Ellen Black

The Board of Commissioners held several regular meetings to address a wide range of county business. Key discussion topics included land use and zoning applications, such as subdivision amendments, rezoning requests, and setback variances. The Board approved various contracts, grants, and resolutions, including procurement policy updates, parking lot engineering services, landfill equipment purchases, and intergovernmental agreements. Appointments were made to several boards, including the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Southwest Roundtable. The Commissioners also received regular reports from the County Attorney, Administrator, Clerk, and Treasurer regarding legal cases, department operations, legislative updates, and financial matters. Additionally, the Board discussed county-wide initiatives such as sales tax ballot measures, road improvement projects, emergency management reports, and the regionalization of social services.

This document presents implementation plans developed from the Montezuma County Outdoor Recreation Use and Economic Impact Study. It outlines five tangible projects: a marketing program for Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, creation of maps and descriptions of outdoor recreation and heritage assets, a retail-shopping entrepreneurship platform, improvements to McPhee Reservoir for hand-launched paddle craft, and the development of a South Broadway gateway with parking, a kiosk, and an easy trail. The overarching goal is to optimize economic benefits from outdoor recreation and heritage tourism within Montezuma County.

This document presents an Outdoor Recreation Demand-Side Assessment for Montezuma County. It compiles comprehensive data on outdoor recreation, including statewide and local visitation trends, trip characteristics, visitor demographics, and economic impacts such as travel spending, job contributions, and tax collections. The assessment also analyzes participation rates for various outdoor activities, visitor origins, and accommodation preferences, offering insights into the current state and trends of outdoor recreation demand in the region.

During this special meeting, the Board of Commissioners considered two resolutions pertaining to property tax levies for the upcoming budget year. Resolution #17-2022, which was approved, set the mill levies for the General Fund, Social Services, and the Road and Bridge Department for the 2023 budget. Resolution #18-2022, also approved, set the general property tax levy for the Law Enforcement Authority at 1.45282 for the 2023 budget.

The workshop initiated discussions regarding revenue needs for the county and potential ballot measures for 2026, specifically focusing on a potential sales tax measure. A primary topic involved a discussion with Mellan Strategies concerning revenue streams, noting that general fund increases are difficult for voters, who prefer funds co-mingled for specific needs like public safety and roads. The discussion referenced a previous failed 1% sales tax attempt that was intended to benefit SOS (presumably Social Services/General Fund) and Road and Bridge. Concerns were raised regarding future revenue stability due to the anticipated decline in funding from industrial sources, specifically mentioning the potential winding down of Kinder Morgan operations and the recent closure of Air Products in a neighboring county, which collectively impact a significant portion of commercial revenue (over 30%). The group agreed to proceed with gathering detailed financial needs data to inform an accurate proposal for community engagement.