don Steerman shared information from the Colorado Attorney General’s office regarding a U.S. Supreme Court decision in Minnesota that “holds that local governments seeking forfeiture of property as compensation for a public debt may not profit from it beyond the amount a person owes.” Waldref said the potential risk to RBC is limited.
In the commissioners’ regular meeting, Sam Tolley of Rangely thanked the board during public participation for their work, asked that the county publicly recognize Israel, and questioned wages for county employees vs. wages in the private sector.
Commissioners heard bid recommendations for replacement of multiple county vehicles. A request from the sheriff’s department for an “extreme duty” patrol vehicle was denied because of a $20K price difference with the standard model. The bid for the standard pickup was awarded to Victory Motors, as well as a ¾ ton standard pickup for the Road and Bridge department, also awarded to Victory Motors. Bids for two additional fleet vehicles were postponed, with Cook Ford given 30 days to “make good” on their estimated bids, which were lower, before the award is made.
The board approved a contract with Larry Jones for consulting and to be interim county administrator. Jones is expected to start Nov. 1, 2023.
County Planner Leif Joy presented a recommendation from the Planning Commission to approve a five-lot minor subdivision. The property, owned by Rodger Polley, “has had boundary issues” and Joy said the county appreciates the work Polley has done to clean it up. Polley, who serves on the Planning Commission, abstained from the board vote, which was approved unanimously by the other six members of the commission, with two conditions: to provide easement access the north side of Lot 4 and to add an easement for the Town of Rangely’s existing gas line to the plat.
Commissioner Jennifer O’Hearon read aloud a resolution in support of the State of Israel, which the board approved, and all attending observed a moment of silence.
