Special districts, part 5: Conservation and conservancy districts

RBC | In Rio Blanco County, special tax districts account for a variety of services and the majority of tax revenue distribution. Tax revenue from mill levies passes through the county to fund each district.

A significant but less scrutinized form of local government, special districts must follow the same transparency laws as other government boards. Under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) and Open Meetings Laws (COML) these boards must (among other requirements) notice meeting agendas prior to meetings, keep minutes and other records available for public inspection and more. You can read a comprehensive list at coloradofoic.org/open-government-guide/

A number of districts in Rio Blanco County make an effort to publish meeting information online. For example, RBC’s hospital and recreation districts, Meeker Sanitation District and school districts upload meeting agendas, minutes and general board information to their websites. For those districts unable and/or unwilling to provide records of official meetings online, you can request copies of past meeting minutes from the designated contact person.

MINUTES REQUESTS

The HT requested meeting minutes for the second half of 2022 from special districts who do not upload minutes online. The following districts responded to the request within 48 hours: Meeker Cemetery District, Rangely Library, Meeker Library, Rio Blanco Fire Protection, Rangely Rural Fire Protection, Rangely Junior College District (CNCC), Rio Blanco Water Conservancy, White River/Douglass Creek Conservation Districts.

We were able to download minutes from the following district’s websites: ERBM, WRBM, Meeker Sanitation, Eastern RBC Health (PMC) and Meeker/Rangely School Districts. Rangely Hospital District lists minutes on their website, but have not yet posted minutes for July-December 2022.

We were unable to track down official, up-to-date contact information or request minutes for the Lower White River and Piceance Creek Pest Control Districts, and the Yellow Jacket Water Conservancy District. Rangely Cemetery District did not respond to our request for minutes by press time.

EXECUTIVE SESSIONS

Based on official meeting records, most district boards have not entered executive sessions in the last seven months, with some key exceptions being Eastern RBC Health (PMC) which entered into executive session in every meeting from June-December 2022 to discuss “legal matters.” Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District held four executive sessions in that same time, including two at an Aug. 31, 2022 meeting. The first session was to discuss water rights. The second executive session on Aug. 31, 2022 happened following transfers of money between general/hydroelectric/Wolf Creek funds. Meeting minutes do not list details about that executive session. Douglas Creek Conservation District and ERBM also held 1-2 executive sessions each to discuss personnel matters during the second half of 2022.

CONSERVATION AND CONSERVANCY DISTRICTS

Despite similar names, conservation and conservancy districts fall under different categories of “local governments” according to classifications by Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs (DOLA). https://dola.colorado.gov/lgis/.

Depending on the type, districts are governed by different sets of rules and statutes. For example, Conservation Districts fall under CRS 35-70-101, while Water Conservancy Districts are governed by CRS 37-45-101. One key difference that conservancy districts have from other tax districts is that their board is appointed by a court, instead of elected. Statutes note that residents can initiate a special election for a conservancy district board if they are unsatisfied with the appointed board.

RIO BLANCO WATER CONSERVANCY DISTRICT

rioblancowatercd.colorado.gov

The Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District (RBWCD) operates the Taylor Draw Dam and Hydroelectric Plant, Kenney Reservoir and a “wider range of oversight.” Part of their mission statement is “to safeguard for the Lower Rio Blanco County and all waters of the White River to which the state has entitled.” The district’s mill levy is 0.623 mils, which generated $140K in revenue in 2021. Other funding sources include the operation of the hydroelectric dam, grants (including $4 million from the CCITF fund) fees and other miscellaneous sources. RBWCD does not publish meeting agendas or minutes online. Residents seeking those documents must make a request to District Director Alden VandenBrink. Meeting notices/agendas are published on the District’s office door in Rangely and at Rangely Town Hall a minimum of 24 hours in advance. Meeting attendance is strictly in person. “If you have something you want to visit with the board, come do it in person. That’s why we have public meetings like that,” stated VandenBrink, noting that the district board believes in-person only meetings and offline agendas are the way they prefer to do things for now. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Conservancy District’s office. New RBWCD board members will be appointed on March 28; check this week’s public notices for more information.

WHITE RIVER/DOUGLAS CREEK CONSERVATION DISTRICTS

whiterivercd.com

The Conservation Districts’ missions include promoting “wise resource use” by private and public interests within the districts. The White River Conservation District (WRCD) covers most of the east end of the county. Its mill levy is 0.275, representing 6% of annual district revenue.

The Douglas Creek Conservation District (DRCD) covers most of the west end of the county. Its mill levy is 0.037 mils representing 14% of district revenue. District boundaries do not include city limits. Residents can participate in public meetings by contacting the office at 970-878-9838, asking to get on an agenda and/or showing up in-person at meeting

WRCD – 5 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month at the Conservation Districts’ board meeting room in Meeker.

DCCD – 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of the month at the Rio Blanco Water Conservancy District building in Rangely.

Both conservation districts have members up for reelection in May of this year.

By Lucas Turner | [email protected]