AIRPORT WATER LINES EXTENSION
Efforts to add a new water line at Meeker’s airport continue following analysis of three potential installation options. The infrastructural upgrade would increase water pressure at the airport to accommodate fire safety requirements as part of proposed construction of a new private hangar.
Originally the project was scheduled to begin June 1, but has stalled due to challenges acquiring easements from adjacent landowners. RBC Operations Administrator Eric Jaquez said the ideal option would come from a subdivision above the airport. The line would cross two properties for which the county is still seeking easements. If the project is delayed beyond July 11, Jaquez recommended pursuing viable alternatives, including connecting a new water line from the hospital.
FAIRFIELD APARTMENTS
The Meeker Colorado Civic Improvement Corporation (MCCIC) board and facilities staff agreed to look into the costs of removal of two trees in the Fairfield Apartments complex. The recommendation follows an event on Memorial Day weekend when a pine tree on Main Street fell during a storm, causing it to lean up against the Fairfield building. Jaquez said this is not the first time a large tree has fallen in the area, and described an incident years ago, when a fallen pine blocked a resident’s door until it was eventually removed. He also noted the existing trees in between buildings create maintenance problems for clearing ice and could also be a factor in more serious structural damage in the future.
ELECTION SYSTEM
RBC County Clerk & Recorder Shawn Luce answered questions about county voter rolls from the board. “Someone moves, they don’t notify you and they get a ballot and they vote, is that illegal?” said County Commissioner Doug Overton, adding, “What do we do about that?”
Luce explained the procedures and monthly checks her office makes to clean ineligible voters from the rolls including deceased residents and people who have moved. In the event that a ballot was sent to the address of an ineligible voter, it would be illegal for someone to use the ballot in an attempt to misrepresent their identity as another voter, vote more than once, or otherwise commit fraud.
Anyone who knowingly filled and submitted an ineligible voter’s ballot would be committing multiple crimes including a Class 5 felony according to Colorado Revised Statutes 1-13-203, 1-13-111, 1-13-704.5, and 18-1.3-401.
A variety of studies from news organizations, non-profits, universities and partisan groups on both sides of the aisle alike have demonstrated statistically that “voter fraud” is exceedingly rare. In cases where it does happen, fraudulent ballots still undergo signature verification in Colorado counties. Follow-up election auditing, all the way up to full recounts in some cases, provide further assurance that ineligible ballots were not counted, and that the counting machines’ digital information lines up with the physical paper ballots. This ensures the digital record is not compromised despite claims of increased security vulnerabilities in electronic machines. Physical ballots remain on file in the clerk’s records to further safeguard the accurate count and allow for additional auditing.
As part of routine clerk updates, Luce noted that the application to shift the county website to a .gov site is moving forward. She also said the new voting district lines will be fully approved on July 11, adding that she wondered why more people hadn’t inquired about the subject. She emphasized that any residents with questions about voter rolls, district lines, election security or otherwise should be directed to the Clerk’s office where knowledgeable staff can answer questions.
She said voters who care about election security should remember that it is their responsibility to inform their local County Clerk if they move away or if their voter information otherwise changes.
PUBLIC HEALTH
RBC Public Health Director Makala Sheridan requested approval to hire a Registered Nurse (RN) following recent changes to department staffing. The county public health educator and budget specialist are set to leave the department soon, in addition to an Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN). Sheridan wants to replace the LPN position’s duties by hiring the full-time RN. County Attorney Don Steerman noted some of the potential benefits of a full-time RN, stating, “a lot of seniors need to have weekly wheelchairs, they need to have their blood pressure and all of their vitals done and right now they have to go up and pay a $35 copay.” He said a county RN could provide those same services to seniors without the copay.
Sheridan said she would take on responsibilities of the budget specialist position. The county does plan to refill the public health educator position. In other staffing news, on Wednesday Sheridan said she was interviewing a candidate for a food inspector position based on the previous direction of the board of commissioners, who wanted to replace state food inspections with a local person.
LANDFILL
The landfill is building out additional cells to make room for future use amid increased volumes of oil and gas waste disposal. Road & Bridge Director Scott Marsh noted landfill activity and general business operations are picking up with the early arrival of new heavy machinery (scrapers) and disposal of drill cuttings, contaminated soil and other waste from three companies. One company is Chevron who is removing material from a 20+ year old spill remediation on Wilson Creek designated “Project 70” by the Colorado Oil and Gas Commission (COGCC)
FIBER NETWORK UPGRADES
Jaquez Presented the Cross L Subdivision (West of Meeker) as the first identified location for continued expansion of the county fiber network. A few factors make the location an ideal starting point to kick off the latest iteration of fiber expansion work. Jaquez said the first factor would be a resulting reduction to operation costs via staff time and upkeep of wireless/radio towers in the area. The subdivision also has clear utility easements that can simplify and expedite the legality of new installations. Jaquez estimates the overall project will replace 18 homes’ existing wireless connections to the Lobo tower with direct fiber connections. Similar work is planned in Rangely that will include a fiber fix at Columbine Park and more disbursed fiber drops to residences.
Jaquez emphasized the significance of the project as “an extremely big step” for the county facilities/broadband departments to work together and pull off fiber expansion completely in-house. He also spent a few minutes giving kudos to facilities/broadband/IT/custodial employees for consistency, initiative and ability to learn, customer service, and work ethic among other accolades.
REGULAR MEETING
During the regular meeting the board:
– Approved a request for additional public health staffing
– Appointed Courtney Pell to the Rangely District Library board
– Approved a letter to the Honorable Mayor and Board of Trustees granting permission for the Meeker Lions Club to serve alcohol during the Rio Blanco County Fair
– Approved a memorandum of understanding with Mesa County for assistance with the public health emergency plan
– Appointed Diane Sizemore to the Rangely Cemetery Board
– Passed resolution 2023-19 approving a limited impact review for a secondary residence second residential structure within an existing shop building
The board entered a joint executive session with the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District for determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations CCITF – Wolf Creek Reservoir and pursuant to §24-6-402(4)(e) C.R.S., determining positions relative to matters that may be subject to negotiations, and instructing negotiators regarding County Broadband Contracts and Grants.
BY LUCAS TURNER | [email protected]
