Minutes for 07/19/10

MINUTES BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
July 19, 2010 Rio Blanco County
The Board met at 11:10am in regular session in Rangely at the Western Annex. Chairman Ken Parsons, Commissioner Kai Turner, Commissioner Joe Collins, and Clerk to the Board Nancy R. Amick were present for the meeting.

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

AGENDA CHANGES: The Ennovate contract was deleted from the agenda.

MINUTES

The minutes were delayed to allow additional time for the Board’s review.

BID AWARD – FLEET MANAGEMENT – TRACK TYPE BULLDOZER

Fleet Manager Overton recommended the Honnen Equipment bid. Commissioner Turner moved to approve the purchase of a 2010 John Deere 850 JLGP from Honnen Equipment in the amount of $273,725 with the warranty and trade allowance as listed on the comparison chart. Commissioner Joe Collins seconded. Roll call vote: Parsons-Aye, Turner-Aye, Collins-Aye.

CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS


EIAF #6327 AMENDMENT #1 – EXTENSION OF BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT

Van Pilaud presented the extension request, a necessary extension due to the difficulty in obtaining an easement and the delay in procuring a 404 Permit from the Army Corp of Engineers. The new deadline of September 2011 will allow channel and detour work prior to shutting down the project during winter conditions. In response to questioning from Commissioner Collins, it was noted that the bridge is used by at least five year-round resident families, several summer homes, and significant energy industry use. Commissioner Kai Turner moved to approve Amendment #1 for EIAF #6327, extending the project deadline to Sept. 30, 2011. Commissioner Joe Collins seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Turner-Aye, Collins-Aye, Parsons-Aye.

PUBLIC COMMENT

In response to a question from Pat Hughes, Chairman Parsons noted that extensions for DOLA grant projects are relatively common and generally approved.

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS UPDATES

Commissioner Kai Turner and Administrator Pat Hooker met with Archetype to review on the Justice Center design. Turner also reviewed the Fairfield Construction Project and attended a Fairfield Trust meeting to request a grant for the lobby area roof section which currently leaks.

Chairman Ken Parsons attended two days of Club 20 steering committee meetings in Rifle. In addition to cleaning up out-dated policies, other matters reviewed included a Wild and Scenic River update from the state; BLM policies; invasive species including Tamarask and Russian Olives, the conversion of coal-fired power plants to other energy and Club 20’s stance that one energy source should not be supported over another source; the solar demonstration at the Cameo plant; natural gas updates for vehicles and the estimated $700,000 needed to establish a commercial natural gas station; the abuse of the AG classification in property valuation and needed reform; a small acreage agricultural program at Mesa College; a request to CSU to transfer proceeds from the sale of their AG research facilities to support the remaining properties; private property rights vs. access for floaters; and differences between the BLM and U.S. Forest Service management of land.

On Friday, Chairman Parsons attended a committee meeting in Denver which reviewed employee residency reports on which the local federal mineral lease and severance tax payments are based. He was disappointed that area energy producers did not properly complete their employee reports, which will result in the county not receiving their full entitlement. Parsons estimated that $500,000 to $1,000,000 will go to other areas. Commissioner Joe Collins expressed his appreciation to Chairman Parsons for his continuing work with the reports.

With no further business to come before the Board, the meeting was recessed.

Attest:






_______________________________ __________________________________
Nancy R. Amick, Clerk to the Board Kenneth C. Parsons, Chairman of the Board