RBC | Rio Blanco County’s proposed 2021 budget is set for adoption by the Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. During work session Tuesday the board reviewed the budget with Budget and Finance Director Janae Stanworth.
Overall revenue is projected to increase by $355,772 and expenses by $651,315 for a net difference of about $300,000. The majority of expenditures over revenue are related to capital improvement projects for Meeker Airport and Rangely Airport entitlement funds. The county plans to cover 5% of the cost of airport improvement projects and remaining costs will be covered by federal/state funding.
Severance tax revenues are projected to decrease by about 75% from 2020, Federal Mineral Lease (FML) is expected to decrease by 2%, based on the assumption that oil and gas prices will increase in 2021. If they do not, FML payments could decrease further.
Property tax evaluations are about even, but set to increase by about $200 (out of approximately $7.2 million). Sales taxes are decreasing by $20,400 because “an oil and gas entity” will be paying less for utility service.
Revenues from charges for service are increasing by $55,000, $35,000 of which will come from emergency dispatch. An additional $116,000 in revenues are projected based on contributions from the Town of Meeker ($80,000) and the Rio Blanco Fire Protection District ($36,000) towards dispatch. The county will pay the remaining $371,050.39 for the dispatch budget in 2021. An additional $50,000 was also set aside by the Eastern 911 board for dispatch to use for wages only. Once all county funds have been spent related to wages, then the county can approach the 911 board for additional funds.
Revenues from treasurer’s fees are decreasing by $178,920. Investment earnings are decreasing by $119,000. Intergovernmental revenues will decrease by $150,080 since the county will not move forward on a FEMA grant application. Capital grants and donation revenues will increase by about $662,150 based on FAA funds coming in for Meeker and Rangely airport entitlement projects. Interfund charges will decrease by $15,888 after cutting fleet-related expenses from various departments, miscellaneous revenues will increase by $27,774 because the Board of Commissioners and Coroner are donating a portion of their salary back to the county.
Under expenses, personnel costs will decrease by $294,273, mostly from savings on county employees changing healthcare coverage options, such as opting to receive only vision and dental coverage. Supply costs will increase by $12,250 mostly due to a bulletproof vest grant match. Purchased services will increase by $53,000, $30,000 of which were for VHF communications equipment replacements on LOBO and Cathedral tower sites.
Dues and fees will increase by $7,803 because the county reallocated money from property taxes to the road and bridge fund. Money available for grant awards and contributions have increased by $167,267.
Capital project expenditures are increasing by $134,500 though the bulk of that is being rolled over from funds already budgeted in 2020 for a new truck and Radino bus. Remaining capital expenditures are for the Meeker Airport stormwater project.
Repairs and maintenance will increase by $761,000 for airport projects with most of the cost being offset by FAA/state funding mentioned previously. Interfund charges will decrease by $11,687. Contingency will decrease by $178,500 for a total net negative of $295,543.
After presenting the overview, Stanworth noted that some additional, minor changes are likely before Dec. 15 when the proposed 2021 budget is officially adopted by the board. The proposed budget is available for review online at https://tinyurl.com/rbc2021
After the budget update, the board heard from Lanny Coulter about plans to change the Meeker Airport underground fuel system to be above ground. Phase one of the project will proceed in 2021 with in-house work by county employees not to exceed $15,000, to pour some concrete pads that will eventually hold new above-ground fuel tanks.
Finally the board heard from IT Director Trevor Nielsen about a variety of fiber related plans and projects including whether the county should offer enterprise-level internet service to Westland’s Ranch. Commissioners were hesitant to proceed with the service implementation, hoping to avoid stepping on the toes of private service providers who already work with the county. The board also discussed plans to expand internet service at LOBO and getting more residents connected directly to fiber to take strain off the wireless infrastructure. Commissioners decided to schedule future work sessions to discuss all fiber-related projects.
REGULAR MEETING
During their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 8 Rio Blanco County commissioners began with approvals of:
- Grant award letter from Colorado Department of State for the CARES Act Primary Mailing Grant in the amount of $1,061.71.
- Quote from CDOT/Davey Coach for Radino bus replacement in the amount of $70,298. The money was originally appropriated for 2020 but is now being moved into the 2021 budget.
- Final Contractor Settlement with Western Gravel Constructors, LLC for the 2020 Rio Blanco County Road 7 Bridge Replacement Project in the amount of $21,890.74.
MOUS, CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS
- Ratified an agreement with Moon Lake Electric to upgrade service at the Radino Senior Center, for a total amount of $9,383.10. The project is listed and paid for as a COVID related project, which means it is being funded with CARES Act relief money.
- Approved Agreement for Services with Lindsay Ishman, LLC dba Attachment & Resiliency Center LLC for Sexual Abuse/Offender Treatment Services, in an amount not to exceed $4,000. The contract is renewed yearly.
- Approve lease agreement with Mahogany Resources, LLC for the Cathedral Bluffs Communication Tower Site for around $3,000 a year.
- Approved agreement for services with Chris Tonozzi, M.D., to provide vasectomy services to eligible residents on behalf of public health. This is part of the family planning grant to provide services through public health.
- Approved a Joint Funding Agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey for the operation and maintenance of streamflow gaging stations and water quality sampling sites on the White River for the period Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021, in an amount not to exceed $13,063. This is an ongoing contribution for data monitoring river flow, not for monitoring algae.
- Approved Joint Funding Agreement with the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey for the operation and maintenance of streamflow gauging stations and water quality sampling sites on Piceance Creek, Corral Gulch, and Yellow Creek in an amount not to exceed $95,091. The county acts as the fiscal agent for the payment which is then billed to Solvay Chemical and Natural Soda.
- Approved Data Use Agreement with Pioneers Medical Center for the use and benefit of the Rio Blanco County Department of Public Health.
RESOLUTIONS
Commissioners approved Resolution No. 202025 authorizing the Treasurer to assign County held liens on two Encana Oil and Gas mineral accounts for unpaid taxes of less than $100 combined.
ROAD & BRIDGE
Road and Bridge Director Dave Morlan updated the board on ongoing road and bridge projects including various repairs, preparations for winter and flood repair on CR 113. Morlan also asked for approval to build a vehicle pull-off on CR 8 across from the Oak Ridge runoff.
Department employees in Meeker did some volunteer work to restore the Thornburg Battleground sign including rebuilding it with metal and a fresh paint job.
Thanks to a new internet connection, the Meeker Landfill will soon be able to accept credit card payments.
In the Rangely district, five road and bridge employees are on stay-at-home orders due positive to COVID-19 tests and/or close contact with positive cases. Morlan said he still had three employees who could work and would be ready to handle snow removal later in the week.
COMMISSIONER UPDATES
Commissioner Si Woodruff attended the 911 board and pandemic response meetings this week.
Commissioner Moyer sat in on CCI’s annual virtual meeting, and met with Uintah County representatives to get more information about how they manage wild horse gathers.
Commissioner Rector spent some time in the Rangely hospital due to a COVID-19 infection, but said he was feeling better and wore a mask to Tuesday’s regular meeting. He also spoke with Governor Jared Polis over the phone about water issues relating to the Wolf Creek reservoir. Finally Rector shared news from “Third Party Organization” Tempra, about potential options to export coal through Costa Azul.
By LUCAS TURNER | [email protected]om
