RBC | The Rio Blanco County Board of County Commissioners held a work session and regular meeting last week in Meeker, covering topics ranging from the county’s broadband operations and infrastructure maintenance to letters of support and local board appointments. All three commissioners were present.
The work session focused on the county’s broadband system. Commissioners and staff discussed tower maintenance, equipment costs, and the possibility of long-term partnerships or transitions to outside management.
Officials praised the broadband team for their efforts in building and maintaining service across the county but noted that challenges persist with equipment aging, power interruptions, and weather-related damage.
Eric Jaquez said the county had originally contracted fabrication of tower sleds and structures, with additional companies brought in for engineering, solar power, and technical support. Over time, local staff assumed a greater role in maintaining and repairing the system, including recent work on a tower affected by the Lee Fire.
That tower required replacement of lightning protection units and heat-damaged cables. While it has since been brought back online, staff said more cable work is needed. The county currently operates 11 solar-powered secondary towers and nine primary towers serving roughly 200 to 500 subscribers, with the LOBO tower being the most heavily used.
During discussion, commissioners raised questions about whether the county might eventually “hand off” broadband operations to a private provider while still ensuring that taxpayers benefit from the existing public investment.
Staff responded that doing so would be complex. Eric Jaquez explained that the county uses carrier-grade technology and industry-standard equipment, similar to commercial internet providers, and that maintaining service quality requires in-depth technical knowledge.
“There just isn’t someone who can come in and immediately take over and do it better,” he said. “We’re using top-tier equipment and are deeply familiar with the network’s infrastructure.”
He added that troubleshooting broadband issues can involve a wide range of factors — from equipment configuration and fiber routing to customer hardware. Also noting that while some local residents have switched to private providers believing they would receive faster service, many performance issues stem from older home devices or routers rather than the county network itself.
Jaquez said the county continues to refine operations. “We were the first community to build this type of network, and there was a big learning curve,” he said. “Now we’re building those funds responsibly and putting them back into the system.”
Staff estimated that contracting outside tower repairs could cost $2-4K just for setup, with additional expenses for access points ($12-13K each) and backhaul radios (around $20K). FEMA reimbursement could cover some repairs, but any FEMA-funded work would need to be done by contractors, and reimbursement could take years.
During the regular meeting, the board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Prowers County to manage and administer calls to the Hotline County Connection Center for child welfare and adult protective services on behalf of Rio Blanco County.
Next, commissioners considered a change order for the 2025 chip seal project, which increased the contract sum by $25,487.40. Road and Bridge Coordinator Clint Chappell explained the discrepancy.
“The printed IFB that was sent out had one line item that was wrong,” Chappell said. “There was a number instead of a seven — it was 7,000 gallons of oil. I figured it right, but it just didn’t get printed correctly. With $25,000 we’re still way under budget over the contract.”
Commissioner Doug Overton asked if the additional amount would have impacted the bidding process.
“It would not,” Chappell said. “The other bid we had was $33,000 higher.”
Commissioner Callie Scritchfield asked whether it would be the same company that performed the County Road 8 project. Chappell confirmed that it was United Old Castle Company, prompting Scritchfield to share concerns about the road’s current condition.
“As you go around a lot of those corners, there are places missing gravel,” Scritchfield said. “There’s multiple spots that aren’t smooth. I don’t know what that’s going to do when it comes time for winter.”
Chappell replied that the rough patches would even out during snowplow season.
Scritchfield noted that some problem areas were more like holes than high spots.
“There’s some corners up there that are pretty bad,” she said.
County Administrator Vicky Edwards suggested tagging the worst mile markers for monitoring. Chappell agreed, noting that road oiling and chip distribution are not exact processes.
“If the oil isn’t too bad you can usually get a smooth coating, but chips can roll unevenly,” he said.
Overton brought up equipment inspection standards.
“The equipment they use has a lot to do with the shape because it also drops those rocks,” Overton said. “When you get through with this, somebody inspects and signs off on it.”
Chappell confirmed he had signed off on the project.
“There was nothing real major,” he said. “Those kinds of things happen on every job we do.” The board voted to approve the change order.
Commissioners also approved a letter of support for a wild horse gather post-fire project and ratified a letter to President Trump supporting Governor Polis’s FEMA assistance request.
Commissioners discussed a letter of understanding with the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts and NRCS regarding EWP projects and culvert cleaning. County Administrator Vicky Edwards said the letter was written and needed for cost inclusion, but the board decided to table the item indefinitely.
County Attorney Don Steerman updated the board on efforts to coordinate library board appointments among the county, the Town of Meeker, and the library district.
“The library district approved the term sheet,” Steerman said. “The attorneys for the library board are working on an MOU they’re going to circulate to both me and the town attorney in order to do that. The term sheet basically sets the qualifications of a person serving.”
Commissioner Doug Overton voiced concern about the proposal.
“If we’re going to appoint, we need to be the ones that appoint,” Overton said. “I don’t want somebody to bring somebody in here and say ‘appoint this person.’”
Callie Scritchfield agreed, saying, “That’s how we’ve been doing it, right? Then why would we change that?”
Overton also commended recent improvements at the library board.
“They’ve cleaned their act up and they’ve got a lawyer,” he said. “If you went to a library meeting two or three years ago and then go to one now, they are way better than they used to be.”
The next BOCC meeting is scheduled for Oct. 28 in Rangely.