The Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners met Tuesday, Feb. 14 in the RBC Sheriff’s Office meeting room as the elevator at the courthouse is still awaiting repair.
In work sessions, commissioners interviewed Karl Maser for another term on the Meeker Lodging Tax Board. Maser and his wife have operated Ute Lodge on CR 8 for 24 years and Maser is has served two terms on the lodging tax board. Other board members are Melinda Parker and Dan Schwartz. Maser said during his tenure the board has built its accounts by “about $70,000” and now has approximately $160K, which they are considering using for improvements at Ute Park.
Commissioner Doug Overton asked how the construction of a structure at Ute Park would promote tourism, which is the stated purpose of the lodging tax board. Maser said the events held at Ute Park like the Meeker Classic and Meeker Skijor are effective in the board’s “bodies in beds” plan.
Commissioners also interviewed returning Fair Board members Clint Shults and Karen Arnold. Shults and Arnold were asked what they thought about changing the rules of the county fair to allow kids who are not members of 4-H or FFA to show and sell their projects.
Shults said in his opinion the county fair prepares kids for the state fair or the National Western Stock Show, but he is open to considering exceptions for kids who want to participate in the county fair. Arnold agreed.
Asked for their thoughts on why fair participation has been declining, both said as the culture has changed there are fewer people with the time and energy to put into projects for fair.
Terry Ivie was interviewed for a seat on the Meeker Cemetery Board. Ivie said after working at Highland Cemetery for a year and volunteering, he’s familiar with what it takes to keep it going.
Board appointments are scheduled for Feb. 28.
Public Health Director Makala Sheridan provided her first update to the commissioners, noting that the clinics are up and running in both communities and her department is working to get the family planning program going again.
The department is also working on a harm reduction grant in response to the recent community health assessment. If awarded, the grant will be used for mental health and substance use services. A motion to approve the grant application was approved during the regular meeting.
Multiple people have stepped up to serve on the Meeker Colorado Civic Improvement Corp. board (MCCIC) that oversees the Fairfield Apartments. The board currently has three members but the bylaws indicate a five-member board.
The first task of the new board, after interviews are held with applicants during a special work session next Tuesday, Feb. 21, will be to update the lease agreement with tenants. The original lease went into effect in 2001.
In other business, the board approved agenda items including granting the Lions Club permission to provide or serve liquor during the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Banquet on March 25; a $52,000 agreement for landfill consulting services with Miller Engineers, Inc.; an amended memorandum of understanding regarding the Greater Sage-Grouse Resource Management Plan that will line up Rio Blanco’s plan with Garfield and Moffat counties; and approved an amended MOU for cooperating agency status for the Wolf Creek Reservoir Project.
In public hearings, the board approved the Collet Minor Subdivision and rezoning. The subdivision establishes two lots from one 28-acre parcel and rezones the lots from agricultural to rural residential. The property is near the Rio Blanco/Garfield county line.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
