RBC | The Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held its regular public meeting last week at the courthouse in Meeker, with all three commissioners in attendance. The meeting began with the approval of the agenda and the consent agenda, which included payroll, accounts payable, and various reports.
Following public comment—of which there was none—the board conducted an interview with Hal Pearce for the Weed Advisory Board. Pearce, a longtime board member, expressed concerns about the board’s inactivity last year.
“We didn’t even have a meeting last year, so we kind of need to at least have a spring and fall meeting just to get everybody up to speed,” Pearce said.
Pearce, who has extensive experience in weed management, emphasized the advisory role of the board, which assists the Rio Blanco County Weed and Pest Control director, Jane Turnburke.
“It is truly an advisory board. We have no power, but over the years with different program managers, we usually used to have a spring meeting to discuss our budget, identify priority areas, and prioritize species,” Pearce stated.
After the interview, the BOCC entered an executive session pursuant to 24-6-402 B to receive legal advice on negotiations regarding Proposition 122.
Upon returning to regular session, the board met with Mary Cunningham of the Meeker Sheepdog Championship Trials to discuss a hospital shuttle and new bleachers. Cunningham requested another shuttle for the trials, noting its success last year.
“We’ve used it for several years, and I’ve talked to some of our bus drivers. It’s kind of like they have a captive audience when they’re riding in the bus. They are telling them all about Meeker, and [visitors] are very appreciative of it,” Cunningham said.
Commissioner Doug Overton raised concerns about potential scheduling conflicts with senior transportation. County Administrator Vicky Edwards reassured the board that conflicts had been minimal in the past.
Additionally, Cunningham informed the BOCC that the Sheepdog Trials had secured funding for two new bleachers at Ute Park, costing $13,000. She suggested formalizing an agreement to share county and trial-owned assets for other events.
The BOCC approved several board appointments, including:
• René Harden to the Colorado Service Block Grant Advisory Board.
• Jamie Preciado to the Fair Board following a recent resignation.
• Doug Cupp with Forging Courageous Leadership as the new Emergency Manager for Rio Blanco County. Cupp is from Eagle, Colorado.
Other approvals included:
• A CDBG grant application and intergovernmental agreement with the Northwest Loan Fund.
• The Northwest Colorado Opioid Abatement Council’s 2025 intergovernmental agreement.
• An FAA grant for the Meeker Airport reconstruction project.
• A letter opposing House Bill 25-1258 which regarded scientific wildlife management.
Operations Administrator Eric Jaquez provided an update on the Rio Blanco County broadband network, which serves approximately 3,000 subscribers in Meeker and Rangely. The network currently operates using GPON technology, which the county aims to upgrade to XGS-PON for improved reliability and scalability.
“We’re now at that point where we need to jump forward and catch the next wave and get it going,” Jaquez stated.
The estimated cost for the upgrade is $532,333, covering new network shelves, line cards, ONTs, and core switch replacements. Funding sources include $259,847 from SLFRF and $2,731,540 from LATCF. The BOCC voted to approve the project.
Scott Marsh provided an update on ongoing road and bridge projects, including:
• Repairs to cattle guards in Rangely and Meeker.
• A gravel pit test on County Road 73.
• Plans to replace fairground gutters for approximately $11,000.
• Purchase of nine commercial-grade toilets for the fairgrounds, costing $2,619.
• Marsh also announced his upcoming departure, with his last day set for March 20, 2025.
Commissioners Callie Scritchfield and Jennifer O’Hearon reported on their recent trip to Washington, D.C., where they met with senators, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Department of Energy. Commissioner Doug Overton attended an AGNC meeting and discussed broadband facility issues with Jaquez.
The meeting was adjourned, with the next regular BOCC meeting scheduled for March 25, 2025, at 9 a.m. in Rangely.
Commissioners canceled an executive session Tuesday, March 18, “to conference with the County Attorney for the purpose of receiving legal advice on specific legal questions, positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, developing strategies for negotiations, instructing negotiators §24-6-402(4)(E) regarding the Solid Waste Landfill.”
Commissioners are also scheduled to have a work session at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, following the regular board meeting in Rangely. Matt Solomon with the Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado’s Northwest Colorado Energy Initiative will be gathering questions that Commissioners, the Town of Rangely’s board of trustees and town manager, as well as the Town of Meeker’s board and town manager, have regarding nuclear power and nuclear waste storage. The work session will allow Solomon to gather answers to questions prior to open public meetings.