RBC | The county’s department of human services has been struggling to stay in compliance with state reporting requirements and timelines due to a shortage of caseworkers. The department has had to seek help from the state and neighboring counties.
During a work session Tuesday positive progress made over the last several months was outlined along with a request from DHS to hire another full-time caseworker. The position will spend three-quarters of their time on child welfare and one-quarter on adult protection. During the last two years, the department has had five to 25 referrals per month.
County Attorney Don Steerman, who oversees DHS, likened staffing for human services to firefighting. “You don’t want them to have to fight fires, but if there’s going to a fire you want them to be reported and fought, and that’s the way DHS is.”
Commissioners approved the new hire during the regular meeting, despite the fact it is above the appropriated budget.
Operations Administrator Eric Jaquez provided further details on the proposed ground lease and new hangar construction at the Meeker Airport by Hangars West, LLC. Documents have been submitted and “looks full and complete,” Jaquez said. The proposed hangar will have four bays. The water line expansion project at the airport will need to be completed before the fire district will sign off on a certificate of occupancy. The yearly ground lease will be roughly $10,600, according to Jaquez. “This is the first step in the process,” he added, “getting the rights to be able to construct on the ground.” Commissioners approved the ground lease during the regular meeting Tuesday.
For the water line expansion project at the airport, deemed necessary to improve fire suppression capabilities, Jaquez recommended an easement with property owner Dan Conrado to connect to the water tank in the subdivision northwest of the airport. In exchange, Conrado has requested an easement on the airport property that would run along the west side and connect, essentially, to the Smith Ditch. Details are still in discussion and alternatives can be considered.
Shawn Bolton, owner of Bolton Construction, LLC, explained the conceptual design for a new subdivision proposed between the hospital and the airport and asked about a possible road easement for access to property that will be blocked once the subdivision is in place. The subdivision plan, which has multiple phases, will include single family and multiple family housing. The Town of Meeker’s board and planning commission met Monday and approved the conceptual plan. Jaquez said an access easement would need to be approved by the FAA. Bolton said they will be doing a traffic study concerning secondary access to the proposed subdivision that may require changes to Hwy. 13 north of the hospital.
Matt Franks, RBC Building Inspector, asked about contracting with Phil Vaughan for commercial and industrial building inspections. Franks said he would like to use Vaughan’s services on planned review basis to “get a second set of eyes on a giant project.” Vaughan has contracted with the county before and is familiar with the processes. “This will be between Phil Vaughan and the building department,” Franks said.
Eddie Smercina, Emergency Manager, updated the BoCC on the adoption of 1041 rules that will affect the NEPA process for the Wolf Creek Reservoir. County Surveyor and Planner Leif Joy said the building department is making progress on shifting away from paper, online storage and protection of data, and online payment systems. The changes are a cost savings for constituents and a time savings for staff in multiple departments
During the regular meeting, Mona Avey, newly appointed to the Meeker Colorado Civic Improvement Corporation, said the new board met for the first time this week and elected officers. Avey is the new chair. She said the board’s first tasks will be to review the lease and the bylaws. “Once we are satisfied with all of the ideas presented through the members and have come up with a good plan, we want to get on the agenda to come to you.”
The Board approved or ratified a number of letters of support or opposition for various projects and legislation, and applications for grants during the regular meeting. Bids were awarded to Old Castle SW Group for $1.1M for the 2023 chip seal project, and to Mountain Air Mechanical Inc., for $22,189 for the HVAC county shop/fleet HVAC replacement project.
Road and Bridge Director Scott Marsh said his department has been busy with drifting snow, mud and rock slides, helping with road closures, sinkholes appearing on county roads, and more. The landfill did not receive the grant for a shredder and are looking at different funding options.
Following commissioner updates, the board went into a combined executive session with the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District to “determine positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations regarding CCITF – Wolf Creek Reservoir.”
For coverage of the afternoon work sessions, see PAGE 10.
Story edited to reflect Dan Conrado as the owner of the property near the airport, not Joe Conrado.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
