RBC | The Rio Blanco County Commissioners awarded County Capital Improvement Trust Fund (CCITF) and Commissioners’ Discretionary Fund grants during the May 28 regular board meeting held in Rangely.
From the CCITF funds, commissioners approved $50,000 for the Meeker School District to retrofit fluorescent lighting to LEDs at Barone Middle School, approved $150,000 for the Rangely School District for repairs on a sewer line, and approved $44,670 for wastewater pond aerators for the Town of Rangely. A funding request from the Town of Meeker was withdrawn for this year.
CDGF awards were approved for the Rangely Fire Protection District to purchase new radio equipment — $13,562; $5,000 to the Meeker Mustang Makeover; and $5,000 to The TANK in Rangely. (Correction: In the County Beat report two weeks ago, the HT incorrectly identified the Meeker Fire Protection District as the requester of funds for radios. We regret the error.) An additional $75,000 has already been budgeted from CDGF funds for the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts. Commissioners denied a request from MindSprings for CDGF funding. Commissioner Doug Overton stated he would like all impacted entities to meet and work together to discuss options for addressing mental health issues, including law enforcement and hospitals.
With less than two weeks on the job, County Administrator Vicky Edwards presented a lengthy list of plans and projects for the commissioners she’s been working on, including researching software that would connect the county budget to its strategic plan, suggestions regarding cross-training and redundancy for single-person departments within the county, and moving personnel and staffing discussions and requests to the front of the budget process instead of the end of the process, among other ideas.
In other business, the board:
Approved a letter of support to ratify making the Payment-In-Lieu-of-Taxes Act permanent.
Approved task orders from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. According to County Attorney Don Steerman, now that the department has established a memorandum of understanding with the hospitals to provide COVID vaccines, they expect the state to release funding that was previously withheld for vaccine programs.
Approved a letter of support for the Lions Club to serve alcohol during Range Call events July 4-6.
Renewed the liquor license for the Meeker Golf Course.
Approved the the county administrator agreement.
Approved an agreement with the United States Forest Service for the Carhart Trail Bridge going to Trappers Lake.
NOTE: Updated to reflect corrected amount on the CCITF grant for the Meeker School District.
