BOCC Meeting
Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Commissioners approved May 7th meeting minutes including the Grand County Housing Authority.

Grand County Finance
Last week the Commissioners attended a Revenue & Expense workshop. Finance Director Scott Berger reported that winter sales tax revenue was up $60,000 from the same time last year which seems to indicate more tourism activity.

Grand County Road & Bridge
The waterline along County Road 804 (Meadow Ridge Hill behind Safeway in Fraser) is scheduled for replacement this summer. Road & Bridge staff wondered if the County could take advantage of the opportunity to improve drainage problems and resolve other issues with pedestrian traffic on this stretch of road. The Commissioners scheduled a workshop for Tuesday, May 28 at Granby Road & Bridge at 3:30 p.m.

The BOCC signed a contract with the U.S. Forest Service Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland for payment for repair work Road & Bridge completed in 2011 on County Roads 50 and 32. Commissioners remarked that it was interesting to receive a contract for work already completed. Payment from the Forest Service should be forthcoming.

Commissioners mentioned receiving complaints about vehicles speeding on County Road 61, which is posted 35 miles per hour.

Road & Bridge Superintendent Ken Haynes reported they were addressing complaints of R&B vehicles speeding on County Road 2.

Granby Landfill
Commissioners requested increasing monitoring reports for movement at the Granby Landfill from once a month to once a week with the idea that spring runoff is the time when the most movement occurs. Commissioners stated that it takes time for ground water to seep down to the 200 foot level where movement has been occurring. Commissioners also directed staff to obtain corresponding precipitation data from the weather station at Windy Gap Reservoir.

County Engineer Tim Gagnon said he had estimates for consulting for the discharge permit including the five-day pumping plan and frac tank rental. Gagnon will bring contracts to next Tuesday’s meeting for the Commissioners consideration.

Pole Creek Meadows Repaving Project
The County Attorney said he spoke with an investment banker for the Pole Creek Meadows repaving project. To finance the project, which was approved by the special district vote during the last election, the County would issue a bond to a local bank with the bond secured with tax revenue from the Pole Creek Meadows improvement district.

Mountain Family Center
The Commissioners approved gravel and fencing for a community garden for the Mountain Family Center in Hot Sulphur Springs. The non-profit received some grant funding for the garden and is working in collaboration with Grand County Public Health, Grand County Social Services and CSU Extension. The garden will benefit families in Grand County who use services provided by these agencies.

Water Quality
Grand County Water Quality Specialist Katherine Morris brought forward two stop-pump proposals from the Bureau of Reclamation. In the proposal recommended by Morris, the Farr Pumping plant would stop pumping for a six week window from around July 16 to September 4, 2013. The Farr Pump Plant moves water from Lake Granby to Shadow Mountain Reservoir via the Granby Pump Canal. Grand County staff will communicate with the Town of Grand Lake to learn the town’s preference.

Staff reported on recent meetings regarding Grand Lake clarity. If alternatives are selected for appropriations through Congress, consultants warned it might be hard to choose alternatives without 2 or 3 additional environmental studies. The current Department of Interior administration understands the situation with Grand Lake clarity and this helps the process. Government moves very slowly and if the administration changes, this could potentially move Grand County back to the starting point.

Grand County Irrigators have signed an agreement concerning a possible violation of the original 1041 Windy Gap permit. The Municipal Subdistrict also has signed off. Last year, when the County received a complaint under the old Windy Gap permit, the Subdistrict was asked to respond to the allegations. The County Attorney suggested that when all documents have been received, the irrigators should submit a letter stating that the issues have been resolved and withdraw the complaint.

Grand County Planning Department
Commissioners approved the Dethmers Subdivision Exemption Sketch Plan extension.

Liquor Licenses
The BOCC approved a change of membership to the LLC for the Chuck Wagon Café & Bar in Granby.

Indian Peaks Charter School
Academic Director Polly Gallagher presented a local-match grant opportunity for the Indian Peaks Charter School. The grant, offered through the Colorado League of Charter Schools, would help Indian Peaks obtain needed counseling services for students. The Commissioners directed Gallagher to the block grant process administered by the Grand Foundation for the BOCC’s consideration during budget time.

Sherriff’s Department
The BOCC approved a construction contract to repair the boiler system at the jail.

Staff from the Sheriff and Coroner’s departments brought forward a request to purchase eFORCE software for the Coroner’s office. The software would provide additional functionality and the ability to interface with an iPad on the scene. The eFORCE software was recently purchased for the Sheriff’s Dept. The software enables law enforcement agencies to share information with other first responders across the county and will improve efficiency and reporting. The request for the Coroner’s office would mean buying an additional module for eFORCE and amending the contract. The Commissioners directed the departments to meet with Grand County Information Systems Director to discuss and bring the request back to the BOCC for consideration.

Grand County Housing Authority
A car owned by a tenant at Sliver Spruce was damaged by a windblown trash container. The trash container had been moved from the enclosed location closer to the building so tenants wouldn’t slip on the ice. The tenant did not have comprehensive insurance coverage and Senior Housing Options’ insurance company would not pay because it was considered an act of God. On advice from legal, Commissioners directed the County Attorney to write a letter to Senior Housing Options, the managers of the Cliffview facility.

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