Expansion of the fiber broadband network was up for discussion during work sessions Tuesday with the Rio Blanco County Board of Commissioners. IT Director Trevor Nielsen and Facilities Director Eric Jaquez outlined plans and options for replacing wireless connections with underground fiber, which “goes in the ground and stays there for 100 years,” Nielsen explained, where wireless equipment has to be replaced often. Adding fiber connections to subdivisions west of Meeker, and to some previously missed connections in Rangely as well as additional buildouts. Instead of contracting everything out at once, IT and facilities are proposing a piece-by-piece project with work done internally as much as possible.
Nielsen and Jaquez also reviewed the county’s security systems, and discussed consolidating camera systems and entry access components across departments and facilities. Ways to fund the cost of buying new cameras and components were also discussed. The current “hodgepodge” system, Jaquez said, has grown to the point maintenance is becoming cumbersome.
Emergency Manager Eddie Smercina updated the board on last week’s gas leak. Everything was back up and running by last Thursday, he said.
Callie Hendrickson requested a letter of support for the conservation districts to apply for a grant from the Colorado River District to partially fund a water study to determine the effect of return flows on the river. “We would like to find some real data that verifies that one way or another,” Hendrickson said.
In a lengthy discussion with members of the Rio Blanco County Fair Board, Extension Agent Linda Masters and 4-H Coordinator Tonya Merz regarding proposed changes to board bylaws, Commissioners questioned some of the proposals, including adding ex officio (non-voting) members to the board, including the fairgrounds manager and an FFA representative, and the addition of mandatory language coming from Colorado State University (CSU). Merz said she just received the new policies on Monday. Commissioner Ty Gates shared concerns about CSU’s increasing involvement in the 4-H program and clubs.
During the regular meeting, commissioners discussed and approved cutting one of their regular meetings each month, from three down to two. The second week of the month the meeting would be held in Meeker, and the fourth Tuesday the meeting would be in Rangely, with special meetings and work sessions added as needed. The reasoning behind the decision is that the third meeting has been cancelled frequently for lack of business items.
Tuesday’s regular meeting can be viewed in its entirety at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6hzpaUut6c
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What is the County Beat?
We make a concerted effort to cover local government as part of our mission to inform citizens and hold local government accountable.
The County Beat details discussion and action by the Rio Blanco County board of commissioners, who generally meet the second and fourth Tuesday of each month.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
