Rangely residents attending the RBC Commissioners’ work sessions Tuesday shared their concerns about possible relocations of various county offices in Rangely. No final decisions had or have been made — previous discussions also occurred during work sessions — but the mention of consolidating some county offices into county-owned buildings generated a response from multiple residents.
According to Facilities Director Eric Jaquez, who reviewed the county’s Rangely facilities and presented possible options to the board, the county has operations in the Department of Human Services/Public Health building on Main Street, the data building that currently houses the Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce, Columbine Park, the sheriff’s office and clerk and recorder’s office at Town Hall, and the county’s Rangely road and bridge shop and fleet building (Annex).
Jaquez said his recommendation, from an operations standpoint, is to keep county departments in county facilities, to improve overall functioning and reduce complexity on staff. “I believe that should be the county’s policy,” Jaquez said. “When we have the option to use our own facilities we use them.”
After further review over the last week, Jaquez suggested leaving the chamber office in the data building and the clerk and recorder office in Town Hall, but to create memorandums of understanding to clarify expectations between parties. Having commissioners’ meetings at the recently remodeled Town Hall courtroom where Rangely Board of Trustees meet, is technologically complex and troublesome to coordinate. The sheriff’s offices were not included in the remodel of Town Hall in 2017-18. There’s space available at the Annex building to expand the commissioners’ meeting room into a functional board room and training room, and room to relocate the sheriff’s offices as well.
Jaquez also recommended moving the Extension office to Columbine Park, a suggestion met with resistance from RBC Extension Agent Linda Masters and 4-H Youth Coordinator Tonya Merz, as well as community members who said it would be difficult for 4-H kids to get to Columbine Park to care for their animals as opposed to the community pens.
Minor tweaks and changes could be made to the DHS/Public Health building to improve security and access, Jaquez said.
During public participation and discussion, residents expressed concerns about a perceived disconnect between Rangely and the county, a request for community meetings, and a need to improve relationships. The full work session discussion can be viewed on the county’s YouTube channel.
In last week’s commissioners’ meeting, the board denied a letter of support for the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts to apply for a grant to help fund a collaborative position working with multiple agencies and private property owners for forest health and fire mitigation. Conservation District Director Callie Hendrickson, along with U.S. Forest Service District Ranger Curtis Keetch, came before the board again to explain the need for the position and what they hope to accomplish.
Hendrickson told the board the Districts cannot apply for the grant without the letter of support, adding that the letter does not obligate the county to provide any funding.
The proposed position, which would be funded through a combination of agencies, would act as a liaison between landowners and the state and federal government and should open doors for additional funding, coordinating National Environmental Policy Act processes, and “get the ball rolling” toward improved property protection through fire mitigation.
“Without this position we’re going to be sitting here five years from now,” Hendrickson said.
The board approved the letter of support in the regular meeting.
Also in the regular meeting, commissioners approved a letter supporting a Bustang Outrider connection for Rio Blanco County, a project Commissioner Ginny Love has been working toward. The letter supports adding a Rifle/Meeker/Craig route to Bustang’s 10-year plan. Rio Blanco County is the only county in Region 3 that is not addressed on the Bustang route. “It’s a start; we made it on their agenda,” Love said.
In other business, the board approved an annual lease renewal for partial use of the Stadtman Mesa Tower by T-Mobile; awarded a $24,500 bid for the Justice Center security system that will replace equipment and systems that are at end of life.
The board went into executive session with County Attorney Don Steerman for discussion about Rio Blanco County housing.
Budget hearings for the 2023 county budget started Monday and continue through Oct. 31. Look for recaps in a future edition of the HT.
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What is the
County Beat?
The Rio Blanco Herald Times ma kes a concerted effort to cover local government as part of our mission to inform citizens and hold power to account.
The County Beat details discussion and action by the Rio Blanco County board of commissioners, who generally meet the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
