On February 16, 2021 the Yuma County Board of County Commissioners convened for a regular meeting. Chairman Trent Bushner, Commissioner Robin Wiley, and Commissioner Scott Weaver were all present.
The Board convened as the Board of Social Services to hear report from Human Services Director Kara Hoover. Child Welfare and Adult Protection Supervisor Hollie Hillman and Eligibility Supervisor Dalene Rogers were also present to provide updates from their respective departments. Hillman provided updates on reports received by her staff in the preceding month as well as impacts of current and proposed legislation. Rogers reported the continued issuance of maximum benefit allotments and the current wider eligibility criteria. The group discussed the fiscal impacts of the increased issuance as well as department strategies for responding to the ongoing requirements.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Tom Andersen met with the Commissioners to provide department updates and issue requests. Steve Gilliland of 4Rivers Equipment was also in attendance to present his bid for the purchase of a new road grader. The bids were compared to bids also submitted by Wagner Equipment. After review, the Commissioners approved the purchase of a new grader from 4Rivers Equipment, expected to be delivered in May. Andersen provided various department updates with support from Blade Foreman Justin Lorimer and Truck Foreman Jeremy Lund. The group discussed fleet maintenance strategies. Andersen presented a request to donate a recently replaced water tanker to the Eckley Fire Department to be used in the staging of water resources to respond to rural fires. The Commissioners approved the donation. The Commissioners also approved two road crossing permits, one at County Road E and West Beatty Avenue and one at County Road 36 and County Road C.
Various Department Heads and Elected Officials from all County departments met for a Department Heads meeting. The group discussed community service project plans that were delayed due to COVID 19 as well as social media retention protocols.
Yuma County Clerk and Recorder Bev Wenger met with the Commissioners to review precinct boundaries. Wenger presented updated precincts proposed to improve efficiency with committee people, ballot styles, and caucuses. Wenger reported that the precincts were last updated in 2002. After discussion, Wenger will finalize her research and will return with a firm proposal at a future meeting.
The Commissioners heard public comment regarding road material being used north of Eckley as well as the placement of windrows within the roadway. Road and Bridge Supervisor Tom Andersen will be inspecting the area in the near future to assess and respond.
Colten Yoast, Yuma County Land Use Administrator, joined the Commissioners to provide office updates and notify the Commissioners of one pending land use application scheduled for hearing at the end of the month.
The scheduled meetings with 4H Agent JoLynn Midcap and Xcel Energy Regional Manager Lucas McConnell were both cancelled and will be rescheduled for a future meeting.
DOLA Regional Manager Greg Etl met with the Commissioners to introduce himself to Commissioner Weaver and to provide 2021 program updates. The group discussed current projects currently being completed in partnership with DOLA as well as future projects that are under consideration.
County Administrator Andrea Calhoon presented for consideration the 2021 Eckley Law Enforcement agreement, which was approved by the Commissioners. Calhoon presented various additional requests and reports including a request for property tax reimbursement by the WRAC which was approved, a renewal agreement with Value West for services provided to the Assessor’s office which was approved, and reports on operations at the WY Comm Center, the Northeast Colorado Bookmobile, Region 1 Translator Association TV System maintenance, and various facilities, IT, and human resources updates.
