RBC | The Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners held a special meeting Sept. 30 in Meeker to address some agenda items.
After implementing a hiring freeze, commissioners were asked to approve a request from County Clerk and Recorder Shawn Luce to fill a recently vacated position for recording clerk and election assistant. The commissioners approved the request.
Also up for discussion were planned repairs to the County Rd. 17 bridge near Buford, the Burke bridge replacement/repair project on County Rd. 5, and updates to the County Rd. 77 bridge project.
Public Works Director Thad White and Public Works Office Administrator Antina DeBenedetto reviewed options provided by Schmeuser-Gordon-Meyer for the CR 17 bridge, recommending the third option to maximize the bridge’s life span with a complete rehabilitation.
The State of Colorado has determined that the Burke bridge needs to be replaced, having “been repaired to the extent of the repairs that can be done.” Commissioners discussed potential changes in hydrology due to the fires, and decided to pursue a new inspection to determine potential impacts from the fires and subsequent flooding.
County Administrator Vicky Edwards said funds were set aside for both bridge projects in the 2025 budget.
The County Rd. 77 bridge is an Anschutz project. Anschutz is covering the costs for the project through the county. “It can’t go through Anschutz,” explained Commissioner Doug Overton. “The checks have to come from Rio Blanco County.”
Commissioners also approved an annual intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Moffat County Detention to provide inmate detainment for Rio Blanco County. County Attorney Don Steerman said even with some increased cost based on inflation, it’s “still quite a bit cheaper than if we were trying to do that here.”
Before adjourning, commissioners approved a letter in support of the Bureau of Land Management regarding “a more friendly admissions policy” for air quality standards than what the State of Colorado wants.