RBC | Newly appointed as the director of the Rio Blanco County Public Health and Environment department, Karen Dinwiddie told the county commissioners Tuesday, ““There’s a lot to learn,” after her first week. Dinwiddie has been working at public health for a little over a year, but is new to the role of director.
She and public health staff Beth Willey, who has been acting as interim director since Alice Harvey’s resignation in April, updated the commissioners on the Community Health Assessment plan. The plan, which is required by the state, provides information for the department to “give direction to make our community healthier,” Dinwiddie said.
The plan is good for five years, and will be the second one completed by the county.
Dinwiddie also updated the board on the need for a supervising physician for the department. Dr. Albert Krueger served in that capacity, but retired this spring. The department has been waiting on Pioneers Medical Center “to see where they are on their contract.” That contract, issued but not responded to by PMC, was canceled during the regular meeting Tuesday. Meanwhile, Rangely District Hospital has expressed interest in filling that role, and is in communication with public health.
Emergency Manager Eddie Smercina and Conservation District Executive Director Callie Hendrickson presented the final round of updates to the Land and Natural Resources Plan and Policies. The plan was initiated in 2016. According to Hendrickson, having the land use plan opens up communication and gives local government a voice in decision-making, particularly during the planning phases on projects and is helpful in working with cooperating agencies.
“I was not expecting it to be as large of an undertaking as it has been,” Hendrickson said of the update process. Commissioners adopted the updated plan following a public hearing during the regular meeting. The plan is available for review on the conservation district website at https://wrcd-dccd.colorado.gov/.
Alden Vanden Brink, executive director of the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District, provided a lengthy update on water issues and planning. Vanden Brink has been deeply involved in the Yampa-White-Green Basin Roundtable and the planning process for the state’s water plan, which has been sent out for public comment. The draft of that plan can be read at https://cwcb.colorado.gov/colorado-water-plan and comments are accepted through Sept. 30, 2022.
Vanden Brink said 35 water projects have been identified — some in planning and some in process — in the White River basin, where a lack of water storage and resiliency are outlined in the state plan. “I don’t think people understand the level of planning that goes into the development of these water projects for our basin,” Vanden Brink said.
During the regular meeting, commissioners moved to table a use tax grant application from the Rangely Outdoor Museum in the amount of $6,487. Commissioner Jennifer O’Hearon said she has been working with ROM director Diane Sizemore to see if some of the items requested can be provided through different funding sources or in-kind assistance.
In other business, commissioners:
- appointed O’Hearon to the Rangely Development Authority/Rangely Development Corporation board.
- appointed Eddie Smercina to the Rangely and Meeker 911 boards.
- appointed Gates as Club 20 representative.
- Appointed Annalee Nickson, Linda Berry and Connie Aitkin as delegates to the Council on Aging, with
- Dorothy Chappell and John Aitkin to serve as alternates.
- Appointed Karen Dinwiddie as RBC Public Health and Environment Director.
- Canceled an agreemetn with Pioneers Medical Center executed in June 2021 by the commissioners but never acted on by PMC.
- Approved a letter to the Town of Meeker for the Fair Board to serve alcohol during the junior livestock sale event on Aug. 6.
- Approved a grant for the wildlife fence project at Rangely Airport.
- Approved an Area Agency on Aging grant for the White River Roundup in an award amount of $21,250, in addition to the current grant, for the senior nutrition program.
RBC Assessor Renae Nielson updated the commissioners on the annual assessment of values. At this point, she said, assessed value is “up about 18%, but it won’t stay that way.” Of the $834 million assessed value, 53% is personal property.
Protests filed included five real property protests, three of which were adjusted and two were denied. There were 60 personal property protests, of which 40 were adjusted, 15 denied, and one voided. Nielson said she expects some appeals.
Commissioners moved to opt-out of the Colorado Opioid Settlement Tracker program, which would have provided $6,174 a year over 18 years for a total of $54,903 from legal settlements with drug distributors. Gates said the reporting requirements for the program would take up more staff time than the $6K a year received.
Opting out means the funds go back into the region, where Gates and County Attorney Don Steerman said they will have more impact, as the rules on how the money can be used are “extremely limited” for the county.
Commissioners also approved an agreement to purchase COVID rapid testing kits in an amount not to exceed $13,776 — costs covered by grant funding. The tests will be ordered as needed, and are compatible with the machines already purchased for public health.
Also tabled was an amendment to the acquisition agreement with Dominion Voting Systems to extend the county’s agreement for service by five years, with the option to terminate sooner. O’Hearon said she believes “we do need to be looking at other systems that are out there. We should have options.”
Tabling the amendment to the agreement has no impact on the coming general election in November, Steerman said.
Road and Bridge Director Scott Marsh said the 2022 mag chloride project is complete, and that they are looking at testing some other products for dust control. In conjunction with Routt County, a repair and gravel project on County Rd. 19 will begin Aug. 1.
In a second public hearing, commissioners approved — on staff recommendation — a replat of the Welder minor subdivision from three lots to two lots, before going into executive session to receive legal advice regarding the MCCIC Fairfield Center.
The board reconvened in the afternoon on Tuesday for budget training.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
